Desserts & Baking Festive & Seasonal

Chocolate Hot Cross Bun Pudding

Name: Chocolate Hot Cross Bun Pudding
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 8 Hot Cross Buns; 100 g Dark Chocolate Chips; To spread Nutella; 4 Eggs; 400 ml Double Cream; 500 ml Milk; 100 g Caster Sugar; 1 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1 tbsp Golden Caster Sugar (for topping)

A warm, indulgent Easter dessert combining hot cross buns with dark chocolate, Nutella, and rich vanilla custard. Perfect for using up leftover buns.

By Ricky Robinson • Updated March 31, 2024

You can't get any more Easter than chocolate and hot cross buns, so this recipe brings the two together in the best possible way.

This chocolate hot cross bun pudding is both easy to make and impossible to resist. It combines the warmth of freshly baked buns with rich layers of dark chocolate and creamy custard, creating a dessert that's perfect for Easter celebrations or any time you have a few hot cross buns to use up. The recipe transforms simple ingredients into something special without requiring any complicated techniques or hard-to-find items.

This is a dessert that will have you going back for just one more spoonful until the whole pan has mysteriously vanished.

There's nothing quite like the comfort of a warm bread pudding fresh from the oven. The hot cross buns are sliced and generously spread with hazelnut chocolate spread, then layered in a dish with pockets of melty dark chocolate chips scattered throughout.

Chocolate Hot Cross Bun Pudding recipe image

The real magic happens when you pour over the velvety custard made from cream, milk, eggs, and vanilla. As the pudding bakes, the custard soaks into the bread, the chocolate melts into gooey pools, and the top turns golden and slightly crisp. The flavours meld together beautifully, with the spiced fruit buns providing a perfect contrast to the rich chocolate.

The best part about this recipe is how forgiving it is. You don't need to be precise with measurements or worry about perfect technique. Just layer, pour, and bake. It's an ideal make-ahead dessert too. You can assemble it, let it stand for fifteen minutes to soak up the custard, then bake when you're ready. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of extra cream for pure indulgence. Happy Easter everyone.

Chocolate Hot Cross Bun Pudding

Chocolate Custard Hot cross buns

Total Time 1 hr 15 min

Servings 8 servings

Calories 485 cal

Protein 10g

Ingredients

8 Hot Cross Buns
100 g Dark Chocolate Chips
Nutella To spread
4 Eggs
400 ml Double Cream
500 ml Milk
100 g Caster Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp Golden Caster Sugar, for topping

Equipment Needed

Whisk
Mixing Bowl
Pie Dish
Oven

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
2
Scatter 50 grams of the chocolate chips over the base of a pie dish.
3
Cut the hot cross buns in half and spread Nutella on both sides. Then lay them in the dish, cut side down and slightly overlapping, and scatter over the remaining chocolate chips.
4
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, caster sugar and vanilla, then pour this mixture over the hot cross buns.
5
Sprinkle with a tablespoon of golden caster sugar and allow to stand for 15 minutes before baking in the oven for 45 minutes, or until the custard is just set in the centre.