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Easy Homemade Chelsea Buns

Easy Homemade Chelsea Buns are the perfect afternoon treat. Sweet and spicy fruit filled soft rolls topped with a sticky glaze. Even more delicious when served hot from the oven, just as they were at the original Chelsea Bun House.
4.97 from 92 votes
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Course: Afternoon Tea
Cuisine: British
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Proving Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 9 buns
Calories: 394kcal
Author: Sarah James
buns

Equipment

  • 1 23 cm/9 inch square baking tin lined with baking parchment

Ingredients

Sweet Dough

  • 450 g strong white bread flour
  • 1 tbsp instant yeast - I use Doves Farm
  • 3 tbsp caster sugar / superfine sugar
  • 115 g softened salted butter
  • 200 ml warm milk
  • 1 egg - beaten

Filling

  • 50 g softened salted butter
  • 35 g soft dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 125 g sultanas

Milk glaze

  • 2 tbs milk
  • 4 tbsp caster sugar / superfine sugar

Instructions

Make your dough

  • Place all the dough ingredients, either in the bowl of an electric mixer or in a large mixing bowl.
  • In an electric mixer, fit dough hook and mix on slow speed number 1 for approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Then mix on speed number 2 for 8 to 10 minutes.
  • For hand mixing, stir the ingredients together until they form a ball and then knead for 10 to 12 minutes.
  • Check your dough is sufficiently smooth and elastic to pass the windowpane test.
  • Place your dough in a large greased mixing bowl and cover. Leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size - about 1 ½ hours.

Make your spiced butter

  • Beat the dark brown sugar, butter and spices to a spreadable butter mix.

Shape your Chelsea Buns

  • Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and stretch out into a rectangle shape.
  • Roll out to roughly 35cm x 25 cm (14″ x 10″).
  • Spread the dough with spiced butter and then sprinkle with the sultanas.
  • Starting from a long side, tightly roll up the dough like a Swiss roll or jelly roll. Pinch the long seam together with your fingers.
  • Use a sharp knife to cut the roll into 9 even slices. Place each slice face down in prepared baking tin, leaving no more than 2.5 cm (1 ins) between each bun.
  • Cover with a cloth or greased cling film.
  • Leave to rise from approximately 30 to 45 minutes until well risen.

Bake and glaze

  • Preheat oven to 400°F / 200°C / 180°C Fan / Gas Mark 6 .
  • Bake the buns for 20 minutes.
  • While your buns are baking, heat the milk and sugar in a small saucepan until the sugar is dissolved. Do not boil your glaze.
  • After 20 minutes baking, brush your Chelsea Buns with glaze before returning to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
  • Once baked, leave to rest in the tin for 10 minutes.
  • Using the edges of the baking parchment, lift all nine buns from the tin and place on a cooling rack.
  • Tear apart and enjoy a warm Chelsea Bun with a cup of tea or coffee.

Notes

  • Your buns will keep for 2 to 3 days stored in an airtight container. Refresh your buns and serve them warm by baking them for 10 minutes at 160 C Fan.
  • Chelsea Buns freeze really well. Open freeze before transferring to a freezer bag or sealed container. Will keep for up to three months.
  • Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 139mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 527IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg