How to Draw Hot Cross Buns: Easy 10-Step Tutorial

Bring the warmth of the bakery to your sketchbook with this fun, beginner-friendly tutorial. Perfect for ages 5 and up, this activity uses simple shapes to build confidence in drawing food items. Grab your pencil and eraser—we are going to create a batch of festive treats!

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished illustration of four delicious hot cross buns.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the First Bun

Sketching the rounded outline of the first hot cross bun on white paper.

Draw a long, soft curved line to create an irregular circle. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry about making it a perfect circle; real baked goods are slightly lumpy and organic, so embrace those natural curves!

Step 2: Adding the Icing Cross

Drawing the icing cross detail on top of the bun using wavy lines.

Draw an inverted 'U' shape across the top, then add wavy lines to form the four arms of the cross. Tip: Keep the lines slightly rounded to make the icing look thick and piped onto the bun.

Step 3: Adding Texture

Adding small irregular shapes to the bun surface to simulate fruit texture.

Close the fourth quadrant of the bun with a curved line. Add a few small, irregular shapes on the surface. Tip: These little shapes represent the texture of the bread—think of them as raisins or currants!

Step 4: Drawing the Second Bun

Sketching a second bun overlapping the first one.

Sketch another incomplete round shape overlapping the first. Tip: Overlapping creates depth, making your drawing look more professional and less like a flat list of items.

Step 5: Detailing the Second Bun

Adding the icing cross to the second bun.

Use wavy lines to complete the cross shape on the second bun. Tip: Ensure the cross lines follow the curve of the bun to make it look three-dimensional.

Step 6: Finishing the Second Bun

Adding final texture details to the second bun.

Close the final section of the second bun and add more irregular texture shapes. Tip: Vary the size of your texture shapes to make the bread look more realistic.

Step 7: The Third Bun

Drawing the outline and icing cross for the third bun.

Outline the third bun and add the cross on top. Tip: Try placing this bun slightly behind the others to create a sense of a full tray.

Step 8: Adding the Fourth Bun

Sketching the final bun in the background.

Complete the third bun with texture, then sketch the sides of the fourth bun. Tip: Since this one is in the back, you only need to draw the visible parts to save space.

Step 9: Finalizing the Fourth Bun

Adding final icing and texture details to the fourth bun.

Add the cross and texture to the final bun. Tip: Check your drawing for any stray lines and erase them now to prepare for coloring.

Step 10: Coloring Your Masterpiece

Finished colored drawing of four hot cross buns.

Bring your buns to life! Use warm browns for the crust and a light cream or white for the icing. Tip: Use a darker brown for the shaded areas under the buns to make them look like they are sitting on a table.