A Warm, Sweet Treat for Any Occasion
Soft, sticky, and filled with cinnamon and raisins, Chelsea buns are the ultimate comfort bake. This traditional treat brings back warm memories of tea-time at Granny’s house and is the perfect recipe for anyone wanting to fill their kitchen with the smell of nostalgia. Whether you’re making them for brunch, dessert, or as an afternoon snack, these swirled buns deliver indulgent flavour in every bite.
At Defy, we believe in preserving culinary traditions while empowering new generations of chefs. That’s why we’re proud to share this time-honoured recipe, inspired by memory and perfected through love.
Inspired by Chef Jackie Cameron
This Chelsea Buns recipe was brought to life in the Defy kitchen by Chef Jackie Cameron—a South African icon known for her heart-forward cooking and incredible mentoring. Through our partnership, we are proud to sponsor talented culinary student Langelihle Mnikathi, who is currently being trained under Chef Jackie’s expert guidance.
Together, they bring classic recipes like this one into the modern kitchen, adding passion, precision, and purpose to every bake.
Type
Dessert
Servings
6
Total Time
5 Hours
Ingredients
For the Dough
· 275 g cake flour
· 20 ml castor sugar
· 1 packet instant dry yeast
· Pinch fine salt
· 25 ml instant milk powder
· 20 g salted butter, melted
· 500 ml warm water
For the Filling
· 70 g brown sugar
· 75 g seedless raisins
· 30 ml ground cinnamon
· 10 ml lemon zest
· 20 g salted butter, melted
· 10 ml water
For the Glaze
· 20 ml full-cream milk
· 60 ml salted butter, melted
· 60 ml icing sugar
Method
Make the Dough
1. Combine the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, milk powder and butter in a large bowl.
2. Slowly add thewarm water and knead the dough for about 10 minutes until soft and elastic.
3. Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave in a warm place for about 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
Prepare the Filling and Shape the Buns
4. Combine the sugar, raisins, cinnamon and lemon zest in a small bowl. Set aside.
5. Roll the dough into a square (25 × 25 cm) and brush with melted butter.
6. Sprinkle the sugar and raisin mixture evenly over the dough. Lightly press the raisins into the dough.
7. Roll the dough up tightly lengthways (like a Swiss roll), lightly brushing the ends with water and pinch closed to prevent the filling from spilling.
8. Cut the roll into six even slices.
9. Place the slices, cut side down, on a baking tray lined with greased paper and leave in a warm place for about 2 hours to rise.
Bake and Glaze
10. Brush the tops of the buns with milk.
11. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 20 minutes, until cooked.
12. When the buns come out of the oven, brush with the melted butter and sift over the icing sugar. Serve straight away or keep, covered, for up to three days.
Tips from the Defy Kitchen
· Use a Defy Thermofan+ oven for even heat distribution and a beautifully golden finish.
· For an extra gooey centre, double the filling mix and pack the rolls tightly in the tray.
· Add chopped nuts or chocolate chips for a fun twist.
· Brush with apricot jam before serving for a glossy finish.
Watch the Masterclass
Want to see how the pros do it? Watch Chef Jackie Cameron and Defy sponsored student Langelihle Mnikathi bake these Chelsea Buns from scratch in our YouTube Masterclass. Subscribe to Defy South Africa’s channel for more recipes that inspire connection and creativity in the kitchen.
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