Chelsea buns are British bakes that date back to the 17th century, and the traditional recipe is packed with spiced flavour and sticky sultanas. Similar to cinnamon rolls, they are a favourite treat for an afternoon tea but can take a bit of time to knock together. What do you do if you’ve batch cooked them?
Can You Freeze Chelsea Buns?
Yes, you can freeze Chelsea buns for up to 6 months. It is best to freeze them unbaked and then bake once you have thawed. Freezing them in dough form and uncooked means you will never know the difference between fresh and frozen Chelsea buns.
Do Chelsea Buns Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Chelsea Buns? No
How to Freeze Chelsea Buns
Chelsea buns can be frozen in two ways: Either a dough or as a baked, finished product. Freezing it as dough is preferable but we’ve covered both options below:
How to Freeze Chelsea Bun Dough
Chelsea buns are able to be frozen but, for optimal results, you’re going to need to do it in the right stage of the process.
You need the dough to have risen and then be frozen, as if you skip the rising stage and freeze your dough immediately, the buns will turn out more like hockey pucks than light, fluffy buns:Â
- Make Dough
Follow your favourite chelsea bun recipe such as this one. - Grab a Baking Tray
Find a large baking tray and line with greaseproof paper. - Spread Out the Buns
Spread the Chelsea buns on to the baking tray, making sure that none of the buns are touching each other to prevent them clumping together. - Cover and Freeze
Cover with cling film, place in a large plastic bag and freeze until you are ready to cook.Â
How to Freeze Cooked Chelsea BunsÂ
If you have already baked your Chelsea buns, and even if you have glazed them, you can still freeze the buns if you have leftovers:
- Allow to Cool
Before you freeze anything, you must always allow the food item to cool to room temperature so that it does not interfere with the temperature of the freezer. - Wrap
Wrap the buns individually in aluminum foil and then wrap again using cling film. - Freeze
Place the wrapped buns in the freezer and store for up to 6 months. Make sure they are towards the top of the freezer so that nothing heavy squashes them and destroys the nice springy texture.Â
3 Tips for Freezing Chelsea Buns
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing Chelsea buns to have the best results:
Keep Airtight
To ensure the freshest possible Chelsea buns when cooked from frozen is to make sure that your raw dough is kept as airtight as possible when in the freezer. Using several layers of cling film can help.Â
Freeze In the Same Tin for Baking
To save time and to save having to scrape out a whole tin of raw Chelsea buns to then put in another tin, just freeze them in the tin that you will be baking them in!Â
Use Quickly
Whilst Chelsea buns will freeze perfectly fine, if you have frozen raw dough, it’s best to use sooner rather than later.
How Long Can You Freeze Chelsea Buns?
You can freeze Chelsea buns, with cooked buns lasting for up to 6 months in the freezer. Raw dough that has been frozen will last a while in the freezer, potentially up to 3 months, but be sure to keep an eye on it. Â
You Can Freeze Chelsea Buns for up to 6 Months
How Do You Defrost Chelsea Buns?
If you have frozen your Chelsea buns raw, simply remove them from the freezer and allow them to defrost until soft.
Once they are defrosted, discard the wrapping, place them in the oven in the baking tin you froze them in and bake as per the recipe instructions. Then make the glaze and pour over the hot buns.
If you have frozen cooked Chelsea buns, follow the steps above regarding removing them from the freezer and allowing them to defrost. You can then gently reheat it in the microwave or place it in the oven for a few minutes.Â
Can You Refreeze Chelsea Buns?
You shouldn’t refreeze Chelsea buns that have been defrosted as it will severely impact the taste and texture of the buns.
Refreezing any sort of baked goods will typically lead to a chewy, tough texture when cooked which is not what anyone wants from a Chelsea bun.Â
Do Chelsea Buns Freeze Well?
Yes, Chelsea buns are surprisingly good for freezing.
Whether you are freezing them in dough form for a fresh bake when you need it, or if you are freezing ones that have already been baked, Chelsea buns are the ultimate indulgence and will also last a fair amount of time in the freezer – unless you eat them all too soon!
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing Chelsea buns or buns in general, then these may help:
Whether you choose to store them in the cupboard or freezer, you must ensure they are kept airtight to keep them as fresh as possible.
If kept in an airtight container, then Chelsea buns will keep for around 3 days before they begin to dry out.
