To make hot cross buns, you start off in a similar way to making pastry, using the 'rubbing in method' (rubbing butter into flour). In this case, you sift the flour together with some mixed spices and a little salt, and then rub in cubes of cold butter into the flour with your finger tips until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.

The next stage is more like bread making, as you create a 'well' (a small hole) in the centre of the mixture, and put in yeast (dried is fine, just follow the packet instructions), lemon zest and sugar. Mix it all, and then add beaten egg and milk to make a soft dough. Mix in dried fruit and knead or pummel the dough until soft and silky.

After this the traditonal recipe gets complicated - you have to let it prove, knead again, let it rise and shape again. The best recipe I've found is this one - it looks tricky but if you follow it you will get lovely results. You make the cross with a flour and water paste and when the whole thing is baked sprinkle it with sugar.
Hope they taste good.