The dough for hot cross buns (which are really only spicy fruit buns with a cross on top) is the basis for any number of fruit breads - from Chelsea buns through to schiacciata con l'uva. Breads from Ireland, Sweden, Germany, etc.

So once you've made a batch of hot cross buns, you can go ahead and use the dough to make many other fruit breads which just require a different technique or method of shaping.

Here are a few of these breads:

http://nobreadisanisland.blogspot.com/2011/04/now-youve-made-hot-cross-buns.html

Don't wait until next year to make a fruit dough - it's a year-round bread!

Cheers, Paul