Hot Cross Buns are one of many traditional foods eaten at Easter. Traditionally, they’re a sweet bun that’s lightly spiced and studded with raisins or currants, then marked on top with a cross that’s either piped in icing or etched into the dough.
Why do we eat Hot Cross Buns at Easter?
Despite Hot Cross Buns being readily available all year round they were once only eaten on Good Friday. There are a number of different reasons why we eat them at this time of year. Most of which revolve around their religious connotations as they mark the end of lent; and different parts of the bun have certain meanings. For instance, the cross symbolises the crucifixion of Jesus; and the spices inside are said to remind Christians of the spices used to embalm the body of Jesus upon burial.
Whether you’re religious or not, they can make lovely afternoon snacks or sweet additions to breakfast over Easter weekend. However, many traditional recipes use eggs, butter and milk and it’s often hard to find a dairy-free recipe that still boasts a tasty soft and fluffy dough. So we have have done the hard work for you and found 5 vegan hot cross bun recipes which look delicious…
1. Vegan Hot Cross Buns – All Spice, Apple Sauce, Sultanas and Orange zest:
Serves: 12
Preparation Time: 30 minutess
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
For the buns:
- 250g / 2 cups strong / bread flour
- 250g / 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1½ tsp salt
- 7 g sachet instant dried yeast
- 50 g / 2 oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon or allspice
- 100 g / 3.5 oz raisins / sultanas
- 50 g / 2 oz of applesauce
- zest of 1 orange
- 125 ml / ½ cup + 1 tsp plant milk (we used homemade almond milk)
- 125 ml / ½ cup + 1 tsp lukewarm water
- 30 ml / 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for coating
For the cross:
- 45 g / 3 tbsp all purpose flour
- 60 ml / ¼ cup water
For the glaze:
- 1 tbsp of apricot jam or orange marmalade
- 1 tbsp of water
You can find the method here.
2. Vegan Hot Cross Buns – Dates, Figs, Sultanas and Vanilla with a Maple Glaze:
Serves: 12
Preparation Time: 2 hours
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
Ingredients:
For the buns:
- 3/4 cups lukewarm almond milk, plus extra to brush the tops with
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 75ml melted coconut oil
- 2.5 cups flour, plus additional for rolling
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- Pinch of salt
- 1 handful sultanas
- 1 handful dates, chopped
- 3 dried figs, chopped
- 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
- 1 tsp orange zest (optional)
For the cross:
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil
- Drizzle of water
For the glaze:
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp orange juice
You can find the method here.
3. Vegan Hot Cross Buns – Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Orange & Lemon zest, Raisins and Dried Currants:
Serves: 12
Preparation Time: 1 hours 45 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Ingredients:
For the buns:
- 2 1/4 tsp yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup lukewarm water
- 3/4 cup room temperature/lukewarm unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 1/3 cup oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup dried currants
For the cross:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 tsp unsweetened non-dairy milk
For the glaze:
- 2 tbsp unsweetened non-dairy milk
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
You can find the method here.
4. Vegan Hot Cross Buns – Sultanas, Cranberries, Apple and Orange:
Serves: 12
Preparation Time: 4 hours
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients:
For the buns:
- 500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 65g caster sugar
- 1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 level tsp mixed spice
- 10g salt
- 10g instant yeast
- 40g dairy free butter, melted
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 120ml non dairy milk (I used almond milk, but any non dairy variety would work)
- 180ml water
- 80g sultanas
- 60g dried cranberries
- 80g chopped mixed peel
- Finely grated zest of 2 oranges
- 1/2 dessert apple, peeled and cored
- For the crosses:
- 75g plain flour
- 75ml water
For the cross:
- 75g plain flour
- 75ml water
For the glaze:
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 tbsp orange juice – boil together for 5 mins until syrupy.
You can find the method here.
5. Vegan Hot Cross Buns – Coconut & Raisin:
Serves: 12
Preparation Time: 4 hours
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients:
For the buns:
- 3/4 cup plant based milk
- 2 tsp dried yeast
- 4 tbsp coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup melted vegan butter or margarine
- 2 ¾ cups plain flour
- 2 ½ tsp mixed spice
- 2/3 cup raisins
- pinch of salt
- coconut oil (for oiling the bowl & loaf tin)
For the cross:
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- 2 ½ tbsp plant based milk
For the glaze:
- 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tbsp coconut sugar
You can find the method here.
We hope that gives you some inspiration for some afternoon baking; and if you’re baking them in preparation for Easter, we hope you have a lovely weekend. Enjoy!
