Easy Healthy Hot Cross Bun Recipe
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This easy healthy hot cross bun recipe is all you need to make the holiday classic at home! The buns are soft, sweet, and perfectly spiced every single time.
Warm, glazed, and filled with spices and fruits, hot cross buns combine the best of dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls.
While they’re traditionally enjoyed to signify the end of Lent, there’s no reason not to enjoy them anytime you like.
And thanks to this vegan recipe, these healthier version of hot cross buns are more inclusive and far less intimidating!
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Enjoy these buns with a homemade jam like peach jalapeno jam! Or, for a cozy pick-me-up, pair them with a cup of hot apple juice.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Healthy Hot Cross Bun Recipe
- These healthier hot cross buns are made with vegan-friendly ingredients, so even those with dietary restrictions can enjoy them worry-free.
- Studded with raisins and finished with a maple apricot glaze, these vegan hot cross buns will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
- These healthy hot cross buns are perfect for Holy Week or any occasion that calls for something special but fuss-free to make.
Ingredients And Substitutions
Unsweetened almond milk – For activating the yeast.
Active dry yeast – To get a good rise on your buns, make sure the yeast is still active. Mix it with warm water and sugar and leave it somewhere warm for a few minutes. If it gets foamy, you’re good to go.
Caster sugar – If unavailable, just blend good old granulated sugar until it’s very fine.
White bread flour – This easy healthy hot cross bun recipe uses white bread flour for the best texture. Don’t forget to also save some extra flour for your work surface.
Ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ground nutmeg – Of course, hot cross buns are beautifully spiced. You can try different combinations and adjust their amounts to your liking.
Salt – To balance the sweetness of the vegan hot cross buns.
Vanilla extract and orange zest – They add extra oomph to the dairy-free hot cross buns.
Unsalted vegan butter – Melted butter tenderizes the hot cross bun dough for a softer crumb. You can also save some unsalted butter for serving with the freshly baked, warm buns—I’m salivating!
Golden raisins – Customize this easy healthy hot cross bun recipe with your favorite dried fruits! Dark raisins will also work. If you’re not a fan of dried fruits in baked goods, substitute them with cacao nibs.
Baking spray – For greasing the baking dish and mixing bowl.
For the Crosses:
All-purpose flour and water – The signature cross on the hot cross buns is simply a flour paste. For a twist, you can also julienne an apple and use the strips for the crosses.
For the Glaze:
Apricot jam and maple syrup – The glaze adds shine and sweetness to the yummy buns.
Tips For Making This Recipe
Save Your Arms
You can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, but check in with your dough periodically as it might not need a full 10 minutes of kneading. The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. If you end up with a sticky dough, knead in more flour as needed.
Bake the Buns Later
Use a cling film to cover the baking dish with the unrisen dough balls, then refrigerate. Just bring the dough balls to room temperature, let them rise, pipe on the crosses, and you’re ready to bake the buns.
Where to Put Dough to Rise
Consider the dryer if you can’t find a warm spot for your dough! You can run it empty for a few minutes, then turn it off. It’ll be nice and warm for the dough.
Healthy Hot Cross Buns Recipe FAQs
Why do they put crosses on hot cross buns?
The buns have crosses on them to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus. This is also related to why hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday!
What’s the difference between a hot cross bun and a tea cake?
Hot cross buns are softer, made with spices, and have crosses on them. Tea cakes, on the other hand, are larger and more flat than hot cross buns.
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of white bread flour for vegan hot cross buns?
This easy healthy hot cross bun recipe uses white bread flour to create a more elastic dough that yields the perfect substantial texture for the buns. While all-purpose flour will work in a pinch, bread flour will give your buns a better texture.
Can you make hot cross buns without sugar?
We haven’t tried this healthy hot cross bun recipe without sugar, but I’ve seen similar hot cross bun recipes that swap sugar with pitted dates blended with liquid to form a puree.
How to store hot cross buns?
You can store these healthier hot cross buns in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or in the fridge for 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 1 month. To serve, thaw and reheat in the microwave or oven.
More Delicious Vegan Baking Recipes
- Vegan Banana Bread
- Vegan Zucchini Bread
- Vegan Pumpkin Bread
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts
- Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
I found this recipe for Vegan Sweet Yeast Rolls that I HAVE to try!
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Easy Healthy Hot Cross Bun Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, lukewarm
- 4 tsp active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup caster sugar
- 4 cups white bread flour
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup unsalted vegan butter, melted
- 1 orange, zested
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- Baking spray
For the Crosses:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp water
For the Glaze:
- 3 tbsp apricot jam
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish with baking spray.
- Add the almond milk and yeast to a small mixing bowl. Whisk until combined and set aside for 10 minutes until the mixture is frothy.
- Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and create a well in the center.
- Pour in the melted non-dairy butter, vanilla extract, and activated yeast mixture. Mix to form a dough.
- Transfer the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until soft and smooth.
- Add the orange zest and golden raisins. Knead until well combined.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a damp tea towel. Leave in a warm place for an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Punch down the risen dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth dough ball and place each ball in the prepared baking dish.
- Cover the baking dish with a damp tea towel and leave in a warm place to rise and double in size, about 45 minutes.
- While the buns are rising, combine the flour and water in a small bowl to make the paste for the crosses.
- Transfer to a piping bag.
- Once the buns have risen, pipe a cross shape onto each bun. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the buns are golden brown and cooked through.
- For the glaze, whisk together the apricot jam and maple syrup.
- Brush on the glaze while the buns are still warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can also use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, but check in with your dough periodically as it might not need a full 10 minutes of kneading. The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. If you end up with a sticky dough, knead in more flour as needed.
- Use a cling film to cover the baking dish with the unrisen dough balls, then refrigerate. Just bring the dough balls to room temperature, let them rise, pipe on the crosses, and you’re ready to bake the buns.
- Consider the dryer if you can’t find a warm spot for your dough! You can run it empty for a few minutes, then turn it off. It’ll be nice and warm for the dough.
PIN FOR LATER!
