Easy Healthy Hot Cross Bun Recipe

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.

Course Holiday Recipes

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Rising Time 1 45

Total Time 2 20

Servings buns

Calories 144kcal

Author Louisa

Equipment

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.

Nutrition