These gluten free, vegan hot cross buns are soft and fluffy: You’ve gotta try this healthy version of everyone’s favourite Easter treat!
Easter Breads
When my family lived in Hungary we grew fond of ‘kalacs’. A sweet bread traditionally eaten at Easter (nowadays you can buy it year round) Now that we live in Spain it’s ‘La Mona de Pascua’ which is very similar to kalacs actually. But to me there is no food that screams Easter more than hot cross buns.
Hot Cross Buns – A Good Friday tradition
Easter is filled with traditions some of which I thought to be uniquely Trinidadian. Eating fish as opposed to meat on Good Friday is one. I truly believed that was a Trinidadian thing until I had a conversation with a Spanish friend today. She was jokingly telling me that we could not go out to our favorite restaurant for ‘arroz al horno’ (Spanish baked rice) because her hubby has this practice that he doesn’t eat meat on Good Friday. I was like hey we do that back home as well. It was then I realized that eating fish on Good Friday was a Catholic tradition. It got me curious as to why we also eat hot cross buns and I found this informative article.
Rustic Hot Cross Buns
Admittedly, I am not entirely pleased with the final look of these hot cross buns. I spent quite a bit of time painstakingly piping on the crosses but as the buns baked the dough expanded and the crosses did not look picture perfect .
I was seriously tempted to re make these hot cross buns but decided against it. They are so delicious regardless of their appearance and by the time I set them out to be photographed I was kinda feeling their rustic look .
Healthy Hot Cross Buns Recipe
I’ve used a combination of wholegrain and starchy gluten free flours for the best texture. You may substitute all of these flours with an equal amount of your favourite gluten free flour blend if you like.
These hot cross buns are perfect on their own but served with a delicious cup of Lavender Earl Grey Tea Latte and you’ve got yourself the perfect Good Friday afternoon tea!
Do you eat hot cross buns at Easter? What are some of your Easter traditions?
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Hot Cross Buns Recipe (gluten free, egg free, vegan)
Ingredients
Dry
- 1 cup gluten free brown rice flour
- ½ cup gluten free oat flour
- ½ cup tapioca starch
- ½ cup sweet rice flour also called glutinous rice flour or mochiko
- 2 tablespoons flax meal egg replacement
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon psyllium husk powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup raisins
Wet
- 1 cup warm milk of choice it helps to deepen the flavor and produces a crusty outer layer
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 3 tablespoons liquid coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil
- Zest of one orange or lemon
For the cross
- 4 tbsp sweet rice flour also called glutinous rice flour or mochiko
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- Enough water to make a sticky paste. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time
You may also use melted coconut butter for the cross 'icing'
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/ 175ºC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Mix dry ingredients together in a medium sized bowl.
- Mix wet ingredients together and add to dry ingredients.
- Mix to combine.
- Scoop out a golf ball sized amount of dough and roll into a ball with your hands. Place balls onto baking sheet.
- Press a little cross on top of each bun with the tip of a blunt knife. DO NOT make the same mistake as myself and cut into the dough too deep.
- Mix the ingredients for the cross together in a small bowl. Pipe out crosses on each bun.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven for approximately 30 minutes
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! It looks delicious. I really appreciate you sharing it because I am Catholic. I have never actually made them, but I’m really happy you have a gluten free recipe available. Happy Easter!
A Happy and blessed Easter to you and yours Sarah ?
These bring back sweet memories. My grandma always made hot cross buns!
Brings back memories for me to Linda. Growing up we always had them on Good Friday ?
So fun! I don’t think I’ve ever had hot cross buns. They look delicious!
Oh Emily you’ve got to try these. You’re gonna love them ?
This looks wonderful! I have never made hot cross buns. I have been stuck on what to make for this Sunday and I think this will be on the menu. 😉
I began experimenting with these a while back, wanted the recipe perfected by Easter. I couldn’t be more pleased ? Hope your family enjoys them!
I may make these for easter
Hope you enjoy them ?
Looks so sweet and delicious!
Thanks Jolene. It’s wonderfully spiced and naturally sweet from the raisins. I just love these buns ?
They look delicious. I like the addition of the psyllium husk powder.
Thanks Anna! Psyllium husk makes gluten free bread taste like bread . I just love it ??
Sounds wonderful! I agree with Anna on the psyllium husk addition, love that easy way to boost fiber intake.
Thanks Dawn! I add psyllium to all my bread recipes. It’s wonderful ?
I’ve never had hot cross buns. They look yummy! Thanks for sharing them with us at Savoring Saturdays!
For the cross.. i dont understand what is sticky rice flour? Is it a paste made with rice flour? And im not following how to make the cross? You make the cross shape when the dough is raw and then put the paste on it and bake?
Hi Tamara, sticky rice flour is the same as the sweet rice flour we use in the dough of the buns also called glutinous rice flour or mochiko. For making the cross you’ll make a paste using this flour + liquid sweetener (like honey or maple syrup) + just enough water to get a thick paste consistency. You pipe that onto to raw buns and then bake. Hope this helps.
The flavor is great –nicely spiced– but mine came out a tad dry. I am going to try them next time with a “wash” of Earth Balance and a little sugar to see if I can get that “glow” that non-vegan versions have and also add a bit more moisture.