Indulge yourself this Easter, with these fruit flecked, fragrant & lightly sweetened Vegan Hot Cross Buns. Perfect warm from the oven, or gently toasted!
Ok, I can eat Vegan Hot Cross Buns all day if I must. And I have been.
I re-tested my Easy No Knead Hot Cross Buns recipe last week as it has been around for a long while and I wanted to give it a few little tweaks. Then I had to get working on these more traditional vegan hot cross buns right after.
It's been Hot Cross Bun central in our house ever since, which I'm certainly not complaining about because I freely admit that I am a carb-o-holic. And carbs don't get any better than when they are in the form of a fragrant, fruit flecked, sticky Hot Cross Bun slathered in Homemade Vegan Butter.
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These Vegan Hot Cross Buns are pretty easy to make. Please don't be intimidated by them. But if you just can't help yourself, then my No Knead version is the answer to your prayers.
Just do it. Whichever way you prefer, but make some Hot Cross buns already, because it's Easter and you need them in your life!
If kneading is something that really doesn't appeal to you then a stand mixer is what you want. They make light work of mixing and kneading dough. I wouldn't be without my shiny, red Kitchen Aid.
This is why I am loving these vegan hot cross buns:
- they are pretty easy to make and you get lots of hands off time to go put your feet up throughout the process!
- the sticky, slightly crusty exterior and fluffy, soft inside
- THAT fragrant spicy smell while they are cooking...
- they are insanely deliciousness
- they are amazing while very fresh, but are also equally amazing when slightly stale if you pop them in a toaster or give them a quick refresh in the oven
How to make vegan hot cross buns
How to make vegan hot cross bunsFor detailed measurements and instructions, see the printable recipe card.
Making your own Vegan Hot Cross Buns isn't difficult but it does take a few hours. Almost all of that is hands-off time though so don't panic, and you check out my step by step video for a more visual reference.
Here's how it's done:
- Step 1 - Put all of the dry ingredients including the orange zest, but NOT the dried fruit, into the bowl of your stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl if you are making the buns by hand.
- Step 2 - Add the liquids to the dry ingredients with the melted vegan butter/coconut oil.
- Step 3 - Mix everything up well, then knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Once it's smooth, add the dried fruit and carry on kneading for a minute until it's incorporated. Adding it a little later stops it getting all mangled up.
- Step 4 - Lightly oil a bowl and the dough, cover the bowl with a damp, clean dish towel and leave until doubled.
- Step 5 - Turn out, divide into pieces, roll into balls (they don't have to be perfect - rustic is a good look!) and place on a baking sheet. Cover and leave for 30 minutes.
- Step 6 - Make the flour and water mixture then pipe it in cross shapes across the top and bake.
- Step 7 - While still hot from the oven, brush with the glaze then allow to cool.
Success Tip - Please note that when baking, I always recommend using a kitchen scale. Cups are great but for consistent, really accurate results, you need to weigh everything. It really makes a difference to the end result and digital kitchen scales are so cheap these days. You can get a set for under $10 so there are no excuses! Mine get used multiple times a day so I splashed out on this one which cost me around $30:
How to make the glaze for hot cross buns
My go-to, easy glaze for Hot Cross Buns is a mixture of equal parts sugar and boiling water. You just need to stir it until the sugar dissolves and it is ready to go. For this recipe, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of water is enough.
Another really good option which does have the edge on stickiness factor, is apricot jam. Warm it gently in a pan and brush it over the buns. If it's a bit lumpy you can blend it up until smooth first. I'm lazy though so I usually just dab the brush around the lumps and get enough to do the job without blending!
Storage, freezing and reheating tips
Allow the vegan hot cross buns to cool completely then store in an airtight container for a couple of days.
Eat as they are or slice in half and toast before serving. You cna also warm them through n a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes and they will taste freshly baked.
Hot Cross Buns also freeze very well. Place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost at room temperature for a few hours before using.
How to repurpose stale hot cross buns
I just had to test this out the other day. All in the name of helping you guys of course...There were no selfish, gluttonous thoughts at all... ?
If you somehow manage to end up with some stale vegan hot cross buns, try making French Toast with them! Yes, cut your Hot Cross Buns in half and use them in place of the bread in my Best Vegan French Toast Recipe. Stale buns work best. Don't try it with fresh ones.
It's so good it's even worth doubling your Hot cross Bun batch for!
Hungry for more?
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Hot Cross Buns
Author:Ingredients
- 500g / 4 cups all purpose flour or bread flour , in the UK use strong flour
- 1 tablespoon instant or quick yeast , sometimes labelled fast yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt , finely ground, not crystals
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 70g / ⅓ cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons vegan butter or coconut oil, melted and room temperature. It must NOT be hot.
- 1 large orange , zest and juice
- 120mls / ½ cup water , room temperature is fine
- 165mls / ½ cup & 3 tablespoons milk of choice
- 100g / ⅔ cup golden raisins
- 100g / ⅔ cup dried cranberries
For the crosses
- 60g ⁄ ½ cup all purpose flour
- enough water to make a thick pipe-able paste
For the glaze
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put the flour, yeast, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and zest into the bowl of a stand mixer and stir to combine them all.
- Squeeze the juice of the orange into the measured water and add that along with the milk and butter.
- With the dough hook in place, turn on the stand mixer. I use speed 2 with mine. Knead for around 8 minutes in the stand mixer, or about 15 minutes by hand. The dough needs to be completely smooth and elastic. You will notice when you start that if you stretch the dough it will tear. By the time you have finished it should stretch really easily with no tearing.3-4 minutes into kneading, turn the mixer off and give the dough a poke with your finger. It should be tacky but not overly sticky. If it's too sticky add another couple tablespoons of flour, if it's dry, add a tablespoon or two of water. Don't overdo it with adding more flour though. The drier the dough, the dryer the finished buns will be.
- Once it’s smooth, add the dried fruit and carry on kneading for a minute or two until it’s incorporated.
- Grease a bowl with a drop of oil or some oil spray, and put the dough in it, move it all around on all sides to coat the dough ball in the oil. This stops a skin forming on the dough and means it will rise better. I tend to use the bowl I mixed the dough in to save dirtying another. I just scoop the dough out and hold it in one hand, then pour a little oil into the bowl with the other then put the dough back. Cover with a damp, clean dish towel (just run it under the tap for a few second then wring it out) and leave on the kitchen counter until doubled. The time this takes will vary depending on how warm your kitchen is but bear in mind that the longer it takes to rise, the more flavour there will be so unless you are in a hurry, don’t rush it by cranking up the heating or putting it somewhere very warm. Mine generally takes between 60 - 90 minutes to double and my kitchen is usually between 17-18°C.
- Once the dough has doubled scrape it gently onto a clean, lightly floured work surface. Be careful not to tear it as you do this. Shape it loosely into a round, then cut it into 10 even pieces with a sharp knife or dough cutter. Roll into balls. See my video above to watch how I do it. Basically I place my hands on either side of the ball and gently turn the ball of dough while pulling down from the top, stretching it slightly to make the surface taut and gathering it at the bottom. Don't worry too much though. The rustic look is good! Place each finished ball on a baking sheet with about an inch clear around them then cover with the damp dish towel again and leave on the kitchen counter again for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400°F
- Mix the flour and water together into a thick pipe-able paste and put it in a piping bag or piping syringe. Once the buns have had 30 minutes to rest, uncover them and pipe crosses on the top. It's easier if you have lined your buns up well on the baking sheet and can just pipe in one smooth line all the way along.
- Once piped place in the pre-heated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, maybe another minute or two. They should be just starting to turn a little golden and if you top on the bottom of one of them it should sound hollow.
- While in the oven make the sugar glaze by combining the sugar with the boiling water and stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Once cooked, remove the buns from the oven and immediately brush with the sugar glaze then place on a cooling rack to cool.
NOTES
If you did, be a ☆ and let me know what you think by rating it and commenting below. Tag me on Instagram too. I am @avirtualvegan and my hashtag is #avirtualvegan ________________________________________________________
NUTRITION
Nutritional information is provided for convenience & as a courtesy. The data is a computer generated estimate so should be used as a guide only.
Liv says
These are great! I used oat milk and nutelex and made a double batch. They are absolutely delicious and my ten month old son smashed his first hot cross bun in minutes! Can’t wait to try some other recipes. Thank you 😊
Sharad says
Made the scones today. They turned out fine except that I found 2 tsp salt was too much for my taste. Also they were not as soft as I was expecting (even though the dough had risen quite well in 90 mins.) I will try them again using less salt next time
A Virtual Vegan says
This recipe uses a standard amount of salt for 500 grams of flour in a bread dough like this one and if everything was measured correctly you shouldn't be able to taste it. Salt isn't just for flavour in bread. It also slows the fermentation process. Reducing it will affect how the recipe works and speed up the action of the yeast which will mean less flavour in your buns. So I don't recommend you reduce it.
If the buns weren't soft (which they should be), it could be for many reasons.
1. You didn't measure the flour accurately and accidentally used too much. A digital scale is essential for good results when making bread. Cups are not accurate enough for consistent results.
2. The dough was too dry. As per any bread recipe, the liquid used is a guide and will need adjusting depending on the brand of flour used and humidity. Also if you omitted any of the liquids like the orange juice that would affect it.
3. Overkneading or underkneading
4. Under proofing or over proofing
5. Changing anything about the recipe, especially the type of flour, vegan butter and milk as they make the dough extra soft. Or changing the spices because they affect the action of the yeast. Any little change can make a big difference.
6. Overbaking
Hopefully, that can help you work out what might have gone wrong!
Gillian says
Super tasty, and great instructions to follow along!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Margaret Dunlap says
Can I use active dry yeast in these? That is all I have on hand right now. Thanks!
A Virtual Vegan says
You can yes. Use the water and a tablespoon or two of the sugar from the listed ingredients to dissolve and activate it before you get started.
Margaret Dunlap says
Oh good, thank you! And thanks for such a quick reply!
Anne says
Hey, I only have gluten free flour, almond flour, and oat flour. Will I need to make any alterations if I use one of these? Which would work best?
A Virtual Vegan says
None of those flours will work in this recipe. Hot cross buns are basically an enriched bread and need the gluten in the flour to work. You would be much better off finding an already gluten-free hot-cross bun recipe than trying to convert one and like mine and risking a poor result.
Amy says
These are really good! I made these today, my first time ever making bread (I bake cookies and cakes regularly though). I ended up having to add quite a bit of extra flour for the dough to reach the right consistency, but they turned out so well! They're absolutely delicious and so good with strawberry jam. I'd never had hot cross buns before, but I am definitely in love! 💛
Melanie McDonald says
I'm so pleased you enjoyed them Amy!
River says
Made these for Easter and they turned out PERFECTLY. I couldn't tell if they would be soft enough for my taste, and was worried that my lack of kneading skills (and a standing mixer) would ruin the texture, but your instructions were perfect and they are wonderfully soft. The glaze is the first vegan glaze I tried that really worked, they are still shiny and beautiful two days later. It helped that I kept adding layers until the whole mixture ran out. The only changes I made is add a tiny bit of a buttercream glaze (Earth balance and powdered sugar) over the flour crosses, because I like things a little on the sweeter side, and my first attempt at hot cross buns years ago had bitter tasting flour crosses, used a clementine instead of an orange because that was what I had and I was a little nervous about orange in bread, substituted the cranberries with more raisins because I was out, and threw in a couple of broken up pecans. I'm sure the cranberries and more orange would add to them, but if anyone else has to leave those out, fear not, they were still amazing. My boyfriend, who is not a fan of any fruit in food and isn't enthused about bread or sweets, ate 3.
Melanie McDonald says
I'm so pleased that you (and your boyfriend) enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to stop by to leave feedback. It's much appreciated!
Elizabeth says
These are AMAZING! I made 2 batches for Easter and both were devoured within hours. Next time I make them, I will divide the dough into 12 buns rather than 10 as they were quite large (not a bad thing, if you have enough self control to only eat 1).
The whole family rated these 10 out of 10. We will definitely make them again soon (not just for Easter).
Melanie McDonald says
Thank you Elizabeth. I'm so pleased you and your family enjoyed them!
Lisa Chandler says
THE BEST hot cross buns ever! Thank you for such a great recipe.
Melanie McDonald says
Thank you so much Lisa. I'm really pleased you enjoyed them!
lizzette says
OMG OMG I made these yesterday and I'm totally in love with them!! so easy to make, I ate 2 as soon as I took them out of the oven :) Definitely one of my fave recipes from AVV :)
Melanie McDonald says
Yay! I'm really pleased you enjoyed them. They sure are hard to resist when fresh out of the oven!
Laura says
These look great. Can you let them rise in the fridge overnight?
A Virtual Vegan says
I haven't tried that with this recipe but I regularly do it when I make bread so think it would be fine. I do have this no knead recipe though https://avirtualvegan.com/no-knead-hot-cross-buns/ and it can easily be left on the counter (not in the fridge) for up to 8 hours. A little over would probably be ok too.
JOSIE LEJEUNE says
Hi Mel.
Love all of your recipes. Your blog is one of my go tos. I made these yesterday with the previous ingredients that were on the site. So I used 1 cup of soy milk. I also needed to add some water. Anyway, they turned out great & we had them for breakfast. Nex time I'll use less sugar as I found them quite sweet. Thanks for all the great work!
A Virtual Vegan says
Thank you Josie! I'm so glad they worked out well and that you enjoyed them, and thank you for stopping by to let me know. I really appreciate it! Bear in mind that if you do make them with less sugar, they might take a little longer to rise. Have a lovely easter weekend!