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Home » Recipes » Sweet treats

Vegan hot cross buns

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vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl
vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

Make your plant-based Easter complete with a batch (or two) of these delicious vegan hot cross buns.

vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

Hot cross buns are an essential part of Easter

It just wouldn't be Easter without hot cross buns would it?

While they're baking the house slowly fills with the delicious scent of warm, spiced bread.

I always end up nearly scalding my mouth on one because I just can't wait for them to cool down!

What is a hot cross bun?

A hot cross bun is a spiced fruit bun that is decorated with a cross shape.

They're traditionally eaten on Good Friday, although you'll see them in the shops as early as February nowadays. In fact, I've seen them year-round in some big supermarkets.

vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

Why aren't most hot cross buns vegan?

Hot cross buns are made from an enriched dough - meaning that ingredients like butter, milk and/or eggs have been added.

This makes the buns have a richer texture and taste.

How to make hot cross buns vegan-friendly

The key plant-based substitutions I've used in my vegan hot cross buns are:

  • apple purée (for the eggs)
  • sunflower oil (for the butter)
  • plant-based milk (for the dairy milk).

Oat milk is my milk of choice but almond milk or any other plant milk will work well - apart from coconut milk in a tin.

I first used apple purée instead of eggs to make an enriched bread dough when I attended a vegan cookery course at Demuths in Bath. Read my review of the Indulgent Vegan course.

vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

More vegan Easter recipes

If you like this you might also like:

  • Homemade vegan Easter chocolates
  • Mini Easter simnel cakes
  • Vegan simnel cake
  • Easy soda bread hot cross buns
  • Fruit and nut chocolates
  • Mango and coconut creme eggs
  • Apple and carrot hot cross buns
  • Mini egg brownies

Equipment

To make these hot cross buns you'll need:

  • a stand mixer with a dough hook fitted (not essential but easier than kneading by hand)
  • weighing scales (ideally digital)
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring jug
  • mixing bowl
  • baking tray lined with non-stick paper
  • pastry brush
  • wire cooling rack

You will also need cling film or a damp tea towel to cover your dough while it is rising. For environmental reasons I use a damp tea towel.

vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

Ingredients

To make vegan hot cross buns you will need:

  • 500g strong white flour
  • 7g sachet instant yeast
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 250ml warm plant based milk eg oat mil
  • 200g apple purée (applesauce)
  • 200g mixed dried fruit (eg sultanas candied peel, chopped dried apricots)
  • 50g sunflower oil
  • Extra plant based milk for brushing

How to make vegan hot cross buns

NB: If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook I would recommend using it for this recipe. The dough for the fruit buns is quite sticky and it's easier to work with in a mixer.

If you have made this recipe and loved it please consider leaving a comment and rating below.

vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

Vegan hot cross buns

Cook Veggielicious
These delicious vegan hot cross buns are made with oat milk, apple purée and sunflower oil. All the flavours of Easter, none of the dairy and eggs.
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Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Rising time 3 hours hrs
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Snack
Cuisine Vegan, British
Servings 12
Calories 262 kcal

Equipment

  • Weighing scales (ideally digital)
  • Measuring jug
  • Measuring spoons
  • Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
  • Bowl
  • Baking tray
  • Pastry brush
  • Cooling rack

Ingredients
 
 

  • 500 g strong white flour
  • 7 g sachet instant yeast
  • 50 g caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon mixed spice
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 250 ml plant based milk warm
  • 200 g apple purée
  • 200 g mixed dried fruit eg sultanas, candied peel, chopped dried apricots
  • 50 g sunflower oil
  • Extra plant based milk for brushing

To make the cross

  • 2 tablespoons plain flour
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions
 

  • First place 500g strong white flour into a large bowl and add the sachet of yeast, 50g caster sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon mixed spice and a pinch of nutmeg.
  • Mix 250ml warm milk with 200g apple purée.
  • Add this to the flour mixture, stir together, then fold in 200g mixed dried fruit.
  • Knead for five minutes on a lightly oiled surface or in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
  • After five minutes gradually add the oil, a tablespoon at a time.
  • Knead for 10 minutes in total.
  • Lightly oil a clean bowl and place your dough inside. Cover with a damp cloth or cling film and leave to rise for one to one and a half hours.
  • Cover two baking trays with non stick baking paper.
  • Use your hands to squash the air out of it - this is called knocking back.
  • Transfer to a lightly oiled surface and divide into 12 balls.
  • Put them on the baking tray, cover again and leave them for 45 minutes or until double in size.
  • Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan)/200°C/gas mark 6.
  • When risen brush the tops of your buns with milk.

To make the cross

  • Place the 2 tablespoons plain flour in a small bowl and gradually add in a little cold water until you have a thick paste.
  • Pipe or spoon a cross shape onto the top of each bun.
  • Bake in the pre-heated oven for 25 minutes until golden brown.
  • Allow to cool on a wire rack then store in an airtight container.

Notes

Nutritional information is approximate and is intended as a guide only.

Nutrition

Calories: 262kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 31mgPotassium: 176mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 8IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 1mg
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vegan hot cross buns on tray with dairy free butter in bowl

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Mandy Mazliah profile shotHi, I'm Mandy. I'm a vegan food blogger, cook and mum of three. Cook Veggielicious is where I share my easy vegan recipes that anyone can make.

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