Better Than the Bakery: Vegan Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross buns are celebrated by everyone (not just Christians) at Easter, the ‘cross mark’ designed to replicate the cross that Jesus died on, then rose from the dead, which represents the whole notion of the faith.
But no doubt He would not be happy about his faith being celebrated with factory-farmed dairy and eggs and plastic packaging. So whether you’re Christian or not, here are some lovely recipes to make instead!
Keep fresh dough, dried fruits, nutmeg, citrus and chocolate away from pets. Bin citrus scraps (unless you have a food waste bin) as acids could harm compost creatures.
Tips for good vegan hot cross buns
- Use bread flour. High protein flour gives good gluten structure, for a chewy, bakery-style bun.
- Warm your plantmilk. Keeping your milk warm, helps to activate the yeast.
- Use fat-rich plantmilk. Forget watery rice milk for hot cross buns. Choose full-fat oat or soy, to replicate the richness of dairy.
- Weigh your ingredients. Use a digital scale (not measuring cups) to avoid dry heavy dough. Vegan baking is a bit of an exact science.
- Soak your dried fruits. Soaking raisins or sultanas in boiling water or orange juice for 10 minutes, helps them stay juicy before baking. Same with mixing spices into warm milk to release their oils.
- Sticky shine! Brush buns with warm apricot jam or a simple sugar syrup, soon after baking.
Vegan brioche hot cross buns
You want buttery? Buttery you got! These vegan brioche hot cross buns (Rainbow Nourishments) combine the breadiness of a hot cross bun, fused with the famed buttery French bread. Use vegan butter with no palm oil (Flora, Lurpak and Miyoko’s are all good).
Vegan hot cross buns with cardamom/rum
If there’s anyone going to come up with something bonkers like a hot cross bun with rum, it’s Richard at School Night Vegan. Also spiced with cardamom.
Also try his vegan hot cross bread and butter pudding. This time he swaps the rum for cointreau! This recipe uses any leftover hot cross buns you have to hand (or just use any sliced sweet bread if not).
