Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

Last updated - ; Published - By Rhian Williams 44 Comments

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This Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf is moist, fragrant, fruity and subtly spiced. It'seasy to make as it's made in one bowl, yeast-free and no-knead. It's also refined sugar free, great for breakfast, brunch, dessert or a snack and perfect forEaster! It's a flexible recipe that can be adapted based on your taste preferences: for example, you can replace the raisins with chocolate chips or any other type of dried fruit!

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (1)

How to make this recipe

Scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe.

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (2)

Tip: Line the tin with greased baking paper to make the loaf easier to remove afterwards.

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (3)

How to make the cross

  • Mix together the flour and the water in a small bowl until you get a smooth, fairly thick paste.

Tip: Add the water a tiny bit at a time so you don’t add too much.

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (4)
  • Transfer the mixture into a piping bag with a round nozzle.
  • Pipe the flour paste in one vertical line down the middle of the length of the loaf and then do two horizontal lines at even intervals.
Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (5)
  • Bake in oven for around 45 minutes.
Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (6)
  • Mix together the apricot jam and hot water.

Tip: The water is just to thin out the jam, so don’t use too much!

  • Use a pastry brush or the back of a spoon to evenly brush the jam mixture all over the top surface of the loaf.
Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (7)
  • Leave to cool and dry completely before slicing.
Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (8)

How long does this keep for?

It keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days - best reheated in the toaster!

Substitutions you can make

  • You can useany type of oil:coconut oil, olive oil or vegetable oil.
  • You can useany type of plant-based milk:almond milk, rice milk, soy milk, cashew milk, oat milk etc.
  • You can useany type of liquid sweetener:maple syrup, agave syrup, brown rice syrup etc.
  • You can replace the ground almonds (almond meal) withground walnuts.
  • For anut-free version: replace the ground almonds (almond meal/almond flour) withground sunflower seeds.
  • You can useplain flour,wholemeal (whole wheat) flourorspelt flourinstead of the gluten-free flourif you’re not gluten-free.
  • You can either usefreshly squeezed orange juice, ororange juice from a carton.
  • You can replace the orange zest with candied orange peel or 1 teaspoon orange extract.

Flavour substitutions

  • You can replace the cinnamon with mixed spice (or a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves).
  • You can replace theraisins/sultanas with any other dried fruit (dried cranberries, chopped dates, chopped prunes, dried mango, dried pineapple, dried papaya etc).
  • You can replace the dried fruit with chocolate chips!
Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (9)

More gluten-free vegan bread recipes

  • Gluten-Free Vegan Chickpea Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Blueberry Banana Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Irish Soda Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Almond Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Oat Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Dinner Rolls
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Seeded Buckwheat Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Cornbread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Coconut Flour Bread
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Walnut Bread

If you try out this recipe or anything else from my blog,I’d really love to hear anyfeedback! Please give it a rating, leave a comment, or tag a photo @rhiansrecipes #rhiansrecipes onInstagram! Thank you.

Watch how to make it

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (10)

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf

This Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf is moist, fruity and subtly spiced. It's easy to make and perfect for Easter! Plus it's yeast-free and no-knead!

3.88 from 56 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: British

Keyword: gluten-free hot cross bun, vegan easter recipe, vegan hot cross bun

Servings: 12 slices

Calories: 207kcal

Author: Rhian Williams

Ingredients

  • 60 g (¼ cup) coconut oil (or sub olive or vegetable oil)
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) orange juice (freshly squeezed or from a carton)
  • 150 ml ( cup) unsweetened almond milk (or any other plant-based milk)
  • 6 tablespoons maple syrup (or sub any other sweetener)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest (or sub candied orange peel or 1 teaspoon orange extract)
  • 100 g ( cup) raisins or sultanas (or sub any other dried fruit)
  • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (almond meal) *
  • 150 g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
  • 2 heaped teaspoons baking powder (ensure gluten-free if necessary)
  • ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

For the cross (optional):

  • 3 tablespoons gluten-free flour blend (or sub plain flour if not gluten-free)
  • 2 tablespoons water (add it a bit at a time so you don’t add too much!)

To decorate (optional):

  • 1 teaspoon apricot jam
  • ½ teaspoon hot water (to thin out the jam)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • Place the coconut oil in a separate large bowl and melt over a saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave (skip this step if using any other oil).

  • Once melted, add the orange juice to the same bowl along with the almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, orange zest, raisins and ground almonds.

  • Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and mix well.

  • Transfer the mixture into a loaf tin lined with greased baking paper (I used a one-pound loaf tin).

For the cross:

  • Mix together the flour and the water in a small bowl until you get a smooth, fairly thick paste (add the water a tiny bit at a time so you don’t add too much).

  • Transfer the mixture into a piping bag with a round nozzle.

  • Pipe the flour paste in one vertical line down the middle of the length of the loaf and then do two horizontal lines at even intervals.

  • Bake in oven for around 45 minutes until risen and golden brown and an inserted skewer comes out clean.

  • Once out the oven, transfer to a wire rack to cool.

To decorate:

  • As soon as you’ve transferred the loaf to a wire rack, mix together the apricot jam and hot water - the water is just to thin out the jam, so don’t use too much!

  • Use a pastry brush or the back of a spoon to evenly brush the jam mixture all over the top surface of the loaf.

  • Leave to cool and dry completely before slicing.

  • Keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days - best reheated in the toaster!

Video

Notes

*You can alternatively use almond flour.

Leave to cool and dry completely before slicing.

Keeps covered in the fridge for up to a few days - best reheated in the toaster!

Nutrition Facts

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf

Amount Per Serving

Calories 207Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Fat 12g18%

Saturated Fat 5g25%

Sodium 43mg2%

Potassium 120mg3%

Carbohydrates 25g8%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 13IU0%

Vitamin C 4mg5%

Calcium 72mg7%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Made the recipe?Tag @rhiansrecipes on instagram and use the hashtag #rhiansrecipes!

Disclosure: This posts contains affiliate links to Amazon. If you purchase any of these products, a small percentage will come to me with no extra cost to you! This income will go towards the running of this blog – thank you.

More Baking & Dessert Recipes

  • Gluten-Free Vegan Raspberry Madeleines
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Raspberry Muffins
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Raspberry Cake
  • Gluten-Free Vegan Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Angela

    Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (15)
    Made The vegan GF Hot cross bun loaf.. Really like it, very moist and not too dry, hit with family. thank you..😋

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Thank you so much, so happy to hear that!

  2. Millie

    This is sooooo sooooo sooooo good. I'm no baker and this is literally the one thing I make and everyone loves it!

    Reply

    • Rhian Williams

      Thank you so much, so so happy to hear that!!

« Older Comments

Gluten-Free Vegan Hot Cross Bun Loaf - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why aren t hot cross buns vegan? ›

The soft, lightly spiced fruity buns are the ultimate Easter food here in the UK but traditionally they aren't vegan friendly as they contain milk, butter and egg.

Can you buy gluten free hot cross buns? ›

Lifestyle Bakery's Soft 'n' Light Fruit Hot Cross Buns are 100% gluten free, dairy free and delicious – so everyone can enjoy this tasty Easter classic! Packed full of juicy sultanas and currants, these super soft treats are made with carefully selected, high quality ingredients.

Are Asda hot cross buns vegetarian? ›

Suitable for Vegetarians. May Contain: Barley, Eggs, Milk, Oats, Rye, Sesame, Soya. Contains: Wheat.

What do the ingredients in hot cross buns represent? ›

To those practicing their faith today, a bite from a hot cross bun on Good Friday can still be an act laden with religious significance. The bread is a nod to the Communion wafer, the spices represent the spices Christ was wrapped in in his tomb and the cross is of course a reference to his crucifixion.

Why are hot cross buns banned? ›

The custom gained traction, and over the years, fruits and precious spices were included to represent health and prosperity. Spiced buns were banned when the English broke ties with the Catholic Church in the 16th century.

Why can't dogs eat hot cross buns? ›

Hot cross buns and dogs

Hot cross buns which contain dried fruit, such as currants, sultanas and raisins, are all toxic to dogs. Even if your dog eats a small quantity of these dried fruits (and grapes), they can suffer severe kidney failure which may be fatal.

Is Chick-fil-A gluten free bun really gluten-free? ›

Does Chick-fil-A have a gluten-free bun? Yes! Chick-fil-A offers a gluten-free bun option that can be ordered in place of the regular bun with any of our current sandwich offerings. The bun arrives at our restaurants pre-packaged to prevent gluten cross-contact.

Do Aldi sell gluten-free hot cross buns? ›

Foodie Market Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns 4 Pack | ALDI.

Will McDonald's ever have gluten free buns? ›

While we have no plans to offer gluten-free buns now, we're always listening to customer feedback and want to make sure all our guests have a great experience at McDonald's restaurants.

Are Iceland hot cross buns vegan? ›

Fruited hot cross buns

Iceland's own brand hot cross buns are happily accidentally vegan and are moist and sticky with just the right amount of fruity goodness.

Are Coop hot cross buns vegan? ›

May also contain Sesame, Egg, Milk, Soya and other Gluten containing Cereals (Rye, Barley, Oats) Made using vegan ingredients but prepared an environment that handles ingredients that contain Egg and Milk..

Why do Christians eat hot cross buns? ›

They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste, which represents the cross on which Christ died. The spices in hot cross buns are said to represent the spices that were used to embalm Christ after his death.

Why have Iceland put a tick on hot cross buns? ›

Iceland claimed its research had found a fifth of customers would prefer the buns to have a tick, which bears a resemblance to the logo of sportswear firm Nike - but the firm also insisted that traditional hot cross buns will still be available at its stores.

Why do we still eat hot cross buns? ›

In the Christian tradition, the making of buns with a cross on them and consuming them after breaking the fast on Good Friday, along with "crying about 'Hot cross buns'", is done in order to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.

What makes a bun not vegan? ›

Sweet versions are sweetened with sugar. They will sometimes be enriched with lard, butter, vegetable shortening, oil or milk. Baked buns are very likely to be enriched with milk, butter and/or eggs.

Do hot cross buns contain dairy? ›

Traditionally, hot cross buns will contain eggs, milk and butter, so I replaced the egg with some applesauce (which makes them taste light and fragrant), the milk with almond milk and the butter with a little extra olive oil.

Can vegans eat hot dog buns? ›

Hot dog buns are often made from wheat flour, water, yeast, and a variety of other ingredients depending on the recipe. Some common ingredients that may not be vegan include: Milk: Milk is often used in baked goods as a source of moisture and to add richness to the flavor.

What is religious about hot cross buns? ›

They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste, which represents the cross on which Christ died. The spices in hot cross buns are said to represent the spices that were used to embalm Christ after his death.

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