Here’s a simple recipe for vegan hot cross buns:
Ingredients:
For the buns:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups non-dairy milk (such as almond, soy, or coconut milk)
- 1/4 cup vegan butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 cup raisins or currants
For the crosses:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4-5 tablespoons water
For the glaze:
- 1/4 cup apricot jam or other fruit jam
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 4 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- In a saucepan or microwave, heat the non-dairy milk until warm but not boiling. Add melted vegan butter to the warm milk.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk-butter mixture. Stir until a dough forms.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, you can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Once the dough has risen, punch it down and knead in the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and raisins or currants.
- Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and shape them into balls. Place them on a greased baking sheet, leaving a little space between each bun.
- Cover the buns with a clean kitchen towel and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour and water to form a thick paste for the crosses. Spoon the paste into a piping bag or a small plastic bag with a corner snipped off.
- Pipe a cross shape onto the top of each bun.
- Bake the buns in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- While the buns are baking, make the glaze by heating the apricot jam and water in a small saucepan until melted and smooth.
- Remove the buns from the oven and brush them with the glaze while they are still warm.
- Allow the buns to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your vegan hot cross buns!
Feel free to adjust the spices or add different mix-ins like chopped nuts or dried fruit to suit your taste preferences.
