Vegan Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients

For the buns:

• 4 cups (500g) all-purpose flour (plus more for kneading)
• 1 packet (7g) instant yeast
• 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups (300ml) plant-based milk (soy, almond, or oat), lukewarm
• 1/4 cup (60ml) neutral oil (e.g. canola or light olive)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves (optional)
• 3/4 cup (120g) raisins or sultanas
• Zest of 1 orange (optional, but great flavor)

For the cross:

• 1/2 cup (65g) all-purpose flour
• 5–6 tbsp water (add slowly until you get a pipeable paste)

For the glaze:

• 2 tbsp maple syrup or apricot jam (warmed)

Method

1. Prepare the dough:

In a large mixing bowl, combine:

• Flour, sugar, salt, spices, and yeast (keep salt and yeast on opposite sides initially).

Warm your plant milk to lukewarm (not hot!) and add it along with oil and orange zest. Mix until a soft dough forms.

Add the raisins and knead for 8–10 minutes on a floured surface (or 5–6 minutes in a stand mixer with dough hook) until smooth and elastic.

2. First rise:

Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean towel or wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

3. Shape the buns:

Punch down the dough, divide into 12 even pieces, and shape into smooth balls. Place in a greased or parchment-lined baking tray (leave slight space between them so they rise into each other).

Cover and let rise again for about 30–45 minutes until puffy.

4. Pipe the cross:

Mix the flour and water into a smooth paste for the cross. Transfer to a piping bag or zip-lock bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe a cross over each bun.

5. Bake:

Bake at 180°C / 350°F for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.

6. Glaze:

While still warm, brush the tops with maple syrup or warm apricot jam to make them shiny and sweet.

Tips

• You can switch the raisins for chopped dried figs, apricots, or vegan chocolate chips if you want to get fancy.
• Add a tiny pinch of ground ginger or cardamom for a spiced twist.
• These freeze really well—just reheat gently in the oven or microwave.