Soft Vegan Hot Cross Buns With Warm Spiced Fruit

I baked this Vegan Hot Cross Buns for my neighbor’s book club last week. The fruit stayed soft with spice, and my aunt liked them.

Delicious Vegan Hot Cross Buns

These vegan hot cross buns are baked to golden perfection, filled with a mix of warm spiced fruit. The recipe yields a soft and fluffy texture and takes about 2 hours from start to finish, serving 12 buns.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
• 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 cup mixed dried fruit (currants, raisins, or sultanas)
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• For the cross: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour mixed with water to make a paste
• For glazing: 1/4 cup apricot jam warmed

Instructions

1. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and spices.
2. Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix plant-based milk, melted coconut oil, and applesauce. Gradually add this mixture to the dry ingredients along with warm water.
3. Knead the Dough: Once combined, knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until smooth. Incorporate the dried fruit and lemon zest during the last minute of kneading.
4. First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5. Shape the Buns: After rising, punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Shape them into buns and arrange them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
6. Prepare the Cross: Pipe the flour paste in a cross shape on top of each bun.
7. Second Rise: Cover the buns with a cloth and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
8. Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the buns for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Glaze: Once baked, brush the warm buns with apricot jam for a shiny finish. Allow cooling slightly before serving.

Cook and Prep Times

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 2 hours

Nutrition Information

• Servings: 12 buns
• Calories: 190kcal
• Fat: 5g
• Protein: 4g
• Carbohydrates: 32g

I store the buns2 in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. The stay soft, and I warm gently before serving.