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Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns (Vegan, Allergy-Free)

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Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your family’s new go-to recipe for the Easter and Lenten season!

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

Okay, confession time. You know how I love to re-create my favorite traditional foods to be gluten-free, but hot cross buns are totally new! I can’t recall a time ever having them, but I know they are such a Lent/Easter classic. I’ve always WANTED to have a hot cross bun, but they just never made an appearance in my childhood. I did some research into their history. These buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday, mark the end of Lent, and are an Easter season staple for many Christians.

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

Considering I grew up Catholic and celebrated Lent/Easter, I’m not sure why I never had them (probably the whole non-baking thing). Since I’m not religious now and I’m gluten-free, seems like the perfect time to finally make them, eh? Haha! But really, hot cross buns can be eaten anytime of year and by any one! Who would pass up a spiced sweet bun? A crazy person, that’s who!

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

Now, I want to take a step back down memory lane, which I’d started to talk about on Monday. Easter traditions! Easter was actually a big deal in my house growing up. A few days before, we would color hard-boiled eggs (the authentic vinegar and dye tablet way! SO FUN!). We would decorate them with wax crayons, the dye, stickers, etc. My brother and I would make an “egg” to give to each other (my mom, dad, him, and me) on Easter morning. Then, the “Easter Bunny” (my mom) would hide plastic eggs full of candy, money, little trinkets throughout the house on Easter Eve, which was also why we left him/her a plate of carrots and cookies!

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

When I said hid, I mean, HID and A LOT! Props to my mom for being such a trooper throughout my childhood with these kind of things. Keeping our fantasies and child innocence alive and well. She hid a lot of those eggs in every inch of the house, even sneaking around in our bedrooms once we were asleep. In the morning, my brother and I would wake up super early (just like Christmas), and take our big bunny baskets (with light up noses!) to fill with eggs as we hunted around the house. We never were able to find all the eggs in one shot. We would still be finding them weeks later (she was that good!)

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

Of course, once we got most of the eggs, it was time to open our Easter baskets! Like the stockings of Christmas morning, these baskets were just as good! Full of presents, PEEPS!, other candy, and general love! Haha! I loved Peeps and when I got the big packages, I would open the plastic right away so I could allow them to get stale (same with the peeps that would be stuffed individually in some of the Easter eggs we found. The staler the better!

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

I have such great Easter morning memories. Always a sunny, bright, Sunday morning (although I never liked being dragged to Church after the fun was over!). Another funny story about our plastic eggs. I mentioned we got money in some of them. After we opened out baskets, my brother and I would go through all the eggs to see what we got and make a pile and count up the money we received. One year my brother put all of his money in one massive clear plastic egg. He kept adding to it other the next few weeks, the money he got from relatives and his birthday which was later in the month.

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

After those few weeks, once my brother had enough money to buy some video game he wanted, my mom was going to drive us to Toys R Us so he could buy it. He brought the entire egg full of money as is and somehow the egg was left on the back of the bumper of our truck. (I don’t know why he put it there?). But as my mom pulled out of the driveway and into the street, that poor plastic egg fell off the bumper and shattered in the street with over $100 in it. The coins and dollar bills scattered and blew. However, we were oblivious and only realized what must have happened once we got all the way to the store and the egg was not in my brother’s possession. We raced all the way back home to see if the egg was simply in the driveway, but we so tragically saw bits of shattered green and white plastic in the road, along with a few quarters and dimes.

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

Remember how I said my mom was such a trooper? Well, she literally held up traffic and ran back and forth from our driveway to the road, trying to pick up as many coins as she could. This woman deserves a medal for what she’s down for her family. The craziness! I think she was able to collect about $20 from the road. All the dollar bills blew away though. Lucky for my brother, my dad’s friend heard about this tragic story and ended up giving my brother money to go buy the game he wanted. Easter miracle? Believe me, my childhood was never with a dull moment! Needless to say, we kept our money in the plastic eggs after that!

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns

Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

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Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns

Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

  • Author: Rebecca Pytell
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Bread
  • Cuisine: American
Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat the water in the microwave for about 60 seconds until it is warm to the touch, then mix in the yeast and let it proof.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients for the buns except the raisins. Whisk to combine. Now add the proofed yeast and water to the mixing bowl, mix, add the raisins, and then knead with your hands for a few minutes to activate the yeast.
  4. Now divide the dough into 6 flattened balls and place them in an oiled cast iron skillet (or baking sheet).
  5. Cover the skillet and set in a warm place for 45-60 minutes to allow the buns to rise.
  6. Once risen, brush the buns with some almond milk, smooth them out, and cut an X (cross) on the top of each bun.
  7. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove and let cool.
  8. To make the cross glaze, simply combine all glaze ingredients, stir, and then lightly drizzle in the crosses of each bun.
  9. Serve warm with some coconut butter or nut butter!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1

 Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Traditional hot cross buns made gluten-free and vegan with no fuss! These slightly sweet and spiced buns with their iconic cross and raisins will be your families new go-to recipe for the season, Easter, and Lent!

Traditions, stories, and memories they make are the most important things in life. The love and laughs, the simple joy that plastic eggs full of Peeps and coins can bring. I don’t know what my life will be like once I’m “grown up”, I don’t plan on having kids, but if I did, these traditions and activities are what I’d hope to carry on and create memories with. These are the moments and funny stories that I want to remember always. That’s why I also love sharing them here on the blog along with the recipes that stem from these stories. Food and family traditions and stories are so entwined and they make each other even more special and beautiful! Cooking is love!

So tell me:

+ How does your family celebrate Easter (if you do)?

+ Have you ever had hot cross buns? They’re rather delicious warm and “buttered up” with coconut or nut butter!

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Comments

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      They started as a Christian thing over in Europe, but of course the US has them now!

      Reply

  7. Renee says

    Hi Rebecca! Like you, I have never had hot cross buns. I’ve always heard of them but have never had them They sure do look good. We think that my husband had a gluten intolerance. I have not made any type of gluten-free bread products yet but when I do, I know where to come to get recipes :-).

    Thank you for sharing your childhood memories of your mom. I am a mom and hope that my children will be able to share some of those good memories.

    As for Easter, we celebrate (what we sometimes refer to Resurrection Sunday) by waking up early and thinking on THAT most wonderful day that Jesus defeated death and rose from the grave. We also (when we can) get new outfits, or at least something new, to wear to church. We usually give our kids a gift also. This year I plan to make a special lunch for our family.
    I hope you have a most wonderful Easter.

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I think you should bake these then! You can start a great new tradition (gluten-free)!
      That sounds like a lovely way to celebrate you’re beliefs!

      Reply

  9. Liz says

    What a cute story about your bltother! I’m glad it had a happy ending 🙂 MY mom liked to make frosted buns for Easter morning, but hot cross buns were never part of our tradition. Maybe next year I’ll finally make some 🙂

    Reply

  10. kimmythevegan says

    These buns sounds delicious! Very warm and comforting. Good for Easter =)
    “which was also why we left him/her a plate of carrots and cookies!”
    Hahaha. That’s too funny. Your family sounds awesome. I love the Easter Miracle story.

    Reply

  17. Nikki says

    Of course, I’ve heard of hot cross buns but I’ve never seen them. I think we all know the nursery rhyme “Hot cross buns, Hot Cross Buns, See How They Run, See How They Run…” Oh, I think I’m messing up two nursery rhymes, Hot cross buns and Three Blind Mice. LOL perhaps we don’t all know the nursery rhymes, insinuating myself. But I know there’s a nursery rhyme in here somewhere.

    As always when I come here, I learn something new. And not just that I can’t remember my nursery rhymes. These Hot Cross Buns look fantastic. I had no idea what they even looked like, and these look super yummy!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Hahaha! Yes the song! I didn’t mention it because I don’t know how it actually goes either 😛
      Well I hope you can make some soon!

      Reply

  19. Emily says

    Wow, you have a fantastic array of so many different flours in there. I love hot cross buns. I think we made a gluten free version for Christmas. <333 YUMM!

    Reply

  21. Kathleen says

    What a good recipe. I did not know about Sorghum Flour. I have a breakfast cereal make from Sorghum and it is delicious, so I will have to look for the flour. With all those good spices these buns have to taste good.

    Reply

  25. Lucie says

    I love your journey to finally making these! It’s so funny how ironic things like that happen all the time. I don’t think I’ve ever had a hot cross bun myself actually. Amazing job recreating the recipe Rebecca! I’m intrigued by the tapioca starch in the icing, can’t wait to try that!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Thank you Lucie! You would adore hot cross buns!!!
      I added the starch to make the icing whiter and thicker since I only use erythritol!

      Reply

  28. Gin says

    Wow, your mom was a TOTALLY AWESOME Easter Bunny! That was so nice of your dad’s friend to help out with the tragically scattered money. I’ve always wanted to try hot cross buns too! Yours came out so cute! 😀

    Reply

  29. Marla says

    Hi Rebecca,
    Hot crossed buns were something my Mother used to make every Easter when I was a child but of course they were made with plain wheat flour because that’s all we had at that time. So these bring back fond memories and they look delicious. Pinned & twitted.

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Ah, than I think you have a duty to make some this year! Haha! Thank you Vanessa 🙂

      Reply

  36. Kat | curlsnchard.com says

    I’ve never had hot cross buns either, I guess it’s just not a thing here in Austria 😉 We do make a sweet bread though for easter, but it’s more the size of a loaf of bread and different from those buns. Easter was such a fun time as a kid – I grew up Catholic as well…in the morning we would go to a little chapel in the neighborhood to get the food blessed for the easter meal and then in the afternoon the Easter bunny came 😉 We have a garden, so the nests were usually hidden around and the older I got, the more difficult my parents hid the gifts (like up in trees…). Even long after I didn’t believe in the Easter bunny my parents still hid some chocolate and little gifts in the garden – ah, fun memories!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Ah those sounds like glorious memories!!! My mom still gets us a few gifts and she was hiding eggs for a very long time 😉 No shame!

      Reply

  40. Katya says

    I recently found out that I’m gluten intolerant and it’s not that easy to find delicious recipes to try…. However, I believe I found the right spot! ;)) even though I’m not celebrating Easter, I’ll definitely include this yummy recipe into my recipe book (I would rather call it Pinterest recipe book).

    Reply

  42. neil@neilshealthymeals.com says

    Wow, hot cross buns yum!

    Hot cross buns totally remind me of my younger days when my gran used to get freshly baked hot cross buns which were sold at her church and bring them for my little brother and I. Good, fond memories!

    Well don’e on this superb gluten free recipe. 🙂

    Reply

  46. Sophia @Veggies dont bite says

    The 12 year old in me wants to giggle every time I see the title “Hot Cross BUNS”…but really though, these are gorgeous! I kind of just want to lick that frosting right in those cross cracks…MMMMM. I’ve never had these before but I bet they are delicious!

    Reply

  47. Jenn says

    We had very similar Easter traditions it seems. My mom ended up numbering the eggs she hid one year and keeping a list on a sheet of paper of where each one was hidden…..this, of course, after we found eggs with candy inside like a whole year after Easter once. 🙂 And, oh my gosh, your mom rocks! I can picture here darting through traffic Frogger style…I hope your brother was appreciative. 🙂

    By the way, these hot cross buns look great. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten one – traditional or not – but I think I should certainly start!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Haha, that’s quite a system!
      I know! All for some stupid quarters and dimes!!! And shards of sad plastic egg :O
      I think you should too! I know I’m glad I did 😉

      Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Haha, well you were not alone!!! I feel like they are so iconic, yet most people never end up trying them!

      Reply

  55. Linda @ Veganosity says

    Such a sweet story. Thank you for sharing it. It brought back so many joyous memories of Easter morning in my house when my kids where little. Oh, how many hours I spent at Toys R Us! 🙂

    Those buns are the prettiest that I’ve seen on the web this season. Well done!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Haha, I loved going there!!! I don’t even remember buying much though :/ (It was an expensive store!)
      Woohoo! Thank you Linda!

      Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      If you know how to bake, you won’t! Gluten-free flours are fantastic and these are so many amazing combos. They taste better than boring old wheat anyway!

      Reply

  62. Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says

    Where have these been all my life too!?! Sweet, soft, spiced, glaze filled, with raisins, like seriously they were made for me and yet I’ve never had one either 😮 Less peeps, more hot cross buns please Easter bunny! I am incredibly impressed by how perfectly soft and fluffy these look! And the fact that they are actually yeasted and everything, you are a gf baking pro! Stale peeps were actually pretty good, but I liked them super fresh too. Come on its, a sugar covered marshmallow, it’s never going be bad. But these, these look like they would be incredible fresh and warm from the oven <3

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I’m so proud of my baking. I mean…I can’t stop now! I wasted so many years of NO baking!!!! Now….I can’t stop, won’t stop! (I think it was your fruity influence!)
      I don’t like the fresh, they have to be stale! Hahahaha! It’s just not the same!!
      Yes!! These have to be eaten nice and warm and preferable right form the oven!

      Reply

  63. Melissa @ vegan does it says

    You’re mom is awesome! I love reading your stories from your childhood. We do celebrate Easter, we just paint and decorate wooden and paper mâché eggs instead of actual eggs. The kids love crafting and then “hunting” for them! We were not religious growing up and I’m still not so hot cross buns were never a thing in our house, but these sure look yummy!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Thank you Melissa! Haha! I love telling these stories!!
      Vegan celebrations are way better anyway 😉
      I’m totally reversed haha, but might as well still make them even though I’m not religious!

      Reply

  69. Amy says

    You know, it seems silly, but I’ve never had a hot cross bun in my whole life. This is definitely something that needs to be remedied!

    Reply

  70. Laura says

    Sometimes I feel like you and I are on the same wavelength . . . I’m in the midst of testing GF hot cross buns as well in preparation for some Easter excitement. Yours look awesome!

    Reply

  72. Meeta says

    I have a favorite recipe for hot cross buns which I have been making for years – finding an appropriate one for friends that are on a gluten-free diet was not easy. These really look good!

    Reply

  73. Krista says

    My son has removed gluten from his diet recently to see if he is allergic. He loves bread and these look delicious. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

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Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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