Vegans can now enjoy traditional Hot Cross Buns too with this delicious recipe from Olivado. Step by step instructions here:
250g / 0.5lb white spelt flour + extra for dusting
150ml / 5fl.oz almond milk unsweetened (or milk of your choice)
30g / 1oz coconut butter
2 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
10g / 0.3oz dried yeast (+20g / 0.7oz lukewarm water to reactivate)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
25g / 0.8oz maple syrup or honey or agave
40g / 1.4oz sultanas
1 orange zest
For the cross
¼ cup coconut butter, melted
For the glaze
Juice of 1 orange - about 50ml / 1.6fl.oz
2 Tbsp agave syrup or maple syrup
1. Warm the milk in a saucepan under medium heat until it forms small bubbles on the side of the pan. You should be able to dip your finger into the milk without burning yourself (think bath temperature 40°C / 105°F).
2. Remove from heat and add the coconut butter and almond oil.
3. Stir well until the coconut butter is melted and well incorporated.
4. Meanwhile, in another bowl, activate the dry yeast.
5. Stir the dry yeast with the lukewarm water (10g / 0.3oz yeast for 20g / 0.7oz water) and stir with a teaspoon until it forms a brownish, thick yeast paste. It could take 2 minutes. Do not add too hot water or it will 'kill' the yeast.
6. In a bowl (or in a mixer with the hook attachment) add the spelt flour, activated yeast, agave syrup.
7. Pour the warm milk and melted butter mixture onto the flour mix while stirring with a wooden spoon first and then gather with your hands until it forms a sticky dough (or use the hook attachment of your mixer).
8. Transfer the dough on your benchtop (or keep into the mixer) and knead with your finger for 1-2 minutes until well combined. The dough will be very sticky but do not add flour at this stage.
9. Now add a bit of oil on you hands to form a lovely dough ball and return into the bowl.
10. The dough ball should be well oiled to avoid a crust to form.
11. Cover the bowl with a damped towel and let rise for 1 hour or until it double in volume.
12. Add the sultanas, orange zest, lemon zest, cinnamon and nutmeg on the dough.
13. Knead into the dough using your hands making sure all ingredients are well distributed trough the dough.
14. Again add a bit of oil on your hand and rub the ball. Add the damped towel on the top of the bowl again and leave to rise for 1 more hour or until it double in volume.
15. Divide the dough in 6 even pieces.
16. Roll each ball into a smooth ball on a slightly floured benchtop.
17. Arrange the buns on one baking tray lined with baking paper.
18. Leave 2cm / 0.7in between each buns to leave enough space for the dough to expand.
19. Cover with the damped towel and let rise for 1 more hour.
20. Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F.
21. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown in the middle shelf of your oven.
22. Gently heat the orange juice and agave syrup in a sauce pan.
23. Stir well and let heat until tiny bubbles forms on the side of the pan.
24. When the syrup is still hot brush on the top oif the hot buns and let cool down.
25. Prepare the glazing.
26. In a bowl microwave the coconut butter for 30 seconds. It has to be slightly liquid but not runny.
27. Transfer into a pipping bag.
28. Pipe a cross on the top of buns. Make sure the buns reach room temperature.
Ingredients
250g / 0.5lb white spelt flour + extra for dusting
150ml / 5fl.oz almond milk unsweetened (or milk of your choice)
30g / 1oz coconut butter
2 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
10g / 0.3oz dried yeast (+20g / 0.7oz lukewarm water to reactivate)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
25g / 0.8oz maple syrup or honey or agave
40g / 1.4oz sultanas
1 orange zest
For the cross
¼ cup coconut butter, melted
For the glaze
Juice of 1 orange - about 50ml / 1.6fl.oz
2 Tbsp agave syrup or maple syrup
Directions
1. Warm the milk in a saucepan under medium heat until it forms small bubbles on the side of the pan. You should be able to dip your finger into the milk without burning yourself (think bath temperature 40°C / 105°F).
2. Remove from heat and add the coconut butter and almond oil.
3. Stir well until the coconut butter is melted and well incorporated.
4. Meanwhile, in another bowl, activate the dry yeast.
5. Stir the dry yeast with the lukewarm water (10g / 0.3oz yeast for 20g / 0.7oz water) and stir with a teaspoon until it forms a brownish, thick yeast paste. It could take 2 minutes. Do not add too hot water or it will 'kill' the yeast.
6. In a bowl (or in a mixer with the hook attachment) add the spelt flour, activated yeast, agave syrup.
7. Pour the warm milk and melted butter mixture onto the flour mix while stirring with a wooden spoon first and then gather with your hands until it forms a sticky dough (or use the hook attachment of your mixer).
8. Transfer the dough on your benchtop (or keep into the mixer) and knead with your finger for 1-2 minutes until well combined. The dough will be very sticky but do not add flour at this stage.
9. Now add a bit of oil on you hands to form a lovely dough ball and return into the bowl.
10. The dough ball should be well oiled to avoid a crust to form.
11. Cover the bowl with a damped towel and let rise for 1 hour or until it double in volume.
12. Add the sultanas, orange zest, lemon zest, cinnamon and nutmeg on the dough.
13. Knead into the dough using your hands making sure all ingredients are well distributed trough the dough.
14. Again add a bit of oil on your hand and rub the ball. Add the damped towel on the top of the bowl again and leave to rise for 1 more hour or until it double in volume.
15. Divide the dough in 6 even pieces.
16. Roll each ball into a smooth ball on a slightly floured benchtop.
17. Arrange the buns on one baking tray lined with baking paper.
18. Leave 2cm / 0.7in between each buns to leave enough space for the dough to expand.
19. Cover with the damped towel and let rise for 1 more hour.
20. Preheat oven to 200°C / 390°F.
21. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown in the middle shelf of your oven.
22. Gently heat the orange juice and agave syrup in a sauce pan.
23. Stir well and let heat until tiny bubbles forms on the side of the pan.
24. When the syrup is still hot brush on the top oif the hot buns and let cool down.
25. Prepare the glazing.
26. In a bowl microwave the coconut butter for 30 seconds. It has to be slightly liquid but not runny.
27. Transfer into a pipping bag.
28. Pipe a cross on the top of buns. Make sure the buns reach room temperature.