With Easter approaching, this is my recipe for a Healthy Hot Cross Buffins (a cross between a bun and a muffin according to my creative recipe tester). I have purposely chosen to move away from traditional yeast leaven buns and create a buffin for two reasons.
Firstly, I have found that yeast burdens the gut of lots of people. Many wheat or gluten intolerant patients I have consulted with over the years have discovered that it actually isn’t the grain so much, as it’s the yeast that adversely affects their gut. I consider myself to have a cast iron gut, but yeast does not make me feel good at all. That is why I always choose a sourdough bread if I’m going to eat it and why these are yeast free.
Secondly, I personally just don’t have the time or motivation to wait for my dough to prove. I like a throw it all in approach and that’s what I’ve done here.
A note…whilst I think these taste on the mark, these aren’t and never will be the soft doughy, shelf life of many weeks style of hot cross bun gracing our supermarket and bakery shelves in the months leading up to Easter. They are best eaten out of the oven or toasted.
Healthy Hot Cross Buffins
It really is a struggle not only to find a ‘healthy,’ whole food only hot cross bun but one that isn’t actually damaging to you and especially your kids health. Even ‘fresh’ bakery buns have a long list of ingredients (I counted 29 in a ‘traditional’ supermarket baked bun). Common ingredients include dangerous vegetable oils, excessive amounts of sugar (almost 4 teaspoons per bun), and a cocktail of additives and preservatives. To make matters worse, ALL supermarket brands contain Palm Oil (why you need to avoid Palm Oil here).
If you value your families health, please don’t buy these buns. I have made it as easy as possible for you to make your own with ‘real’ ingredients that your body can identify and thrive with.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit many specific dietary requirements.
Hot Cross Buffins
Ingredients
- 200 g wholemeal spelt flour (1½ cups) or if you'd prefer, white spelt will give a more commercial result
- 125 ml milk (½ cup)
- 85 g rice malt syrup, honey or maple syrup (¼ cup)
- 60 g butter, ghee or macadamia oil (¼ cup) melted
- 1 free-range or organic egg/s
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- ½ tsp vanilla -powder, extract or essence
- 80 g currants (½ cup) or sultanas or raisins (or a mixture) preferably preservative and vegetable oil free
For the glaze (optional)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp rice malt syrup, honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp water
Pastry crosses (also optional)
- 2 tbsp wholemeal spelt flour
- Water
Apple crosses (recommended)
- 1 apple/s -julienne (personally, I’m too lazy for crosses as they don’t improve the flavour at all). My recipe testers mum suggested cutting strips of apple for the crosses which I absolutely love and it tastes better too. Your call!
Method
- Preheat your oven to 160℃/320℉ (fan-forced).
- Place your flour in a big bowl and make a well in the middle.
- In a blender, food processor or by hand, beat your milk, sweetener, butter, egg, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, acid, cinnamon, mixed spice and vanilla for about a minute until well combined and a little frothy (Thermomix melt your butter, 1 minute, temp 80, speed 4, then add the milk, sweetener, egg, rising agents, spices and mix 1 min, speed 5).
- Gently mix in your dried fruit (Thermomix reverse blade, 10 seconds, speed 2).
- Add this to the flour and fold through gently until just combined. Don’t over mix it.
- For the crosses, mix 2 tablespoons of flour with enough water to form a dough. Roll it into little sausages to lay over the buns in a cross. This is a great job for the kids.
- Alternatively, julienne apple to make quick, easy, delicious crosses.
- Spoon into the muffin cases and place your cross.
- For the glaze, mix all ingredients together.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked through (firm to touch in the middle). Brush over the glaze whilst hot.
- Enjoy hot out of the oven or to reheat, toasted in a sandwich press.
Store
- Can be frozen in an airtight bag or container.
Variations
Gluten and grain-free
Substitute the flour with 130 grams of buckwheat (or sprouted buckwheat) flour and 70 grams of almond meal. They may need an additional 5-10 minutes in the oven too.Dairy-free
Substitute the butter with melted ghee or macadamia nut oil. Replace the milk with an unsweetened nut milk or coconut milk (I have only recipe tested the coconut milk and macadamia nut oil at this stage).Low-fructose
Choose rice malt syrup as your sweetener and omit the dried fruit or replace with cacao nibs.Chocolate hot cross buns
Add 1 tablespoon of cacao powder to the wet mix and replace the dried fruit with approximately 50g of cacao nibs. If you tolerate fructose, you might like to replace the fruit with chocolate chips.Would love your feedback so please post a comment below (or even better rate this recipe).
"They are just wonderful. The apple cross worked fabulously! I was only reading the ingredients of the supermarket ones the other day and was overwhelmed by all the nasty stuff in them!" Sally
Mary says
These look so gooooooood! Can’t wait to try later tonight for sure. I so
agree with yeast burdening our guts, my situation for sure. I’m just
feeling a little outraged today because I have a sensitivity to wheat,
and definitely yeast (not prescribed but from developing my body’s own
self knowledge) I was told by someone last night that it “..might be in
my head” because I chose not to eat the pizza or pasta. So over
ignorance and not giving people enough credit for owning decisions about
their health! We all make choices that are valid for own truth, and
that of our own families. Your posts are consistently making a
difference to my enthusiasm in striving for health – major thanks!!!!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Mary, really pleased you like them. Good on you for being in touch enough to identify your sensitivities. We are all so different and others need to honour that. Warms my heart to be able to inspire you, G x
Georgie says
Sooo yummy- I had to extend the cooking time as they were slow to cook in the middle but very delicious!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Georgie for your feedback. Really pleased you enjoyed them, G x
Tina says
These look brilliant. I buy spelt hot cross buns from the health food shop but they are so expensive. When they reduce the supermarket hotcross buns to half price they are so tempting to buy for a quick afternoon tea. I am going to make a batch and freeze them so we can toast them when we get home from school. I will let you know how we go.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Tina, lots of positive feedback so far so hope you like them too. Yes the freezer is your best mate with any home baking. I have quite a stock pile of these after recipe testing lots of variations over a short period of time!! Let me know how you go, G x
Paula says
These are amazing – so simple to make and taste spot on. Love them thanks so much
Georgia Harding says
Thanks for your feedback Paula, so pleased you liked them. G x
Nicola Berna says
Thanks so much these were divine! Will be making these from now on. What a great blog you have, very inspiring
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Nicola, thrilled to be able to inspire and that you liked these buffins! G x
Bernadette Anderson says
I made these last night and they are delicious – used ghee and rice milk as my son and I are both better for no dairy. I have had 2 for morning tea this morning with my cacao drink – perfect for a rainy morning. Thank you!
Georgia Harding says
Oh that’s wonderful to know Bernadette as I recipe tested with macadamia oil and coconut milk. Thanks for letting me know, G x
Leanne says
Made these today – yum. Thanks for the recipe!
Georgia Harding says
So please you like them, thanks for the feedback Leanne, G x
Mel says
These look great can’t wait to try I need to do dairy free do you think coconut oil would work to replace butter?? Also my son has an egg allergy so I will try with chia egg. Fingers crossed 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Hi Mel, I would replace it with macadamia nut oil as coconut oil shrinks up/hardens when it cools. So they would be great out of the oven but will harden when cooled. Good luck, love to hear how the chia eggs go? G x
Lucy says
Yum yum yum! I’ve made the standard ones and they are delicious! Currently have a batch of choc chip ones in the oven….. mmmmm! Loving not buying them with palm oil from the supermarket – so important! Thanks so much for the great recipe! xx
Georgia Harding says
You’re welcome Lucy, really pleased you enjoy them. G x
Hayley says
Amazing! I used the buckwheat almond combo and they were so soft and just like regular muffins, not at all stodgy like general gluten free muffins. Thank you for all of your recipes, I’ve loved every one that I’ve made!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks for posting a comment Hayley and really glad you like them as much as I do. Happy Easter, G x
jude says
These were great! My whole family loved them even Grandma who thinks shop bought hot cross buns are healthy because they have sultanas in them!!! Jude
Kailani Clifton, Age 9 says
These are SO YUMM! Thank you for the idea Georgia 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Yep we love them too, glad you enjoyed them G x
Jodie says
I made these a couple of months ago when I started seeing Hot Cross Buns in the supermarket not long after Christmas. Tripled the recipe, and packaged them in the freezer, so I wouldn’t be tempted to buy any. These are so tasty, I won’t be going back to bought ones. I will have to make another batch before Easter though! Delicious!!
Georgia Harding says
Just polished one off myself – they are good and so easy to make. Like you said, no excuses for supermarket ones G x
Jaye says
Love that you are now including thermomix method too. Thank you!!
Georgia Harding says
You’re welcome G x
Kat says
Could coconut sugar be used as a sweetener for this Recipe?
Georgia Harding says
I havent recipe tested it but can’t see why not G x
Courtney Jones says
Made these babies up today. So quick. So easy. So tasty. LOVED the apple cross! Worked perfectly!!!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Courtney, yep the apple crosses are a winner. The less fuss the better in baking! G x
Lauren says
These were lovely – as you said, better warm/fresh. Ours were a little crumbly like cake after a day out (though still enjoyed toasted with maple/cinnamon/vanilla flavoured butter).
I did substitute one batch to coconut milk & coconut oil & DF/SF/EF chocolate bits which melted slightly and so didn’t go hard. Lost some of the spice flavour though. The other batch used homemade organic butter & the buttermilk for milk in the fruit version, reportedly yummy.
Thank you for another wonderful whole food recipe.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much for your feedback Lauren, glad you enjoyed G x
Rebecca says
Hi there, just wondering if these can be made entirely with almond meal or some other gluten free flour? Can’ wait yry them!
Georgia Harding says
I havent recipe tested them this way but I think it will work fine, enjoy G x
Jacqui says
These are DELICIOUS! I made the original version, then the gluten free option with macadamia nut oil and rice milk, and they were equally as delicious. My new favourite treats!
Georgia Harding says
Glad you like them Jacqui, happy Easter G x
Linda Robinson says
My husband can’t stand hot cross buns – he will vacuum up most things in a flash but has never bothered with these ‘Easter treats’. BUT…he likes the Buffins!!! I’m also getting into the bone broth big time at the moment to clear a head cold – I swear I can feel the stuffiness going as soon as I start sipping. My 8 yr old is even happy to give it a shot – but then he’s a total WN convert 🙂 Happy Easter to you and yours Georgia xxx
Georgia Harding says
Yay – a buffin convert, ha ha! Yep, agree the broth, I sometimes just crave it and it’s always a go to at the first signs of becoming run down. Hope you had a great Easter Linda G x
Wholefood Mum says
Just popped these in the oven! Just wait to see how they turn out. xx
Georgia Harding says
Hope you enjoyed G x
Holly Jones says
Thanks!! So yummy 🙂 I had mine with cranberries and homemade chocolate chunks.
Georgia Harding says
Oooh, sounds yum Holly. Glad you liked them G x
Kama says
Having just started cutting our family sugar consumption down even more, I have been looking for Easter treats and came across your recipe. These were delicious and loved by the whole family, thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
Georgia Harding says
That’s great, thrilled they were well received. We love this recipe too, made frequently over the Easter period. G x
Bernie says
Just made my first batch of these with Apple cross they are delicious and feel so much better without the yeast additives and preservatives – taking them to the fitness group tnite and another batch for Easter Sunday whoop de doo can finally enjoy hot cross buns thank you Georgia for another winner
Georgia Harding says
Glad you enjoyed them Bernie – yes I don’t do well with yeast either. Have a very happy Easter G x
Kerri says
I love these more every time I make them!! Just made the gluten free dairy free version today with apple crosses and the kids have devoured them! Thanks so much Georgia for all of your amazing, family friendly recipes. Happy Easter!
Georgia Harding says
You’re very welcome Kerri, thrilled you are loving my recipe. Have a wonderful Easter break too G x
Ashley says
Hi these were so beautiful i made them with half spelt half wholemeal flour and almond milk. Thanks for a lovely recipe!
Georgia Harding says
You’re very welcome Ashley – thrilled you enjoyed x
Natalie Griffiths says
Thank you for this recipe – it was one of the first I have tried and must say I was nervous to go sugarless with my kids. I couldn’t believe when they all ate them for breakfast this morning ???? I’m going to be in the kitchen making you lemon blueberry bread next!!! They requested buffing for breakfast tomorrow too. Living healthy tummies
Georgia Harding says
Glad they enjoyed them – my kids have started asking for these too. Hope they enjoyed the lemon Blueberry loaf as much G x
Julie says
Have been meaning to make these the past 3 easters, finally did for breakfast this morning and they were absolutely delicious! – As with all your recipes. Thanks – Love your page.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much for the feedback Julie, so glad you enjoyed them G x
Linda says
Do you bake them straight into a greased muffin tin or do you use patty cases inside the muffin tin? Just concerned if the mixture sticks to the pan/cases.
Thanks
Georgia Harding says
You can do Linda. I personally use the ‘If you care’ brand of patty cases. Nothing sticks to these, they are fabulous and non-toxic too. In fact I can even re-use them, baking just falls right away from them G x
Belinda says
I made these this afternoon with my 4 year old, they were delicious, light and fluffy (I did use white spelt) and most importantly my kids loved them! Thanks for another great recipe Georgia.
Georgia Harding says
Fabulous Belinda, thrilled your kids loved them Gx
Bernadette Signitzer says
These are so yum. Very easy to make and they taste delicious. I found it hard to stop at one (well I actually didn’t). Thanks for another fantastic recipe.
Georgia Harding says
Lol – yes they are hard to stop at one! So pleased you enjoyed them Bernadette G x
Carlie says
Just wondering if you could you use light olive oil instead of the butter? I’ve run out… as usual ?
Carlie says
I used olive oil and dates and dark scocolate to replace butter and sultanas. They were super delicious!!
Georgia Harding says
I’ve just gone to reply and seen that you gave it a shot – so pleased they were delicious, thanks for sharing your awesome spin Carlie. G x
Penny says
My son loves these and i have to make them almost weekly for his preschool lunch box. I always put apple slices on top and he apparently got super excited that there was 3 slices on top of one recently, haha! Thanks Georgia!
Georgia Harding says
Ah brilliant, thanks Penny, so glad he loves them year round. Appreciate you rating the recipe too G x
Michelle Fernie says
I made these delicious “buffins” today. They are light and moist and have a great flavor. Personally, I mixed everything by hand (I didn’t want to clean my food processor again today haha) and they came out well. I used apple for the crosses, which I thought was a great idea.
My very fussy 2 year old even tried and liked them, winning!
Thank you Georgia!
Georgia Harding says
So glad you all enjoyed them Michelle, appreciate your feedback! G x
Kristie Collins says
Yum Yum Yum! I forgot to add the butter (was still in the microwave) but these ‘buffins’ still turned out delicious. They were a bit scone-like due to lack of butter but oh so tasty.
Georgia Harding says
Ha ha, it’s amazing how often I hear this! It’s easy done forgetting the melted butter. Glad they still turned out okay though, Georgia x
Suzanne says
Oh my! If you haven’t already baked these… get in your kitchen now! Seriously delish… no glazed or crosses needed, just add a cuppa of choice! ☕Oh only mistake I made, I was drooling so much I ate one straight from the oven… ♨️ yum!!!
Georgia Harding says
Ha ha – so glad you loved them Suzanne and cheers for the 5?’s Georgia x
Cathrine McInerney says
Love them!
Just made my first batch, so good knowing that there are no nasties in them. Thank you so much for creating a great recipe. My daughter has type 1 diabetes and loves them too, I just need to estimate how many carbs they are, would you have any idea please?
Thank you x
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Catherine, glad you like them. I don’t, but there are loads of free macro calculators online that you could use. Go easy on the dried fruit though to keep them down G x
Deb Dunt says
Hi Georgia. When you suggest a nut milk or coconut milk, can I use Coco quench Pure Harvest brand or do you only use Ayam coconut milk for this recipe- I find the canned milk quite thick and rich.
Georgia Harding says
Hi Deb, I like Ayam coconut milk to bake with but I’m sure any other milk would work as well. Enjoy G x
Jas says
Hi Georgia,
Is it possible to add a ‘print’ button, as I find myself having so many browser windows open. Would love to try this recipe as well as others. Thank you
Georgia Harding says
Hi Jas, a print button (as well as a heap of other features) is being added to a new version of my website – it’s coming soon! G x
Isabel says
Thanks so much for this recipe Georgia! I made the buckwheat/almond version and they were just so delicious with a beautiful moist texture. My Mum who is hard to convert to even wholemeal flour was so impressed!. Definitely a recipe that will be on rotation here 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Perfect, thrilled you loved them. Thanks for the 5?s Isabel, Georgia x
Jacki says
Oh these are delicious!! I just made these with my kids and used my son’s left over pear for the cross, it was so YUM! Next batch I think I will add a little chopped up fresh pear as it is a lovely natural sweetness! I used Nuttelex instead of butter as we are dairy free and it was fine!
Thank you so much my 3 & 5 year old are asking for more already!
Georgia Harding says
Brilliant, so glad you and your kids love them Jacki G x
Susan says
Thanks for this brilliant recipe. My kids love them.
Georgia Harding says
You’re welcome and thanks for the 5?s G x
Sophie says
My children and I made the gluten free, dairy free version this morning and they were so good we couldn’t resist making a second batch this evening! Just delicious
Georgia Harding says
Fabulous Sophie, thrilled you and you kids love them and thanks so much for rating the recipe G x
Michelle says
I love, love, love these! As an Aussie living in The Netherlands I miss hot cross buns and having tried several times to make my own and being so disappointed these have saved me. So easy to make and taste to me just like the hot cross buns I remember eating growing up. Thanks Georgia!
Georgia Harding says
Oh yay, you’ve made my day Michelle, thrilled to be able to help G x
Sheree says
Amazing recipe. Didn’t bother with the glaze or crosses because I couldn’t be bothered at the time but these came out perfectly!
Ashleigh Burge says
Mmmmm, super easy and super scrummy! Without the junk. Thanks Georgia!
Georgia Harding says
So glad you enjoyed them Ashleigh. Cheers for the 5 ?’s, much appreciated G x
michelle says
Hurrah! A simple and delicious alternative for my ‘hot buns’ obsessed 2 yo. Thank you! Must make a double batch next time … they’re too good to resist.
Georgia Harding says
So pleased you and your 2 yo loved them Michelle, and thanks for rating the recipe too G x
Danielle Collins says
Just made a gluten free batch of these and they are delicious! My Mum, who is not a traditional hot cross bun fan, loved them too! Agree that they do need another 5-10 minutes cooking time but they are definitely worth the wait. Thank you Georgia ??
Georgia Harding says
So glad you both enjoyed them Danielle, cheers for the 5 ?s too G x
Suzanne says
This is my go-to recipe for hot cross buns – since I discovered it about 4 years ago!! Just getting it on screen to do with my son tomorrow, he loves doing the apple crosses :). Many thanks for all your wonderful, inspiring recipes.
Georgia Harding says
So glad you love them Suzanne, thanks for the 5? rating too G x
Jen says
These were awesome!! Even my eye rolling teenagers loved them. I also made the gluten free version for my coeliac hubby, he enjoyed them too. Such a simple, easy recipe.
Georgia Harding says
Ha ha – I have an eye roller too. So glad they were a hit G x
Carolyn says
Yum! Thank you Georgia! Just made these for the first time. They are so light and fluffy!
Georgia Harding says
So glad you enjoyed them Carolyn G x
Linda Robinson says
My family don’t like hot cross buns but they DO like these! Even when I accidentally add the glaze before cooking instead of after 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Ah yaaay! Thrilled Linda x
Megan Zigomanis says
Delicious and enjoyed by the whole family! Such a quick, healthy and easy hot cross bun alternative to whip up for breakfast on Easter morning without having to wait for yeast to do it’s trick. I made with gluten free flour as a direct substitute and they were perfect. The whole batch disappeared very quickly!
Georgia Harding says
Thrilled you loved them Megan and thanks for the 5 ?s G x
Wendy says
These were a winner in our house. Made them as mini muffins for the school lunchbox and now I’ve been asked to make them as regular sized muffins ?. Apple crosses made them more special. Buffins were easy to make – thank you for another beautiful recipe. Everything I’ve made from your site has worked perfectly and been delicious.
Georgia Harding says
So glad you loved them Wendy, cheers for your feedback and for rating the recipe. I really appreciate it G x
Carly says
Thank you. The kids and I absolutely loved these. We loved the simple apple cross idea also. Another brilliant recipe thank you very much! ??
Georgia Harding says
So glad they enjoyed them Carly, they are a great option ahead of Easter! G x
Alexandra says
Can step 5 be done in Thermomix also? I can’t wait to try the recipe, my son loves hot cross buns but just like you I don’t have the time and motivation to wait for my dough to prove 🙂 Many thanks x
Georgia Harding says
It can but be really careful not to over mix it as it will make the crumb dense and tough. Just one turn on the flour symbol and combine the rest with the spatula G x
Lundi Koen says
Loved this ? My daughter took a bite from mine to test it and later sneaked in to take one of her own. That is a win in my books ?? Thanks for a great recipe ?
Georgia Harding says
Brilliant – so glad you both enjoyed them G x
Georgie says
Wow, these are absolutely delicious and turned out perfectly the first time, which is not surprising as all of your recipes are excellent! I love a traditional hot cross bun but these really hit the spot so I won’t need to buy any this year. Even my picky eater 18 mo daughter devoured an entire muffin first try (hooray!), so these will definitely be going into the favourites rotation well after Easter passes. I was going to freeze half (I made 12 smaller muffins) but there won’t be any left by the end of the weekend – looks like I’ll be making the next batch very soon. Thanks so much for the wonderful recipe.
Georgia Harding says
Ah fabulous Georgie, thrilled they were a hit all round. Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the 5 stars G x
Lisa Hodge says
I made these by hand, in my camp oven on hot coals. Massive hit amongst my big camping crew! I’ll be making these little babies in large batches regularly for morning tea! Thanks again for a wonderful recipe
Georgia Harding says
Oh amazing to cook them over fire – so glad they were a hit G x
Charles English Hoke says
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