Deliciously spiced and easy on the gut, these gluten-free hot cross buns are also free from processed sugar! The only sugar they contain is a little bit of natural sugar from the raisins. So if you prefer a completely sugar free option you can simply leave out the raisins. This makes them a lot healthier than the average store-bought version.
What is Gluten-free?
A Gluten-free diet is one that excludes any food that contains gluten, such as bread, pasta and many cereals. Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat, barley and rye. There are many serious conditions, such as Celiac Disease, which result in allergies or intolerances to gluten, forcing some people to eat gluten-free. However many also prefer it as an aid in weight loss and overall health.
While the concept of gluten-free might seem daunting to most, nature provides us with many gluten-free alternatives. For example, both rice and potatoes are naturally gluten-free and you can make many delicious baked treats from the flour of either one. Other flour alternatives include millet, tapioca, coconut and even almond.
The Significance of Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns are not only delicious but they also carry much significance among people of the Christian faith. The cross on the bun represents the cross on which Jesus was crucified and the buns are typically eaten during Easter. Especially on Good Friday, the day that Jesus was crucified. Although many people also use other Christian holidays, such as Christmas, as an excuse to enjoy these delicious baked treats.
A less commonly known origin of hot cross buns comes from the Germanic Goddess of Fertility, Eostre, which is said to be where the name comes from. During ancient spring festivals, many would bake these buns to celebrate the voluptuous blonde Goddess.
This Hot Cross Bun recipe is only one of many other gluten-free and sugar-free recipes that are both delicious and fun to make.
Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free Hot Cross Buns
Ingredients
For the Buns
- 1 cup Milk of choice
- 50 g Butter
- 500 g Gluten-free flour
- 1 tsp Fine sea salt
- 3 tsp Stevia powder
- 1 tsp Xanthan gum
- 1 Egg beaten
- 1/2 cup Raisins optional
- 1 Orange zest
- 1 tsp Cinnamon ground
- 1 Apple peeled and grated
For the Cross
- 30 g Gluten-free flour
- Water
Instructions
- Boil the milk then take off the heat.
- Add the butter and stir in until well mixed.
- Mix your flour, salt, xanthan gum and stevia.
- Once the milk butter mixture is cool enough to handle, add the beaten egg along with your dry ingredient mix. Don't be afraid to use your hands to mix the dough well.
- Add the orange zest, apple, cinnamon and raisins. Mix well and roll the resulting dough into your buns.
- For the crosses, mix the flour with just enough water to make a paste. Then, using a piping bag or your hands, lay the cross out on top of your risen buns.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C before putting the hot cross buns in to bake for about 20 minutes.
