Healthy Sugar-Free Hot Cross Buns for Easter

Hot cross buns are one of those traditional staples that many people really enjoy around Easter. Baked to perfection, the soft, spiced dough is topped with the right cross, and is simply wonderful for snacks or breakfast. Well, these buns can be just as good without the use of sugar at all—a treat for those whose schedule keeps them away from sugary drinks. In this article, we are sharing hot sugar-free cross buns that are as delicious and satisfying as ever.

INGREDIENTS

FOR HOT CROSS BUNS

• 100 g / ¾ cup raisins (or sultanas)
• 1-2 oranges, water and juice
• 500 g / 4 cups bread flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 9 g / 3 tsp dried instant yeast
• 250 g / 8.8 oz dates
• 10 ml / 2 tsp vanilla
• About 3 tablespoons of spices**: 1¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ginger, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ½ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon clove
• 100 g / ½ cup finely chopped dried apricots
• 70 g / 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil or other neutral oil

‘CROSS’ FLOUR PASTE

• 62 g / ½ cup flour (bread or AP) .
• water

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pour the orange juice into a small pot, and let it simmer gently instead of turning off the heat. Stir in figs; let sit to soften.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, salt, instant yeast, spices and orange zest.Mix on low speed with seasoned flour. You can also do this manually, since the dough is very sticky and doesn’t cling to anything.
3. Combine in the blender, 300 ml / 1.25 cup juice, adding diluted orange juice if needed, and add 10 ml / 2 tsp vanilla juice. Add pitted dates along with olive oil, blending well using a spatula if needed to make sure that date mix is well combined. Add the date puree to the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined.
4. Knead on the lowest speed (KitchenAid 1 and 2) until the dough is elastic and smooth and slightly sticky. It should take about 10 minutes, and let the dough rest for a minute so that the gluten has softened if it doesn’t come together. Use a spatula to make sure the dough at the bottom of the bowl is floured as well.
5. When the batter is elastic (meant to be sticky) and comes off the sides of the bowl, stop the mixer and add the pressed raisins and chopped apricots and mix on low speed just to combine.
6. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased mixing bowl, cover with foil and rise in a warm place until puffed and airy and slowly springs back together with your fingertips all (not quite – that means proven to be so). It can also be refrigerated overnight to slowly rise. If it doesn’t rise, place it in a stationary oven with a tray of hot water underneath.
7. Place the dough on a work surface and push the air out with your fingers. Dust with flour if necessary but not too much, wet hands will help make it sticky.
8. Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces – it’s best to use a kitchen spoon here. Shape each piece of dough into a purse and then roll each one (seam down) with your cup head on a clean (not floured) countertop into a firm ball.
9. Place the shaped buns on a baking tray lined with paper on a 3×4 grid. Space them about 1.5 cm / 0.6″ apart so that they have room to stretch when proofing. Cover with cling film and leave for another 60 minutes for further proofing.
10. Preheat oven to 200° C / 390° F. Mix the flour and some water (about 60 ml / ¼ cup) in a small bowl until you have a floured spoon but just, you don’t want runny as on either the cross buns They don’t stay.
11. Once the buns are proofed, place the flour dough in a piping bag and pipe cross in continuous lines on the buns.
12. Bake for 15-17 minutes, until the buns are golden brown. If you don’t mind the sugar a bit, you can glaze them with maple syrup, golden syrup, apricot jam or stem ginger syrup (that’s what I used).

Tips for Sugar-Free Hot Cross Buns:

• Use a warm place: Make sure the dough rises in a warm, airtight place to rise properly.
• Choose the right sweetener: Sugar-free sweeteners like erythritol, monk fruit and stevia work well in baking and provide a low-sugar flavor.
• Customize your spices: Feel free to adjust the amount of spices as you like. For a stronger flavor, add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.

This no-sugar-added hot cross buns recipe allows for a tasty yet healthy treat from the classic Easter favorite without one degree of compromise in taste. Ideal for Easter or at any time of the year, these buns are an excellent way to enjoy a no-guilt, comforting snack. Try this recipe and fill your home with the invitingly warm aroma of freshly baked buns!

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