Yes, it’s all about gluten-free Hot Cross Bun recipes today because here we are at Palm Sunday with Good Friday—also known as National Hot Cross Bun Day in some circles—coming up quickly.
I’ve updated this roundup of recipes once again to ensure you have all the best recipes to chose from. Not only as far as flavors (yes, there are different flavors of these classic buns!) but also as far as allergen-free choices because some of us need more than “just gluten free.”
Hot Cross Buns are one of those seasonal items that get folks very excited because they’re so delicious and also because they usually only make their appearance during a very short period of time. It’s very, very special to enjoy a delicious Hot Cross Bun, but those of us who are gluten free can’t just run down to the corner bakery and pick up a package of hot cross buns as most people can. We require terrific gluten-free recipes to make our gluten-free Hot Cross Bun recipe dreams come true!
I love that in addition to gluten-free Hot Cross Bun recipes with traditional flavoring, there are also gluten-free Hot Cross Buns with apple cinnamon, blueberry, chocolate, and double chocolate flavoring! You can see some of these recipes in the collage below.
With all these recipe and flavor choices, I kind of feel the same way about Hot Cross Buns as I do about Pumpkin Pies. It would be a shame to only make them once a year! Go ahead and take a look and see which recipes work best for you. Enjoy! Now … and later.
Carol Fenster is one of the most well-known, beloved gluten-free chefs and cookbook authors. Carol’s most recent cookbooks are Gluten-Free Cooking for Two and 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes. You can find Carol and her gluten-free Hot Cross Buns recipe over at Carol Fenster Cooks. This recipe can be made simply gluten free or gluten free and dairy free.
Pete and Kelli at No Gluten, No Problem just shared their Hot Cross Buns recipe. They had other Easter traditions like Polish sweet bread (“mock cake”) but were prompted to create this particular gluten-free recipe by their Facebook readers. They even offer the slight adjustment they had to make for the higher altitude in their Colorado location. Pete and Kelli are the authors of Gluten-Free Family Favorites, Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking, and Artisanal Gluten-Free Cupcakes, thus far. Pete also co-authored The Gluten-Free Edge—a “must have” resource book, which also includes 50 recipes—with Melissa McLean-Jory (Gluten Free For Good).
Kim of Let Them Eat Gluten-Free Cake uses her Ultimate Gluten-Free Cinnamon Roll Dough to make her Hot Cross Buns. As she says, “To me, they’re a lot like a cinnamon roll in flavor, just not all rolled up. I like to eat these warm, split open with butter in between.” Just like shown below.
Caneel at Mama Me Gluten Free was unhappy with her early attempts at Hot Cross Buns, but she achieved success when she used the same flours as she uses in her yeast bread recipe. She says the resulting Hot Cross Buns come close to recreating her Mom’s originals from The Joy of Cooking recipe. We all want to make successful gluten-free versions of our Mom’s beloved recipes, right? Caneel used the muffin tin approach for the version shown in this photo.
Debra and “The Professor”—the husband-wife team at Smith Bites—researched, collaborated, and tested recipes over a three-month period to create a gluten-free version of Thomas Keller’s Hot Cross Buns from his latest cookbook, Bouchon Bakery. Debra seriously doubted whether she could accomplish the task, but she did! Her summary of these Hot Cross Buns: “Soft and tender, speckled with plump, vanilla-laced fruit and dressed in a cinnamon-cardamom icing, these gluten-free buns have the perfect balance of sweetness – Chef Keller uses the word ‘beguiling’ to describe them and he’s exactly right.”
Jo at Quirky Cooking uses brown rice, basmati rice, sweet rice flour (also known as glutinous rice flour, but don’t worry, it’s gluten free), tapioca starch, Rapadura (or xylitol), and other ingredients using her Thermomix to make her Hot Cross Buns. Jo instructs you on how to make them in a muffin tin or by using the traditional method. Read comments to see how her readers made xanthan gum-free, egg-free, etc. adaptations as needed. Readers gave these Hot Cross Buns rave reviews. Jo has a gluten-full Hot Cross Monkey Bread recipe, but she says that her gluten-free Hot Cross Bun dough can be used instead. And she’s working on a grain-free Monkey Bread recipe right now!
Vicky of Gluten Free SCD and Veggie made gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free, Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)-compliant Allspice Hot Cross Buns. Yum … allspice provides such lovely flavoring! Note that Vicky also offers an egg-free option for this recipe, but that version is not SCD compliant. With the egg or not, I believe this recipe also qualifies as paleo.
Angela (Angela’s Kitchen) made these gluten-free, dairy-free Hot Cross Buns and offers an easy egg-free option. She shares step-by-step photos and even tells you how to easily turn your oven into a steam oven for all your gluten-free bread baking.
Jeanne, the author of Art of Gluten-Free Baking (and her acclaimed cookbook Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays), has improved these Hot Cross Buns more than once. It’s so nice to see a blogger/cookbook author continue to improve an already wonderful recipe. One of Jeanne’s readers commented that she likes to pipe an upward spiral (versus the traditional cross) to represent ascension on the buns she makes.
Rebecca of Strength and Sunshine created a gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan version of Hot Cross Buns. I love that her recipe makes six buns. The perfect number of buns!
These gluten-free, dairy-free Hot Cross Buns come from GF Jules. I love how Jules tells you how to make these buns on Easter Sunday: “A great thing to whip up before church, set aside to rise, and bake as soon as you get home for a hot, crossed bun experience the whole family will love!” Jules is the author of several gluten-free cookbooks (her latest is Free for All Cooking) and also a very helpful guidebook, The First Year: Celiac Disease and Living Gluten-Free: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed.
Linda, Gluten-Free Homemaker, is well known for her excellent homemade gluten-free bread! She was inspired to make Hot Cross Buns when she saw a recipe over at Without Adornment. Linda’s recipe can be made with or without dairy ingredients. Check out Linda’s ebook, How To Be Gluten Free.
Linda said she was inspired by Christine, aka “Bean,” at Without Adornment. Christine created a recipe for gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free Hot Cross Buns. And guess what … Christine was inspired by Jeanine at Faithfully Gluten Free! Don’t you love how all of us help each other in the gluten-free community? One good recipe inspires another!
And here are Jeanine’s beautiful Hot Cross Buns. Her recipe is gluten free, dairy free, and egg free. You’ll want to check out the other photo on her blog that shows a cross section of one of her Hot Cross Buns! Jeanine has a new “baby,” a brand new book called The Everything Guide to Living Gluten Free. This book is exactly what it says it is!
Vicki of The Free from Fairy says that she makes her gluten-free Hot Cross Buns without sugar-laden fruit but she does use spices and orange zest. Her Hot Cross Buns are also dairy free and refined sugar free. One reader said: “I was amazed at the texture they came out with and the flavour is yummy, thank you very much for the recipe.”
Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns from The Free from Fairy
Gluten-Free and Vegan Hot Cross Bun Rolls from The Free from Fairy
Sandi Bruegger of Sweet Nothings in the Kitchen won the grand prize in the So Delicious Dairy Free Recipe Contest contest hosted by Go Dairy Free with these Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns with Cashew Cream Cheeze Icing! These buns are not only award winning, gluten free, and dairy free but they’re also egg free and vegan.
Lisa at Pocketfuls created these Almond and Honey Hot Cross Buns. They’re gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, and yeast free. Still they look amazing, don’t they? Plus, one big advantage of yeast-free baking is no waiting for the dough to rise!
Sarah, The Paleo Mom, made these lovely Hot Cross Buns. She uses muffin tins. Her recipe is a variation on her paleo yeast bread. You can even use your bread machine for the dough cycle and then spoon the dough into the muffin tins. And I love how she uses the water from simmering her fruit zest for the recipe to add to her homemade kombucha later! See all Sarah’s books here.
Gretchen at Kumquat also makes her Hot Cross Buns more like muffins … beautiful delicious little muffins of “tender, yeasty bread” with “fragrant cinnamon, raisins and a hint of orange.” I wanted to reach through the screen to get one! FYI: Gretchen has a new cookbook out … Fast and Simple Gluten-Free: 30 Minutes or Less to Fresh and Classic Favorites. (Follow the link to get her recipe for Grilled Ribeye with Orange-Balsamic Glaze right on the same page with her book.)
Audrey of Unconventional Baker makes Plantain Hot Cross Buns. They’re not only gluten free, but also yeast free, gum free, refined sugar free, and vegan.
Audrey also made Raw Hot Cross Bun Cookies. Don’t they look great?
Vicky of Gluten Free SCD and Veggie not only made the Allspice Hot Cross Buns shown earlier, but she also made these Hot Cross Carrot Muffins that are SCD compliant. These are such a healthy version of Hot Cross Buns. Can you guess what veggie is used to form the crosses?
Some of you love the combination of Apple and Cinnamon, and I do, too. It is definitely a classic and favorite combo for sure! Well, Jeanne of Art of Gluten-Free Baking accepted the challenge to re-create her friend’s recipe for Apple-Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns as gluten free for another mutual friend. Aren’t these lovely? Jeanne says they have “an appley-cinnamon sticky glaze on top that puts this recipe right over the edge.” Butter is used in the recipe, but I am guessing that non-dairy butter could possibly be used instead.
Kylie (The Gluten & Dairy Free Bakehouse) offers four different versions of Hot Cross Buns. Yes, four! (Note that this blog is no longer active so I’ve included links to her recipes by using the Wayback Machine web archives.) First, there are her Traditional Hot Cross Buns. Kylie shared on Facebook: “The kitchen smells amazing!! My Traditional Hot Cross Buns have just come out the oven. I brush over a sugar spiced glaze, which adds another depth of flavour and deliciousness.”
Then there are her Cinnamon-Apple Hot Cross Buns. She says, “The apple makes the buns lovely and moist and the texture is soft and fluffy. They have just the right amount of spice and sweetness, topped with a delicious sugar spice glaze.” She adds that they freeze well, with no sogginess after being defrosted and reheated. Sounds like a great way to ensure that these Hot Cross Buns are eaten more often than at Easter!
Last, she offers not one, not two, but three chocolate versions: Chocolate Hot Cross Buns, Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns., and Double Chocolate Ginger Hot Cross Buns. These are all standout Hot Cross Buns, don’t you think? The crosses are made with chocolate paste and then the buns are glazed. The double chocolate versions are a bit different—with both containing chocolate chips and the ginger version using candied ginger as well.
Kylie says her family enjoys all her hot cross buns, but “the boys’ favourites are definitely the chocolate ones.”
Jeanine of Faithfully Gluten Free took inspiration from her Hot Cross Buns in creating Hot Cross Scones. She said that she “incorporated the flavour of these Easter buns into gluten free Hot Cross Scones. Scones are really easy to make, and can be ready to eat in under 30 minutes.” Brilliant! (Incidentally, you might want to also check out Jeanine’s Peppernut Buns—“sweet yeast buns with warming spices, including black pepper.”)
Arman of The Big Man’s World gives us a microwave, single Hot Cross Bun recipe, which is the perfect number for many of us! I appreciate not only his recipe, which is gluten free and paleo (although he also shares a gluten-free and vegan version), but also the information he provides on Hot Cross Buns in Australia.
I hope this roundup shows you that the gluten-free Hot Cross Bun possibilities are endlessly delicious! Happy Easter!
Originally published March 20, 2013; updated March 28, 2021.
Sarah || Celiac in the City says
What a sweet little gift — just in time for the weekend. Thank you for sharing all of these, Shirley!! Wow. And some new-to-me bloggers too, which I can always count on you for. Some really interesting combination of ingredients and thinking outside the bun. 😉 Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Easter!
Shirley says
Hi Sarah–Thanks so much, dear! I hope everyone gets a lot of benefit from this roundup and these recipes. Isn’t it amazing just how many ways you can make gluten-free hot cross buns and really all kinds of traditional recipes? There really is an answer for everyone’s needs! 😉 Hope you have a wonderful Easter, too! 🙂
Shirley
Vicky says
Thank you for putting this together Shirley! There’s some great recipes and I’ve found some new blogs to read! And thank you for including my recipes too.
Have a wonderful Easter
Vicky
Shirley says
Hey Vicky–It’s always great to hear that I’ve introduced you all to new blogs and recipes that you enjoy! Your creations fill a great need for grain free, refined sugar free, and SCD-compliant recipes … I thank you!
Hugs and happy Easter to you, too! 🙂
Shirley
Ina Gawne says
Shirley – wow some great recipes here! Happy Easter to you and yours! 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Ina–Thanks, dear! Hope you find something you like in the roundup. 😉 Many thanks for the Easter wishes. I hope your weekend and Easter are wonderful, too! 🙂
Shirley
jules says
Thanks for including my recipe, Shirley! As always, honored to be included in such a talented group!
~jules
Shirley says
Jules–It’s my pleasure! All you bread baker folks amaze and delight me. 🙂 Love your photo with your stacked Hot Cross Buns!
Shirley
Megan @ Allergy Free Alaska says
Hi Shirley,
These recipes all look so amazing, how do you pick just one?! 😉
xo,
Megan
Shirley says
Megan–Ah, that’s the thing see … you don’t pick just one! 😉 If you make Hot Cross Buns more than once a year, you can try a couple recipes. 🙂
Happy Easter, dear!
Shirley
Linda says
What a great round up, Shirley! They all look wonderful. Thanks for sharing mine.
Shirley says
Thank you, Linda! I’m so grateful to have one of your many successful bread recipes in this roundup! 🙂
Shirley
Laurie Barrie says
Thank you Shirley. What an awesome idea to post so many recipe ideas for the same thing! It would be hard to pick a favorite 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Laurie–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 I’m so happy to meet you and check out your blog, Gluten Free Yummy! Your Mighty Mango Muffins are calling my name. 😉 Oh, and as far as these Hot Cross Bun recipes … there’s no need to choose a favorite. Choose one to make, then try another one later, and so on and so on, until you find a favorite. I know … that could take a while. LOL
Shirley
Diane Eblin says
Wow I’ve never seen so many hot cross buns in one place. This is so cool. I love having choices. Thank you Shirley.
Shirley says
Thanks, Diane! I have to admit that I absolutely love seeing all these Hot Cross Buns in the photo collage and then individually. 😉 I just added one more from Jeanne, Apple-Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns and might add another one or two as I get permission to share. 🙂
Shirley
gretchen | kumquat says
thanks so much for the kind words and for including my recipe, shirley… have a blessed easter!
Shirley says
Gretchen–It’s my pleasure, of course! Your Hot Cross Buns are absolutely beautiful. 🙂 Many thanks for the Easter wishes! Hope yours is wonderful, too.
Shirley
Lynne L says
Happy Easter Shirley! I am so craving a hot cross bun. Sadly, I am a “yeasty failure”. I have yet to make anything GF with yeast & not have it cave in or turn out like a brick, even if I follow instructions to the letter. However, I think I will try again…and make some of these lovelies. Today, I made a GF Peanut Butter, Banana, Chocolate Mousse Pie…kind of my own recipe, kind of adapted from something I saw once, but can’t remember where (ashamed to admit it). It wasn’t hot cross buns, but it was good anyway. Hope all of you here enjoyed Easter celebrations or whatever you celebrate!
Shirley says
Hi Lynne–Happy Easter to you, too! Just a wee bit late. 😉 Take a look at the individual recipes, dear, because some do not use yeast at all. 🙂
And, ohhhh my goodness, that pie sounds incredible! I bet it was truly fantastic!
Shirley
Kim - Cook It Allergy Free says
Wow!! You amaze me, missy! It must take you so long to put together a post like this one! I love this roundup. We did not do any Hot Cross Buns this year but I think I would have if I seen this post first, LOL!!! Hope you had a beautiful Easter, my friend! XO
Shirley says
Hey Kim–Awww, you’re so sweet! Admittedly, this roundup did take a while, but isn’t it great to see them all in one spot? They’re beautiful! I should have gotten the post up earlier, but you know how that goes. Like today is April 1st and I’m still considering doing something for March Muffin Madness. After all, that event was modeled after March Madness and that event is still going. 😉
We had a lovely Easter. Hope yours was, too! I’m guessing the boys got to hide Easter Eggs. That’s always so much fun! 🙂 xoxo,
Shirley
Caneel says
What a delicious group of hot cross buns! They ALL look amazing! Thank you so much for including mine. 🙂
Shirley says
Hi Caneel–Welcome to gfe! 🙂 I agree … they all do look amazing. 😉 So happy to have yours there, too. They are so pretty and I’m sure delish! 🙂
Shirley
Lynne L says
Hi Shirley. Glad to”hear” from you! Thanks again for this roundup…I’m still yeast-challenged, but this year I’m going to try yeast-free ones since we have lots of time with self-isolating.Happy Easter & stay well!
Lynne
Shirley Braden says
Hi Lynne–Happy Easter! Please report back on your hot cross bun baking results. Fingers crossed that you’ll find a recipe that you love. 🙂
Hugs,
Shirley
Rattlebridge Farm says
Wow! This is a treasure chest of recipes! Each bun looks delicious and different. I hope it’s okay if I Pin this and put on FB. Thanks so much for joining us today at Foodie Friday!!!
Shirley says
Hi Michael–So glad you enjoyed this roundup! There’s truly so much talent among all these bloggers! Many thanks for sharing on Pinterest and your FB page! Love Foodie Friday so I’m glad I got back over to your site to link up. 🙂
Happy weekend!
Shirley
Carina says
Wow! Thanks for posting!
Shirley says
Hey Carina–So sorry I’m a year late on replying. Yikes! So glad you enjoyed this roundup. 🙂
Shirley
Terris | Free Eats says
Wow, Shirley! I better get baking. So many wonderful versions to try. Apple-Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns may be at the top of my list!
Shirley says
Well, here I am replying a year later, Terris! I don’t know what happened last year that I didn’t get to reply. Hope you tried the Apple-Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns!
Shirley
Audrey @ Unconventional Baker says
I’ve been working on a special request hot cross buns recipe all day {think I finally made something shareable} and then saw Laura from Petite Allergy Treats share this round up — came at a good time 🙂 . I know this is an older round-up but so fun to see everyone else’s recipes.
Shirley says
Audrey–I can’t imagine you making anything that would not be shareable. 😉 I’ll look forward to your post for sure! So glad that you saw Laura’s share (thanks, Laura!) and I agree that this roundup is very fun. It’s one of the most diverse roundups I’ve ever done. So much fun to see how differently that hot cross buns can be made. 🙂
Shirley
Alisa Fleming says
Wowsers! I should try one of these for Tony. Stumbled and pinned to get the word out about all of this deliciousness.
Shirley Braden says
Hey Alisa–Thanks so much for sharing! I am sure that Tony would absolutely love trying one or two of the recipes. 🙂
Shirley
Kylie Sandover says
What a fantastic roundup Shirley….so many delicious choices! Thank you so much for including my recipes 🙂 xo
Shirley Braden says
Kylie–You “win” For having the most flavor choices! I have to confess that I have never personally been interested in Hot Cross Buns before (as I don’t typically make yeast bread and I’m not a raisiny person … hehe), but those Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns … now you’re talking!! 🙂
xo,
Shirley
April J Harris says
I adore hot cross buns, but I must admit, I’ve never made them from scratch! This year has to be the year! Thank you for sharing this amazing collection of recipes, Shirley, with so many variations. There’s something for everyone. Will share. Thank you for being a part of our Hearth and Soul Hop. Have a lovely weekend!
April J Harris says
PS – I will be featuring this post at next week’s Hearth and Sou Hop, Shirley. Thank you again for sharing!
Shirley Braden says
April–It will be hard for you to decide which Hot Cross Bun recipe to make I am sure! Many thanks for featuring this recipe roundup on Hearth and Soul Blog Hop. I so appreciate it! 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
Shirley
Vicky says
Since this was originally published I haven’t found a better round up of Hot Cross Buns. There’s one for everyone.
I’ve shared on both my pages this month, I hope it reached more people. Thank you x
Shirley Braden says
Awww, thanks on all, Vicky!! I found even better recipes (and some now dead links), so I updated the post this year. You know how I feel about these roundups that have something for everyone, no matter their restrictions. 😉 Thanks so much for your Hot Cross Bun and Muffin recipes that I got to include! 🙂
xoxo,
Shirley
patricia says
Thanks Shirley for putting these recipes all together. I especially appreciate the egg free recipes as I cannot have eggs.
Blessings to you.
Shirley Braden says
You are welcome as always, Pat! I love it when I can share recipes that work for those who are more than “just gluten free.”
Hugs,
Shirley
Judee says
Shirley,
What a fabulous round up of recipes! Everything looks so good- I have never made a hot cross bun but these recipes are inspiring to try. Happy Easter!
Shirley Braden says
Hi Judee–I actually added another recipe after I first sent out this updated roundup–Chocolate and Ginger Hot Cross Buns. So many amazing choices from our gluten-free community!
Shirley