Top 25 Best Gluten-Free Hot Cross Bun Recipes

Hot Cross Buns are one of those seasonal items that get folks excited because they’re so delicious and 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 like most people can. We require terrific gluten-free recipes to make our gluten-free Hot Cross Bun recipe dreams come true!

With that need in mind, I’ve updated my recipe roundup for you this year and I have to say it’s better than ever! There are more recipes—now well over 25—and even other versions of gluten-free Hot Cross Buns like apple cinnamon, blueberry, chocolate, and double chocolate! (Some of the new recipes I’ve added are shown in this collage below.)

Plus, 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 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).

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.

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, The 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.

These Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns win on taste and looks!

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!

Mel of Pig in the Kitchen created these gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free Hot Cross Buns that almost look too good to be true. Their glossy surface reminds me of the kind of perfect food “stand-ins” that restaurants and cooking stores often use for displays. Mel shares that her son “boomed ‘Delicious!’ when he’d finished his Hot Cross Bun. She says that “the way to a small boy’s heart is definitely through his tummy.” I think that might be true of most of us!

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.)

Linda of Free Range Cookies soaks her raisins before using them to make her Hot Cross Buns, which she says are slightly sweet, fruit-filled dinner rolls. A reader said: “These got the “The Most Like Wheat” vote from the family this morning – the best of many gluten free recipes we have tried over the years. The texture of these gluten free buns was soft and bread like with a chewy crust and the spices came through well with the fruit.”

Linda even turned her original recipe into Blueberry Hot Cross Buns, which she says she actually prefers over Chocolate Hot Cross Buns.

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! 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 two chocolate versions, Chocolate Hot Cross Buns and Double Chocolate Hot Cross Buns. These are both standout Hot Cross Buns, don’t you think? The crosses are made with chocolate paste and then the buns are glazed. The double chocolate version is a bit different and also includes chocolate chips. Kylie says her family enjoys all her hot cross buns, but “the boys’ favourite are definitely the chocolate ones.”

I hope this roundup shows you that the gluten-free Hot Cross Bun possibilities are endless and introduces you to some bloggers who are new to you! Happy Easter to all who celebrate! We’ll be enjoying our time with my family.

Originally published March 20, 2013; updated September 10, 2017.