Gluten-free hot cross buns

Enjoy a traditional spring favourite and make your own gluten-free hot cross buns. By baking them yourself you get to enjoy them fresh, whilst reducing additives and experimenting with your own flavours!

Nutritional highlights

Research suggests that some spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg, might carry possible health benefits including blood sugar maintenance and promoting a healthy digestive system.

Raisins - are a source of both potassium and calcium and being a dried fruit just 30g of raisins count towards one of our five a day.

Potassium - helps with fluid balance within our bodies and helps the heart muscle work properly.

Calcium - is needed for healthy bones and teeth but also play an important role in muscle contractions.

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Ingredients

Makes: 12 buns
Preparation time: 90 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes

• 350g gluten-free plain flour, plus extra if needed
• 125ml skimmed milk
• 150g raisins
• 50ml orange juice
• 65g low fat spread
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• Sweetener equivalent to 50g sugar
• ½ tbsp fast action yeast
• 2 tsp mixed spices 
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 50ml water
• 2 tbsp orange marmalade

Method

In a bowl, add the raisins and orange juice then leave to soak.

Meanwhile melt the low-fat spread.

In a bowl combine the mixed spices, yeast, cinnamon, sweetener, salt and 300g of the flour.

Add in the beaten egg and milk and stir until combined. Add the melted spread into the bowl and stir again. Stir in the soaked raisins.

If the dough is very sticky, keep adding in flour, a little at a time, until the dough comes together in a smooth ball and can be shaped.

Line a bowl with parchment paper and place the dough in and cover with a tea towel or cloth for 30 minutes.

After the 30 minutes take the dough out and split the mixture into 12 balls. Place them onto a tray with parchment paper. Cover again for 30 minutes to allow them to rise.

Meanwhile preheat the oven to 180°C and whisk together the remaining flour and the water.

Transfer to a piping bag and pipe a cross onto the top of each bun. Then place the hot cross buns into the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Remove from the oven and immediately brush with the warm marmalade.

Healthy swaps/tips

• Why not experiment with other spices and dried fruit.
• Ensure the yeast is gluten-free, as some products do contain wheat.
• Check the packaging of the sweetener you use as they vary in sweetness.