Our food director, Sarah Akhurst, shares some tasty toppings and fillings to try on hot cross buns this Easter
Delicately spiced and packed with juicy fruit, hot cross buns are probably my all-time favourite baked good (bold, I know). Such is the depth of my HCB love, I generally display a pretty healthy disregard for their ‘proper window’ and can be found tossing them in my trolley whenever I spot them in store.
Year round, I’m strictly in the toasted-with-butter camp, but come Easter I do feel the need to let my hot cross buns have their seasonal moment in the sun. So, here are just a few of my favourite twists…
1. Strawberry sundae
New to the Sainsbury’s HCB range this year are these 'strawberry & cream' hot cross buns, made with strawberries, double cream, cranberries and chunks of white chocolate. I didn’t think I could be swayed from a classic, but these are addictively good for anyone with a sweet tooth (me!), and taste even more sublime when toasted and topped with ice cream and a drizzle of strawberry sauce. They’d make a great speedy dessert to follow your Easter roast.
2. PBB: Peanut butter & banana
Not one for the purists, but I say don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Peanut butter adds an extra level of richness, while the banana works brilliantly with the cinnamon spicing. Go all out with a slick of jam if you fancy, we won’t judge you.
3. Cheesy melt
Fruit toast is a classic cheeseboard accompaniment, so it makes perfect sense that a layer of melted cheese would be just the thing atop a toasted hot cross bun. Toast lightly, then butter and top with cheese – something sharp like Sainsbury’s Barber’s Mature Cruncher Cheddar or blue Stilton works really well, but if you prefer something creamier, a Brie would also do the job. Flash under the grill until the cheese is bubbling and enjoy straight away.
4. Tahini butter with pistachio
Dried fruit and spices are a common feature of Middle Eastern food, so play to your hot cross bun’s strengths with a slick of tahini butter. Simply stir a dollop of tahini through some softened salted butter and spread generously over freshly toasted buns. A sprinkle of chopped pistachios adds a lovely additional crunch.
5. Cardamom cream
Inspired by Swedish Semlor buns, which are traditionally eaten in Scandinavia in the lead up to Lent, these would be perfect as part of an Easter afternoon tea. Simply add icing sugar and a little ground cardamom to double cream and whip to soft peaks. Put the cream in a piping bag with a star nozzle, split open your hot cross buns, and pipe a swirl of cream on each base. Sandwich with the tops and then dust with a little extra icing sugar to finish.
6. Maple butter
The caramel overtones of maple syrup go great with a well-spiced hot cross bun. Add a good glug to some softened butter and whisk until smooth. Spread liberally on freshly toasted hot cross buns, and finish with an extra drizzle of syrup for that photo-worthy glisten.
Don't miss:
Our best-ever hot cross bun recipes
Our favourite chocolate recipes for Easter
FAQs
Toasted with butter: This is the classic way to eat hot cross buns. Simply slice the bun in half, toast it, and spread some butter on top. With jam or marmalade: If you like your buns sweeter, try spreading some jam or marmalade on top of the butter.
What do people have on hot cross buns? ›
They're yeasted sweet buns filled with spices and various fruits such as currants, raisins, and/or candied citrus. They're decorated with a white cross representing the crucifix, either marked right into the dough or etched on top with icing. Hot cross buns are a traditional Easter food, typically eaten on Good Friday.
How do you eat hot cross buns in the microwave? ›
This is the quickest way to warm hot cross buns. Just place a bun on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a damp paper towel to prevent it from drying out, and microwave for about 10 – 29 seconds or until warm. Be careful not to overdo it, as they can become too soft or chewy so try warming in 10 second bursts.
Do you have jam on hot cross buns? ›
PART 7 – GLOSS! The lovely shiny finish on Hot Cross Buns is simply a mix of heated apricot jam and a touch of water.
When can you start eating hot cross buns? ›
A hot cross bun is a spiced bun, usually containing small pieces of fruit and marked with a cross on the top, which has been traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malta, United States and the Commonwealth Caribbean.
How do you eat frozen hot cross buns? ›
If you want to take out only a couple of buns at a time then freeze them in an airtight container with baking parchment (parchment paper) in between the layers of buns. The buns should defrost in 2-3 hours at room temperature and can be warmed in an oven preheated to 150C/fan 130/300F for about 5 minutes.
Why were hot cross buns banned? ›
It has been suggested that the Elizabethan order to control these early versions of hot cross buns was for fear that they were too 'Catholic', and that they had become associated with the bread of the Eucharist, which was sometimes marked with a cross.
Why do Christians eat hot cross buns? ›
They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste, which represents the cross on which Christ died. The spices in hot cross buns are said to represent the spices that were used to embalm Christ after his death.
Can you eat a hot cross bun untoasted? ›
They're better than anything that comes out of a crummy toaster. You know why? It's because a microwaved hot cross bun is how a hot cross bun is truly meant to be enjoyed. You're bringing the bun back to how the bakers originally intended it to be eaten – straight from the oven, warm and gooey on the inside.
How do you toast hot cross buns without a toaster? ›
Hot Cross Buns Warming & Toasting Instructions
Alternatively, the buns can be warmed in the oven set at 180. c -350. f for 5-6 minutes or until nicely toasted.
Use it up. One of the greatest things about the trusty hot cross bun is that you can enjoy them hot or cold and sweet or savoury. Check out our favourite ways to enjoy the baked good below… Slice your buns and fill them with ice cream for sweet sandwiches – the kids will love this Easter treat.
Should you toast a hot cross bun? ›
“Toasting your HCB is the correct way. Microwaving your HCB is for psychos. While yes, they sort of resemble fruit toast, HCBs have embellishments that you don't find in fruit toast, e.g. the cross and the fancy glaze. Toasting gives a nice, firm, crunchy surface for optimal butter spreading.
Can I leave hot cross buns to rise overnight? ›
Enjoy fresh-baked hot cross buns early in the morning by preparing the dough the night before and leaving it to prove in the fridge overnight.
Are you supposed to heat hot cross buns? ›
Hot Cross Buns Warming & Toasting Instructions
To warm or toast, it's recommended to slice them in half, and if your toaster is wide enough, you can toast them that way. Alternatively, the buns can be warmed in the oven set at 180. c -350. f for 5-6 minutes or until nicely toasted.
What is a hot cross bun and why are they eaten at Easter? ›
They are symbolic of this significant day in the Christian faith when Jesus was crucified. Each bun is decorated with a cross made from flour paste, which represents the cross on which Christ died. The spices in hot cross buns are said to represent the spices that were used to embalm Christ after his death.
Do you toast both sides of a hot cross bun? ›
Split the hot cross buns and toast them on each side, butter well. Put each bun toasted side up on a plate and spread with a little marmalade.
