These cupcakes are inspired by the traditional Hot Cross Buns eaten on Good Friday. I’ve replaced yeasted dough with a spiced vegan and gluten-free cupcake mixture, currants with Nakd’s Cocoa Orange bars and the crosses on top are made from a marzipan style icing instead of the traditional pastry topping. So these may be far from traditional but are still the perfect treat to enjoy on and around Good Friday!
Nākd “Hot Cross Bun” Cupcakes
Yield:
12
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Total Time:
30 minutes
Gluten-free & Vegan “Hot Cross Bun” cupcakes using chunks of Nakd Cocoa Orange bars in place of dried fruit.
Ingredients
- 275 g Gluten-free plain flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground mixed spice
- 1 ½ tsp gluten-free baking powder
- 160 ml dairy-free milk
- 240 ml maple syrup or agave nectar
- 80 ml olive oil or melted coconut oil
- ¼ tsp cider vinegar
- 2 Nakd Cocoa Orange bars, chopped into chunks
Maripan icing:
- 50 g ground almonds
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Enough dairy-free milk to make a paste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180c and line a muffin tin.
- Mix together the flour, spices and baking powder in one bowl. In another bowl, mix together the milk, sweetener, oil and cider vinegar. The combine the two until well combined.
- Stir in the Cocoa Orange bar chunks and then evenly spoon the mixture into the muffin tin.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Leave to cool. Meanwhile make the icing by mixing together the ground almonds, sweetener and vanilla. Add a small amount of milk at a time until you have a thick icing-like mixture. Transfer it into a piping bag and draw crosses onto the tops of each cupcake.
can’t believe I’ve never had a hot cross bun! These would be so much easier than a yeasted bread version,
These are so creative! I love that you made hot cross bun cupcakes! And adding those chocolate orange bars sounds delish
Thank for sharing.
It is very useful.
These are the cutest! You are so clever, Aimee! I love the little cross on them :) Fabulous idea!
These are so creative! I love that you made hot cross bun cupcakes! And adding those chocolate orange bars sounds delish!
Thanks Kelly!
I can’t believe I’ve never had a hot cross bun! These would be so much easier than a yeasted bread version, and chocolate orange flavor sounds delicious!
Never!? You must, Marcie! Have a great Easter :-) x
Probably the cutest sweet take on an Easter recipe I’ve seen all week–I love these, Aimee!!
^__^ thank you Ala!
These are so sweet… and contain my all-time favourite Nakd Bar! :D
I’ve not had success with GF baking so far… my GF hot cross buns were like rocks, my Lemon Drizzle was rubbery and my Gingerbread Men tastied ‘grainy’ :/ I thought I’d quit and leave GF baking to the experts (like your good self!) but I’m tempted to give it one last shot. What’s your favourite brand of GF flour? I’ve got the Doves one but it tastes a bit ‘grainy’ (like sand) when I’ve baked with it (probably down to my cooking though ;) )
I actually made a gluten-free version of your lemon drizzle cake before! I used Vicky’s adaptation, using Dove’s gf mix and thought it was delicious, from what I remember :-) Anyhow, these cakes turned out really fluffy and quite moist but I’ve definitely had experiences in the past where the cakes turn out too dry, grainy or rubbery because of the gluten-free flour. Perhaps the almond milk provides extra moisture to make these just right?