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 does a traditional hot cross bun contain? ›
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.
What is significant about 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.
Are you supposed to toast 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.
Why do Catholics eat hot cross buns? ›
In the Christian tradition, the making of buns with a cross on them and consuming them after breaking the fast on Good Friday, along with "crying about 'Hot cross buns'", is done in order to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.
Why were hot cross buns banned? ›
Spiced buns were banned when the English broke ties with the Catholic Church in the 16th century. However, by 1592, Queen Elizabeth I relented and granted permission for commercial bakers to produce the buns for funerals, Christmas, and Easter. Otherwise, they could be baked in homes.
What is the issue with hot cross buns? ›
Iceland faces backlash after Christian symbol on hot cross buns replaced with ticks. Iceland is trialling a new kind of hot cross bun which has a tick on the top of it instead of the traditional cross. The supermarket faced controversy for the move on Tuesday, after it was accused of being offensive to Christians.
Why are hot cross buns pagan? ›
Pagan origins
The origins of hot cross buns are shrouded in mystery, but historians believe they date back to the pagan traditions of ancient Britain. The Saxons used to bake buns marked with a cross during their spring celebrations to honour Eostre, the goddess of dawn and fertility.
Is hot cross buns healthy? ›
While an average bun contains around 230 calories, there are healthier types. Good-quality, sourdough hot cross buns, purchased from health food shops and local grocery stores, contain healthier ingredients such as sultanas, currants and apricots and aren't filled with processed additives and preservatives.
Do the French eat hot cross buns? ›
The French don't do hot cross buns.
Toasted spiced buns studded with juicy raisins and oozing with butter, hot cross buns are an Easter treat that can be enjoyed in the weeks running up til Easter. But not in France.
They're perfect served toasted and buttered with a cup of tea during the build-up to Easter, but they also make a great base for hacky-yet-showstopping desserts.
Why do they put crosses on hot cross buns? ›
Hot cross buns go back as far as the 12th century. Supposedly, an Anglican monk baked the bun and marked them with a cross as a representation for Good Friday. These became popular over the years and are now popular to eat around Easter weekend.
How do you eat a Jamaican spiced bun? ›
Jamaican Spice Bun is often eaten with processed “tin cheese“, but I enjoy it just as well with a few thick slices of old cheddar or Havarti.
