Name: Vegan Hot Cross Loaf – Easy Gluten-Free Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients: 60g (¼ cup) coconut oil, melted (or olive/vegetable oil); 60ml (¼ cup) orange juice (fresh or from a carton); 150ml (⅔ cup) almond milk (or other plant-based milk); 6 tbsp maple syrup (or other sweeteners); 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tbsp orange zest (or candied orange peel/orange extract); 100g (⅔ cup) raisins or sultanas (or other dried fruit); 150g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (or almond flour); 150g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or plain flour if not gluten-free); 2 heaped tsp baking powder; ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda); 3 tbsp gluten-free flour; 2 tbsp water; 1 tsp apricot jam; ½ tsp hot water

Description

This Vegan Hot Cross Loaf is a delightful twist on the classic hot cross bun—soft, moist, and bursting with citrusy orange and warm cinnamon flavors. Made gluten-free and naturally sweetened with maple syrup, this loaf is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack. Plus, it’s super easy to make!

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients:

60g (¼ cup) coconut oil, melted (or olive/vegetable oil)
60ml (¼ cup) orange juice (fresh or from a carton)
150ml (⅔ cup) almond milk (or other plant-based milk)
6 tbsp maple syrup (or other sweeteners)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp orange zest (or candied orange peel/orange extract)
100g (⅔ cup) raisins or sultanas (or other dried fruit)

Dry Ingredients:

150g (1 ¼ cup) ground almonds (or almond flour)
150g (1 ¼ cup) gluten-free flour blend (or plain flour if not gluten-free)
2 heaped tsp baking powder
¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

For the Cross (Optional):

3 tbsp gluten-free flour
2 tbsp water

For Decoration (Optional):

1 tsp apricot jam
½ tsp hot water

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat to 180°C (350°F). Line a loaf tin with greased baking paper.
Prepare Wet Mixture: Melt coconut oil and combine with orange juice, almond milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, orange zest, and raisins. Mix well.
Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift gluten-free flour, ground almonds, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to wet mixture and stir until just combined.
Pour & Level: Pour batter into the prepared loaf tin and level the top.
Make the Cross (Optional): Mix gluten-free flour and water into a paste, pipe a cross over the batter.
Bake: Bake for 45 minutes. Check doneness with a skewer—if it comes out clean, it’s done.
Cool & Glaze (Optional): Let loaf cool. Mix apricot jam with hot water and brush over the loaf.
Serve & Enjoy: Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

To make the loaf extra moist, add an extra tablespoon of almond milk or coconut oil.
You can swap raisins for dried cranberries, dates, or even vegan chocolate chips.
This loaf freezes beautifully—store individual slices for quick treats anytime.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-Free