Easter Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake Recipe (2024)

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I am so excited about this Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake! It’s the first one that I’ve created myself and it’s so good. You get all the flavours of a Hot Cross Bun in a matter of minutes.

Hot Cross Buns are a sweet and spicy yeasted bun traditionally served on Good Friday. They appear in the shops shortly after the Christmas holidays along with Easter Eggs!

Sometimes I really want to enjoy a special sweet treat. This recipe means there is, no need to nip out to the shops because I can mix up a few ingredients and make my own in your microwave in minutes.

This little cake has a great texture and, although it took me a few trials I’ve finally cracked it and got the right balance of fruit, spice, and sugar, so it really tastes just like a Hot Cross Bun.

How to make the cross on the Mug Cake

Here’s how I made the cross on the top of the Mug Cake, this video was made during my testing of the recipe which is why there is a different mug.

Perfect for one

A real indulgence when you are on your own, but if you want more you can easily double up the recipe and make two mug cakes, you will have to cook each one separately though.

Like all mug cakes, it’s best eaten soon after it has been cooked.Just run your knife around the edge of the mug cake and you can take it out of the mug, split and butter it, just like a proper Hot Cross Bun. This is my favourite way to eat this special treat.

I’m adding this Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake to a couple of link-ups. Simply Eggcellent – the Linky Party run by Belleau Kitchen where all things eggy are welcome.

We Should Cocoa – okay, I know there is only a dusting of cocoa on top of my Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake, but it is there!

We Should Cocoa is run by Choclette at Tin and Thyme and hosted this month by Lancashire Food who has chosen eggs as the theme.

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Easter Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake Recipe (4)

Hot Cross Shortbread Cookiesare shortbread cookies with all the citrus and spicy flavours of a Hot Cross Bun. It’s the perfect recipe for your cookie jar all year round, but when you dress up these cookies with a piped cross, they make a great addition to your Easter tea table.

How to make Hot Cross Bun Waffles all the flavours of a hot cross bun in a delicious Easter breakfast waffle.

Air Fryer Hot Cross Bun French Toast combines sweet and spicy Hot Cross Buns with a sweet egg mixture that is toasted until golden in your air fryer. Serve with your favourite toppings and for an easy and delicious breakfast or brunch.

Easter Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake Recipe (7)

Simnel Traybake Cake (Slice) is a quick and easy traybake adapted from the traditional marzipan topped Simnel Cake. It is easy to slice and perfect to serve for Mother’s Day or at Easter.

Stay in touch with everything that’s going on at Farmersgirl Kitchen.

Easter Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake Recipe (9)

Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake

Janice Pattie

All the flavours of a Hot Cross Bun in a super speedy, microwave mug cake

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Baking

Cuisine British

Servings 1

Calories 411 kcal

Ingredients

  • 15 grams butter
  • 1/2 medium egg
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 3 tablespoon soft light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
  • 2 tablespoon mixed dried fruit the kind with mixed peel in it
  • 3 tablespoon self-raising flour
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder

Instructions

  • Put the butter into a large mug and microwave for 20 – 30 seconds

  • Add the egg, milk and sugar and whisk to combine

  • Add the mixed spice, flour and salt and mix until the batter is smooth

  • Add the mixed dried fruit and orange zest and mix into the batter

  • Microwave the mug cake for 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes 30 seconds, depending on the rating of your microwave.

  • While you leave the cake to cool slightly, make a cross with two strips of foil or paper, lay these over the mug and using a sieve or tea strainer to dust the top of the mug with cocoa. Remove the strips of foil or paper and you will reveal your cross.

Notes

  • When microwaving your mug cake, start with 1 minute 30 seconds, then if still wet on top cook for a further 20 seconds at a time until it is just firm on top.
  • Try not to overcook or your cake may be dry.
  • You can make any shape for the top of your Hot Cross Bun, the cross is traditional but if you have other stencils or shapes, you can use those, a heart would be fun.
  • Or simply dust all of the bun with cocoaor as an alternative to cocoa you could use cinnamon

Nutrition

Calories: 411kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 4gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 118mgPotassium: 201mgFiber: 3gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 375IUCalcium: 65mgIron: 1mg

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Easter Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat 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.

Are hot cross buns a Catholic thing? ›

Hot Cross Buns are inextricably linked to Easter and to Christianity. But in reality, they probably have pre-Christian origins. 'Cross Buns' were baked to celebrate Eostre, a Germanic Goddess of Fertility, after which the season of Easter is said to be named.

What is in the middle of a hot cross bun? ›

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.

Is it better to microwave or toast hot cross buns? ›

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.

Can Jews eat hot cross buns? ›

“Will he let hot cross buns past the mezuzah?” I ask. “He loves them. They're absolutely allowed in the house, unless it's Pesach of course.

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.

Should Christians 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.

Can I leave hot cross bun dough to prove overnight? ›

Form into a ball and place in a buttered bowl covered with clingfilm, and leave to prove overnight in the fridge. Preheat the oven to gas mark 7/220ºC/200ºC Fan/425ºF. Take the dough out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature.

What is the white stuff on the bottom of hot cross buns? ›

The white topping on hot cross buns is typically a mixture of flour, water, and sugar. This simple yet versatile combination is known as a “cross paste” and is piped onto the buns before baking. Once the buns are in the oven, the paste sets and forms the iconic cross shape that gives these treats their name.

Why are my hot cross buns hard? ›

DO NOT add too much flour – results in dry dough = tough buns. Sultanas: Some recipes say to add sultanas after the dough has been kneaded or risen. If you do this, you'll find it very hard to disperse them evenly throughout the dough. By adding them before kneading, some do get squished.

What religion eats hot cross buns? ›

Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten over the Easter religious Christian holiday to symbolise the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday on the cross.

How unhealthy are hot cross buns? ›

Hot cross buns contain a little fat from butter/shortening (around 5%) and are high in carbohydrate so consideration is needed around portion size for people with diabetes. Hot cross bun sizes vary a lot. For example, one commercial variety sold in a 6 pack contains 40g carbohydrate and 920 kJ (220 calories).

What is the oldest hot cross bun? ›

A note with the historic bun says that it was baked on Good Friday 1807 in Colchester, Essex. Local historian Andrew Phillips has discovered a direct link which supports the claims on the bun's note, which makes it the oldest hot cross bun in the world.

What is the best way to heat up 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.

Can you heat Bao buns in the microwave? ›

Place frozen baos on a microwave-safe plate. Cover the baos with a damp paper towel. Allow Chef Mic 45 - 90 seconds to cook your baos.

What is the best way to serve hot cross buns? ›

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. We've got the proof, with this diverse range of both sweet dishes that all started with a packet of Coles Hot Cross Buns.

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.

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