National Hot Cross Bun Day
With the perfect blend of warm spices and soft, fluffy texture, this pastry is a seasonal treat that is sure to make your taste buds dance!
Whether on this day or another, Hot Cross Buns are delicious any day of the year.
These little buns made from yeast dough are usually a bit sweet, often contain some spices (such as cinnamon) and may be found with additions such as raisins, currants or other dried fruits.
National Hot Cross Bun Day encourages people to consider the roots of the hot cross bun, and to take a day to enjoy hot cross buns!
How to Celebrate National Hot Cross Bun Day
Celebrating National Hot Cross Bun Day is a fairly simple act that can be made into fun little family or workplace traditions! Try these ideas for enjoying this day:
Eat Some Hot Cross Buns
Although they may be a bit harder to find during certain times of the year, hot cross buns are a delicious treat that should be enjoyed on this day!
Ask ahead and a bakery might be happy to special order them for the day. Or, if they haven’t heard of National Hot Cross Bun Day, let them know it’s coming up and they might just make a special batch in honor of the day.
Learn to Make Hot Cross Buns
Although it’s a little fussy due to the involvement of yeast in the recipe, making Hot Cross Buns at home is the perfect way to pay homage to this day! And they will taste so much better when served fresh and hot, rather than those buns that have been made somewhere else and brought home.
When making the buns, a couple of options exist for creating the quintessential cross on the top of the buns.
Traditionally, the cross was often created simply by making a knife imprint in the dough before baking, or by fashioning a cross out of thin pieces of dough. Today, however, people often like to make things just a bit sweeter by creating the cross out of a line of frosting made from powdered sugar.
Sing the Hot Cross Buns Song!
Almost any preschool or kindergarten child will know the lyrics to this little song and be able to join in together in singing it.
And this is the ideal day to do it, too. There are, of course, a few different verses and versions, but the basics go like this:
Hot cross buns
Hot cross buns
One a penny
Two a penny
Hot cross buns
There’s also a verse using the phrases “Give them to your daughters, Give them to your sons”. But really, it can be sung in any way that is preferred, because it is all meant to be in good fun!
Get Creative with Hot Cross Buns Recipes
Even with their religious significance, Hot Cross Buns certainly don’t need to be average or boring! Just a dash of creativity can mean making them in all kinds of creative ways that will please friends, family and neighbors alike. Try these varieties of Hot Cross Bun recipes that will make them seem truly magical:
- Chocolate Hot Cross Buns. Satisfy that need for chocolate while still celebrating National Hot Cross Bun Day! These lovely little buns are made with a typical recipe base, plus adding some cinnamon, cocoa powder and dark chocolate pieces. Create the white crosses with either reserved dough that doesn’t contain cocoa, or with a frosting made from powdered sugar and butter.
- Bacon Hot Cross Buns. These delightful sweet and savory buns are made with maple syrup in the dough, dressed up with caramelized onions, sage, chives and fontina cheese. Then, the cross on top is made with delicious bacon brushed in more maple syrup.
- Sourdough Hot Cross Buns. Inspired by the Aussies, this treat uses a sourdough starter instead of traditional yeast to make the buns. And don’t forget dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas or even dried cranberries.
- Hot Cross S’mores Buns. For some outdoor fun with Hot Cross Buns, try using them in place of graham crackers to create a s’mores like treat. Add chocolate and toasted marshmallows. If there’s no campfire around, a kitchen blow torch works well for caramelizing the marshmallows.
History of National Hot Cross Bun Day
The story of Hot Cross Buns is a bit difficult to trace, as a few different theories of its origins exist. One story goes that a 13th century Anglican monk baked these buns to share with others, and marked them with a cross in honor of Good Friday.
They may not have yet contained the sweetness and gentle spices that are now enjoyed in them today, but this is likely where they got their start.
By the 16th century, these buns had gently made their way to Elizabethan England, where in order to keep them sacred the queen actually passed a law limiting the sale of the buns to Christmas, funerals and the Friday before Easter.
The law was too difficult to enforce, however, and was eventually rescinded, making it legal to bake and eat Hot Cross Buns any time of the year–which was great news for lovers of this little treat.
Some people who were highly superstitious believed that these buns had medicinal or healing powers. Some even believed that the buns baked on Good Friday would never go stale (or at least for the first year).
Others thought that Hot Cross Buns baked especially on this day could be hung from the rafters in an effort to ward off evil spirits. Others spoke of these magical buns protecting sailors from shipwrecks while on sea voyages.
In any case, whether they have actual spiritual powers or their powers are limited to simply making the mouth water in anticipation of eating them, these little buns have a fun history that continues to bring enjoyment today.
Although hot cross buns pre-date Christianity, these tasty little sweet treats have been historically only eaten on Good Friday as a Christian symbol of the crucifixion, marking the end of the religious season called Lent.
However, in many places Hot Cross Buns are now widely available and eaten throughout the various seasons of the year. Which is why this delicious bun is deserving of its own entire day simply for celebrating it in all of its delightful glory.
It’s time to Celebrate National Hot Cross Bun Day!
National Hot Cross Bun Day FAQs
What is the significance of the Widow’s Son pub in London?
The Widow’s Son pub in London’s Bromley-by-Bow hosts an annual Good Friday tradition.
A sailor adds a hot cross bun to a net hanging above the bar, honoring a widow who awaited her son’s return from sea, keeping a fresh bun for him each year. This custom has continued since the early 19th century.
How did the Chelsea Bun House contribute to the popularity of hot cross buns?
In 18th-century London, the Chelsea Bun House was renowned for its hot cross buns.
Patronized by royalty, including Kings George II and George III, it sold thousands of buns during Easter, significantly boosting their popularity.
What are Heißwecken, and how do they relate to hot cross buns?
Heißwecken are traditional spiced buns from northern Germany, enjoyed during Lent.
Similar to hot cross buns, they’re sweet, spiced, and often consumed warm, highlighting a shared European tradition of spiced breads during religious observances.
How did hot cross buns influence Jamaican culinary traditions?
Jamaican spiced buns, derived from the British hot cross bun, are darker, loaf-shaped, and often enjoyed with cheese.
Introduced during British colonization, they’ve become a staple in Jamaican cuisine, especially during Easter.
What is the connection between hot cross buns and the Saxon goddess Eostre?
Some historians suggest that hot cross buns originated from ancient rituals honoring Eostre, the Saxon goddess of spring and fertility. Buns marked with a cross were baked to celebrate her, symbolizing the four phases of the moon.
How did the hot cross bun nursery rhyme originate?
The nursery rhyme “Hot Cross Buns” emerged in the 18th century as a street vendor’s cry in London. Vendors used catchy rhymes to advertise their buns, leading to the popular song still known today.
What role did the Chelsea Bun House play in Easter traditions?
The Chelsea Bun House in 18th-century London was famed for selling vast quantities of hot cross buns during Easter. Its popularity drew massive crowds, including royalty, cementing the bun’s association with the holiday.
How did hot cross buns become associated with Good Friday?
In the 12th century, an English monk added a cross to buns to honor Good Friday. This practice spread, and the buns became a traditional Good Friday treat, symbolizing the crucifixion.
What are some modern variations of hot cross buns?
Today, hot cross buns come in various flavors, including chocolate chip, toffee, and orange-cranberry. These contemporary twists cater to diverse palates while maintaining the traditional cross symbol.
How did hot cross buns become a symbol of friendship in Ireland?
In Ireland, sharing a hot cross bun with someone on Good Friday was believed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year. This tradition underscored the bun’s role in social bonding during Easter.
Need some inspiration?
Check out these videos for some extra inspiration in getting involved!
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