These hot cross balls are a quick, healthy snack with all of the Easter flavours of hot cross buns. They're vegan and gluten-free.
SPRING
Spring winds are rapidly approaching, blowing gentler and more perfumed. Winter retreats at pace, spent, worn and tired of its melancholy.
A few yellow petals appear at the end of a spindly shoot; buds form with curious perseverance; small dots of colour speckle woodlands, fields and hedgerows with promise of longer days and milder afternoons.
As stews give way to salads and roots give way to leaves, the extra hours of light give us time back, time to stop, breathe and wake up from our winter haze.
Hot Cross Buns
Easter heralds spring in a flurry of chocolate and hot cross buns.
Those fluffy, cakey buns. I do love them, with their light spices and plump raisins.
Their jaunty crosses blur the lines between meals - are they breakfast, snack, dessert? Nobody quite knows, so we consume them at will. Perhaps toasted with butter, straight from the tray, cold, warm, or, for the real rebels among us, with *gasp* jam.
But however you eat them, they are best eaten mindfully, watching the buds form anew and the gentle winds blow through the trees as they work furiously to produce the year's coat of foliage.
The faster nature works to wake up and stretch from its slumber, the more I want to slow down and watch.
Hot Cross Balls
This year seems to have brought about considerable creativity in the hot cross bun world.
Supermarket shelves are heaving with unusual flavours... St Clements, Bramley apple, stem ginger, Earl Grey and mandarin, cranberry.
I welcome the unusual with open arms (but then, I put kale in cupcakes, so I would).
For these hot cross balls, I've turned the flavours of the traditional hot cross bun into energy bites.
Small, portable, adorable-looking little balls of cinnamon and raisins.
Take them for a slow walk past bluebells and grape hyacinths, nettles and wild garlic. T
ake them for a walk through woodland and urban jungle.
Just take them for a walk. Bring an umbrella.
Easter Recipes
Looking for other Easter recipes? Try these!
Hot Cross Bun Ice Cream Sandwiches
Italian Easter Braided Bread
Carrot Pizza
Carrot Soda Bread
Adieu, winter. Adieu.
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📖 Recipe
Hot Cross Balls
Equipment
- food processor
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup (60g) oats (gluten-free if required)
- ⅔ cup (60g) almond meal (ground almonds)
- 6 dates stones removed
- ½ cup (60g) raisins
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the cross topping
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil solid - put in the fridge to set if necessary
- 6 tablespoon powdered icing sugar
Instructions
- Whizz the porridge oats in a food processor until a fine crumb is formed.
- Add the remaining ingredients and pulse until well combined and it forms a sticky meal.
- Roll into balls and refrigerate until ready to eat.
- For the topping, cream the coconut oil with an electric mixer until smooth, then beat in the powdered icing sugar.
- Pipe in crosses on the hot cross balls.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Dan says
So easy and taste like hot cross buns, but healthier!
Choclette says
What delectable prose. You've made me feel all wistful for the springs of my youth, when I seemed to have time to enjoy them. Love your take on Hot Cross Buns too. The more I make energy balls, the more I realise how fabulous they are.
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
How cute are these 😀 they look delish!
qualitypoint says
Looking so beautiful!!!
Sally says
Such a delicious idea at the time that seems completely dedicated to chocolate. The little crosses on the top are so sweet. Your description of spring brought a lump to my throat
Kate Hackworthy says
Oh Sally, what a lovely thing for you to say! You've made my day :))))
Chris @thinlyspread says
Eek! Perfect! Hoorah!
Kat says
I love these! They look beautiful and are healthy to boot. Would be a great snack anytime of year without the cross decoration I reckon. Thanks for entering into Treat Petite!
Kate Hackworthy says
Indeed! I'll definitely be making them again and again (without the crosses!)
kellie anderson says
These are ADORABLE!! Such a clever idea. I am bummed I didn't think of it 😉
Kate Hackworthy says
Ha ha, Kellie! We often have a bit of recipe hive-mind, but it must have passed us by for this! 🙂
Jan says
Oh wow these are so cute!
Margot says
This is such a great idea. I must admit I have never been a fan of hot cross buns but those balls look very tempting! 🙂
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
Wow these look and sound delicious! Will have to try them and am sure my kids will love them too especially with their hot crosses.
Kate Hackworthy says
My son LOVED them, Lucy. I hope yours do too. 🙂
Savory Spicerack says
This is so cute! I love the hot cross bun recipes I am coming across right now! Pinned!
Kate Hackworthy says
I know, there are so many!
Amanda says
These are adorable and what a unique twist! I love anything with dates in them, so delicious.
Kate Hackworthy says
Thanks Amanda! I adore dates as well.
foodhuntersguide says
what a super cute idea
shannon kennedy says
These are so cute and look quite nice!
Georgina Ingham | Culinary Travels says
What an amazing idea for a recipe. A really healthy sweet treat.
Rosie says
These look yummy and relatively low in sugar and fast acting carbs. I usually end up disappointed with yummy looking recipes online which are then too high in sugar (pre-diabetic person problems...) Not this time though...I can actually save this for a rainy day.
Kate Hackworthy says
I hope you enjoy them, Rosie - and that you are okay.
Tania Sheff says
I love these tasty and cute Hot Cross Buns! Pinned for later!