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{{short description|Baked item for Easter season}}{{For|the nursery rhyme|Hot Cross Buns (song)}}{{Other uses|Hot Cross Buns (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2016}}{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = Hot cross bun
| image            = File:Hot cross buns - fig and pecan.jpg
| image_size       = 300
| caption          = Homemade hot cross buns
| alternate_name   =
| country          = [[England]]
| creator          =
| course           =
| type             = [[Spiced bun]]
| served           =
| main_ingredient  = [[Wheat flour]], [[Zante currant|currants]] or [[raisin]]s with [[spice]]s
| variations       =
| calories         =
| other            =
}}
A '''hot cross bun''' is a [[spiced bun]], usually containing small pieces of raisins and marked with a [[Christian cross|cross]] on the top, traditionally eaten on [[Good Friday]] in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malta, United States, and the [[Commonwealth Caribbean]].<ref name="Alexander2017">{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Deepa |title=Season's eatings |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/hot-cross-buns-fresh-off-the-oven-in-chennai/article17907662.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=13 March 2021 |language=English |date=10 April 2017 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117203350/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/hot-cross-buns-fresh-off-the-oven-in-chennai/article17907662.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Caribbean Easter meals to keep families together during covid-19 {{!}} Loop Caribbean News |url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/caribbean-easter-meals-keep-families-together-during-covid-19 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Loop News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-25 |title=Hot Cross Buns, A Caribbean Easter Tradition |url=https://globalvoices.org/2016/03/25/hot-cross-buns-a-caribbean-easter-tradition/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Global Voices |language=en}}</ref> They are available all year round in some countries, including the UK.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite web |last=Rohrer |first=Finlo |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8598312.stm |title=BBC - How did hot cross buns become two a penny? |publisher=BBC News |date=1 April 2010 |access-date=26 April 2014 |archive-date=13 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613213448/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8598312.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Always a good time for hot cross buns {{!}} Coles |url=https://www.coles.com.au/whats-happening/inspire-and-create/always-a-good-time-for-hot-cross-buns |website=Coles |access-date=27 December 2021 |language=en |archive-date=26 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226094914/https://www.coles.com.au/whats-happening/inspire-and-create/always-a-good-time-for-hot-cross-buns |url-status=live }}</ref>

The bun marks the end of the season of [[Lent]] and different elements of the hot cross bun each have a specific meaning, such as the cross representing the [[crucifixion of Jesus]], the [[spice]]s inside signifying the spices used to [[embalming|embalm]] him  and sometimes also [[orange peel]] reflecting the bitterness of his time on the cross.<ref name="TurnerTaylor1999">{{cite book|last1=Turner|first1=Ina|last2=Taylor|first2=Ina|title=Christianity|year=1999|publisher=Nelson Thornes|isbn=9780748740871|page=50|quote=To mark the end of the Lent fast Christians eat hot cross buns. These have a special meaning. The cross in the middle shows how Jesus died. Spices inside remind Christians of the spices put on the body of Jesus. Sweet fruits in the bun show that Christians no longer have to eat plain foods.}}</ref><ref name="Fakes1994">{{cite book|last=Fakes|first=Dennis R.|title=Exploring Our Lutheran Liturgy|date=1 January 1994|publisher=CSS Publishing|isbn=9781556735967|page=33|quote=Since people often gave up meat during Lent, bread became one of the staples of Lent. Bakers even began making dough pretzels--a knotted length of dough that represented  a Christian praying, with arms crossed and hands placed on opposite shoulders.  Hot cross buns are popular during Lent.  The cross of course reminds the eater of Christ's cross.}}</ref>

==History==

In the [[Christianity|Christian]] tradition, the making of buns with a cross on them and consuming them after [[Lenten supper|breaking the fast]] on Good Friday, along with "crying about 'Hot cross buns{{'"}}, is done in order to commemorate the [[crucifixion of Jesus]].<ref name="Hatton">{{cite book |title=The Origin of the Fasts and Festivals of the Church |date=1843 |publisher=Thomas Hatton |location=London |page=28 |language=en}}</ref> 

In 1592, during the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England]], the London Clerk of Markets issued a decree forbidding the sale of spiced buns and other spiced breads except at burials, on Good Friday, or at Christmas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simmonds |first=Alecia |date=2019-04-15 |title=The history of the hot cross bun |url=https://www.gourmettraveller.com.au/dining-out/culture/the-history-of-the-hot-cross-bun-15667/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Gourmet Traveller |language=en-AU}}</ref> The punishment for transgressing the decree was forfeiture of all the forbidden product to the poor. As a result, hot cross buns at the time were primarily made in domestic kitchens. Further attempts to suppress the sale of these items outside of these holy days took place during the reign of [[James I of England]] (1603–1625).<ref>{{cite book | last1 = David | first1 = Elizabeth | author-link1 = Elizabeth David | title = English Bread and Yeast Cookery | chapter = Yeast Buns and Small Tea Cakes | publisher = The Viking Press | year = 1980 | location = New York | pages = [https://archive.org/details/englishbreadyeas00davi/page/473 473–474] | isbn = 0670296538 | chapter-url-access = registration | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/englishbreadyeas00davi | url = https://archive.org/details/englishbreadyeas00davi/page/473 }}</ref>

The first definite record of hot cross buns comes from a London street cry: "Good Friday comes this month, the old woman runs. With one or two a penny hot cross buns", which appeared in ''[[Poor Robin|Poor Robin's Almanac]]'' for 1733.<ref>Charles Hindley (2011). "A History of the Cries of London: Ancient and Modern". p. 218. Cambridge University Press,</ref> The line "One a penny, two a penny, hot cross-buns" appears in the English nursery rhyme "[[Hot Cross Buns (song)|Hot Cross Buns]]" published in the ''[[London Chronicle]]'' for 2–4 June 1767.<ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Easter Celebrations Worldwide |date=2021 |publisher=McFarland |page=130}}</ref> Food historian Ivan Day states, "The buns were made in London during the 18th century. But when you start looking for records or recipes earlier than that, you hit nothing."<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk"/>

==Traditions==
[[File:Hot Cross Buns Ad for Good Friday 1884.jpg|thumb|An 1884 advertisement announcing the sale of hot cross buns for Good Friday in a Hawaiian newspaper.]]
[[English folklore]] includes many [[superstitions]] surrounding hot cross buns. One is that if the bun was made from dough kneaded for the [[Sacramental bread|host]]
and baked and served on Good Friday, it would not spoil or grow mouldy during the subsequent year. Much the same was claimed  for sacrificial bread in Classical times before Christianity.<ref>''Brewer's Concise Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'', Cassell Publishers, 1992, p. 151</ref> Another belief encourages keeping such a bun for medicinal purposes. A piece of it given to someone who is ill is said to help them recover.<ref name='practically'>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/hotcrossbuns |title=Hot Cross Buns |access-date=9 March 2009 |encyclopedia=Practically Edible: The Web's Biggest Food Encyclopedia |publisher=Practically Edible |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403185509/http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/hotcrossbuns |archive-date=3 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

If taken on a sea voyage, hot cross buns are said to protect against [[shipwreck]]. If hung in the kitchen, they are said to protect against fire and ensure that all breads turn out perfectly. The hanging bun is replaced each year.<ref name="practically"/>

==Other versions==
In the United Kingdom, the major supermarkets produce variations on the traditional recipe such as [[toffee]], [[Orange (fruit)|orange]]-[[cranberry]], salted [[caramel]] and [[chocolate]], and [[apple]]-[[cinnamon]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Best hot cross buns, simnel cake and Easter desserts 2024 |url=https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/our-top-hot-cross-bun-picks |access-date=1 July 2019 |work=[[BBC Good Food]] |language=en |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330061030/https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/our-top-hot-cross-bun-picks |first=Lucy |last=Roxburgh |date=13 February 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Australia, recent variations of the hot cross bun by major supermarkets have included [[chocolate chip]], sour [[cherry]], burger sauce, [[Iced VoVo]], [[Arnott's Shapes|Pizza Shapes]], [[Vegemite]] and cheese, [[jalapeño]] and [[cheese]], and others.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/tips-and-advice/we-taste-tested-novelty-hot-cross-buns-so-you-don-t-have-to-and-pizza-shapes-weren-t-even-the-worst-20240215-p5f55m.html | title=We taste-tested novelty hot cross buns so you don't have to (and Pizza Shapes weren't even the worst) |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |first=Bianca |last=Hrovat |date=16 February 2024 | access-date=30 March 2024 | archive-date=30 March 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330052156/https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/tips-and-advice/we-taste-tested-novelty-hot-cross-buns-so-you-don-t-have-to-and-pizza-shapes-weren-t-even-the-worst-20240215-p5f55m.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In [[Jamaica]] and some Commonwealth Caribbean islands, the hot cross bun has over time evolved into a spiced [[Easter]] bun with the addition of molasses, spices and a loaf shape.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Perspective {{!}} Making Jamaican spiced bun for my mother was a final act of love |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2022/04/27/jamaican-spiced-buns-recipe/ |archive-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330060044/https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2022/04/27/jamaican-spiced-buns-recipe/ |first=Tiffany |last=Anne-Parkes |date=27 April 2022  |url-access=registration |access-date=2023-04-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-01 |title=Supermarkets report mixed Easter bun sales |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/supermarkets-report-mixed-easter-bun-sales/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330061532/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2021/04/01/supermarkets-report-mixed-easter-bun-sales/ |archive-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=live |first=Brittny |last=Hutchinson |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=[[Jamaica Observer]] |language=en-US}}</ref> This bun is eaten with cheese in islands such as Jamaica and [[Guyana]] and served with beverages such as [[mauby]] or [[ginger beer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caribbean Easter meals to keep families together during covid-19 |url=https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/caribbean-easter-meals-keep-families-together-during-covid-19 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=caribbean.loopnews |first=Dillon |last=De Shong |date=10 April 2020 |language=en |archive-date=30 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20240330060319/https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/caribbean-easter-meals-keep-families-together-during-covid-19 }}</ref>

In [[Slovakia]] and in the [[Czech Republic]], ''mazanec'' is a similar cake or sweet bread eaten at Easter. It often has a cross marked on top.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://festivals.iloveindia.com/easter/traditions/easter-in-czech-republic.html |title=Easter in Czech Republic |access-date=7 December 2007 |publisher=Iloveindia |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402115554/http://festivals.iloveindia.com/easter/traditions/easter-in-czech-republic.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==The cross==
[[File:Hot cross buns for Easter, April 2006.jpg|thumb|Hot cross bun, with a piped cross made from flour paste, cut in two and toasted]]
The traditional method for making the cross on top of the bun is to use [[shortcrust pastry]],<ref>{{cite book
 | last = Berry | first = Mary | author-link = Mary Berry (food writer) | title = Mary Berry's Complete Cookbook | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | edition = First edition (2nd reprint) | year = 1996 | location = Godalming, Surrey | page = 386 | isbn = 1858335671 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book
 | last = Smith | first = Delia | author-link = Delia Smith | title = Delia Smith's Cookery Course | publisher = British Broadcasting Corporation | edition = First edition (8th reprint) | year = 1986 | location = London | page = 62 | isbn = 0563162619 }}</ref> though some 21st century recipes recommended a paste of flour and water.<ref>{{Citation | title = The Great British Bake-off: Paul Holywood's Hot Cross Bun | newspaper = Easy Cook (magazine) | page = 38  | date = April 2013 | issue = 60}}.</ref>

==See also==
{{div-col}}
* [[Pesaha Appam]]
* [[Bath bun]]
* [[Fruit bun]]
* [[Sally Lunn bun]]
* [[List of British breads]]
* [[List of buns]]
* [[List of foods with religious symbolism]]
* [[Semla]] 
{{div-col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Baked goods with religious iconography}}
{{British bread}}
{{Australian cuisine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hot Cross Bun}}
[[Category:Australian breads]]
[[Category:British breads]]
[[Category:Buns]]
[[Category:Canadian cuisine]]
[[Category:Catholic cuisine]]
[[Category:Easter bread]]
[[Category:English cuisine]]
[[Category:English traditions]]
[[Category:New Zealand breads]]
[[Category:Sweet breads]]
[[Category:Yeast breads]]