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These soft, chewy, spicy, fruit & nut studded Hot Cross Cookies have all the flavours of a hot cross bun in cookie form!

Whilst I am not a religious person, I do enjoy Easter. Probably because of the copious amounts of chocolate involved! It doesn't have to be all about chocolate though. There are homemade vegan hot cross buns, No Knead Hot Cross Buns and now there are Hot Cross Cookies too!

Ideas for recipes spring up when I am least expecting them. I woke up on Saturday morning with no clue that these little beauties would materialize. Then, while cleaning my bedroom they suddenly popped into my head. I have no idea where the idea came from but the cleaning was abandoned and I ended up in the kitchen creating these Hot Cross Cookies.

My Hot Cross Cookies are incredibly flavourful and spiced to absolute perfection. They are soft, flecked with chewy raisins and crunchy walnuts then topped with delicious vanilla flavoured white crosses. Hot cross buns in cookie form! How cool is that?

They are great for gifting this Easter. Your friends and family will welcome a sweet treat that doesn't involve chocolate. They are also really easy to make (no mixer needed) so great as an Easter activity for children. If nut allergies are an issue then the nuts can be omitted without affecting the recipe at all.

I hope you all have a very happy Easter!

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Hot Cross Cookies Melanie McDonald These soft, chewy, spicy, fruit & nut studded Hot Cross Cookies have all the flavours of a hot cross bun in cookie form. They are perfect for gifting or making with children this Easter! 4.67 from 3 votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 10 mins Cook Time 17 mins Total Time 27 mins Course Baked Goods Cuisine vegan Servings 13 cookies Calories 172 kcal Ingredients 1x 2x 3x For the cookies 145g / 1.25 cups spelt flour (wholewheat can be used as an alternative but spelt gives the best result) 145g / 1.25 cups spelt flour (wholewheat can be used as an alternative but spelt gives the best result)

2 tablespoons ground flax seed 2 tablespoons ground flax seed

75g / 1/2 cup coconut sugar (any brown sugar can be used if you don't have coconut) 75g / 1/2 cup coconut sugar (any brown sugar can be used if you don't have coconut)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon

75g / 1/2 cup raisins 75g / 1/2 cup raisins

30g / 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional but adds great texture) 30g / 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional but adds great texture)

5 tablespoons oil (I used mild olive oil but coconut oil (melted) or any other mild tasting oil is fine) 5 tablespoons oil (I used mild olive oil but coconut oil (melted) or any other mild tasting oil is fine)

About 120mls / 1/2 cup non-dairy milk About 120mls / 1/2 cup non-dairy milk For the crosses 1 tablespoon of aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)(see recipe note for alternative) 1 tablespoon of aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)(see recipe note for alternative)

95g / 3/4 cup natural powdered sugar 95g / 3/4 cup natural powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat

Put all the dry ingredients, including fruit and nuts, into a mixing bowl . Put all the dry ingredients, including fruit and nuts, into a mixing bowl

Add the oil and as much milk as you need to make a thick cookie dough (half a cup max) then stirring to combine everything. Make sure you can't see any dry bits of flour and you scrape the bottom of the bowl well. Add the oil and as much milk as you need to make a thick cookie dough (half a cup max) then stirring to combine everything. Make sure you can't see any dry bits of flour and you scrape the bottom of the bowl well.

Drop mixture onto the cookie sheet. I use an ice-cream scoop. Leave plenty of room round each one. Drop mixture onto the cookie sheet. I use an ice-cream scoop. Leave plenty of room round each one.

Flatten the tops of each cookie with the back of a fork. Flatten the tops of each cookie with the back of a fork.

Bake for 15-17 minutes. When ready they will be hardening up round the edges but slightly soft on the inside when you press with your finger. They will continue to firm up when you remove them from the oven. Bake for 15-17 minutes. When ready they will be hardening up round the edges but slightly soft on the inside when you press with your finger. They will continue to firm up when you remove them from the oven.

Leave to cool on the tray. Leave to cool on the tray.

When completely cool prepare the frosting. When completely cool prepare the frosting.

Add the aquafaba to a small bowl and whisk until just starting to go thicker and foamy. I used an hand whisk. It's difficult as there is such a small amount but just tip the bowl slightly to the side. With an electric hand whisk it will take 30 seconds tops. By hand slightly longer. Add the aquafaba to a small bowl and whisk until just starting to go thicker and foamy. I used an hand whisk . It's difficult as there is such a small amount but just tip the bowl slightly to the side. With an electric hand whisk it will take 30 seconds tops. By hand slightly longer.

Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir with a spoon a little bit so it's not so dusty then whisk again for about two minutes until very thick. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir with a spoon a little bit so it's not so dusty then whisk again for about two minutes until very thick.

Use a piping bag and a nozzle with a very small opening to pipe cross shapes across the top of each cookie.The crosses will dry hard within a few minutes. Use a piping bag and a nozzle with a very small opening to pipe cross shapes across the top of each cookie.The crosses will dry hard within a few minutes. NOTES If you don't happen to have aquafaba for the frosting then you can use water instead. You won't need to whip it up like the aqufaba. Just add the vanilla to the powdered sugar then add the water a drop at a time, stirring well until you have a thickish paste. If you can use aquafaba then please do as the crosses are much hardier with it. NUTRITION Serving: 1 cookie Calories: 172 kcal Carbohydrates: 26 g Fat: 7 g Sodium: 147 mg Fiber: 2 g Sugar: 17 g Calcium: 30 mg Iron: 0.7 mg Tried this recipe? Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @avirtualvegan on Instagram and hashtag it #avirtualvegan Get my Top 10 reader's favourite recipes e-Cookbook FREE!



