With all the fruits and spices it’s safe to say Hot Cross Bun French Toast is a brilliant breakfast and super Easter treat. There is no better way to start off an Easter bank holiday with a hot cross bun french toast recipe.
I love French toast and really fancied it at the weekend but as I was thinking about making it while still cuddled up in bed I wondered if it would work with hot cross buns instead of bread. It turns out it does work and it is incredible! Who knew hot cross bun french toast could be so good?!
I normally use the grill frying pan so I get those beautiful lines on the finished hot cross buns french toast. It makes them extra crispy in those places and that extra texture is delicious. There is always one in the group who really wants the french toast with crispy edges. However, in this recipe, I used a normal frying pan and it still worked fabulously.
Top Questions about hot cross bun French toast
What is the best way to enjoy Hot Cross Buns?
How are Hot Cross Buns Traditionally Eaten?
What goes well with Hot Cross Buns?
When should Hot Cross Buns be eaten?
Why you’ll love this Hot Cross Bun French Toast recipe
I adore brunches, it’s the perfect meal of the day. All the nutrition of breakfast with the fun of lunch. French toast is a classic brunch treat and I think making it with hot cross buns makes this the best french toast.
Hot Cross Buns are only around for a short while and I love finding new and creative ways to enjoy them, making them into french toast is one of the best hot cross bun breakfast recipes.
It’s a great way to use up your slightly stale hot cross buns if it’s already the Easter bank and you’ve got some left. By soaking the bins in the french toast mixture it revitalises them meaning they last that little bit longer!
Ingredients
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
HOT CROSS BUNS
Spiced and delicious, hot cross buns are one of my favourite Easter foods (besides mini eggs of course). This year I’ve noticed lots of different flavour combinations in the supermarkets so you could try making this an apple hot cross bun french toast.
SPICES
A key ingredient in hot cross buns and in this hot cross bun french toast recipe. I love the mix of cinnamon and nutmeg with the sweet vanilla. Adding these spices to the french toast mix just takes this up a level to maybe the best french toast I’ve ever had.
Eggs
Eggs are such a vital part of making French toast. I use large eggs for this recipe.
How to make Hot Cross Bun French Toast – step by step
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and spices in a bowl until combined.
Heat your skillet with some unsalted butter and soak the hot cross buns in your mixture.
Fry your hot cross buns until they go crispy and then flip them over to brown both sides.
Serve your hot cross buns french toast warm straight from the pan with your favourite toppings.
Top Tips
This Hot Cross Bun French Toast recipe works really well if you have some hot cross buns which are a little stale. In fact, I think they could even taste better when they aren’t completely fresh.
As the hot cross bun is thick you need to let them soak for a few seconds to get really gooey. Keep dunking them until they have a good amount of the mix absorbed. Don’t let them drain too much before popping them in the pan to cook.
Add a pinch of cinnamon to the mix for a warming flavour for the Hot Cross Buns. It works very well with the fruit in the cake.
French Toast – Serving Suggestions
Fresh Berries
I served it with fresh strawberries and smoked bacon. The maple syrup with bacon and hot cross bun was so good! I wish I had eaten more of them at the weekend. Luckily there is still time to get hot cross buns to enjoy 🙂
Bacon or Sausages
I’m never having regular French toast again without bacon or sausages. They are a delicious mix of sweet and savoury. Smoked bacon and soft French toast is a match made in heaven.
Chocolate Drizzled Over
To make this wonderful brunch treat even sweeter, try drizzling some melted chocolate over your best french toast. I loved using dark chocolate to really compliment the hot cross buns french toast.
Maple Syrup
A Canadian tradition I know, but maple syrup is wonderfully sweet and sticky and perfect on french toast. I even added bacon with mine, bacon and maple syrup a match made in heaven!
Equipment
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- Frying Pan
- Kitchen Scales
- Mixing bowl
- measuring jug
- whisk
Substitutions and variations for Hot Cross Bun French Toast
DIFFERENT HOT CROSS BUN FLAVOURS
This year there are so many different variations of hot cross buns in supermarkets this year. I’ve seen apples and cinnamon; strawberries and cream; even winter berries.
So you should definitely try making the hot cross bun French toast with these different flavours to find out exactly what you like best.
GLUTEN FREE FRENCH TOAST
An easy way to make this recipe gluten free is to swap out the hot cross buns for gluten free hot cross buns. It’s really that simple.
FLAVOURS
I add a dash of vanilla into the mix to give it a delicious flavour. You could also use flavours like coffee, and orange or even add some fresh lemon zest.
Storing Hot Cross Bun French Toast / Making ahead of time options
This hot cross bun french toast recipe is best eaten straight away, warm from the grill and served with a tall iced latte or mimosa if you’re really feeling fancy.
You can make the french toast mixture the night before and leave it in the fridge ready for your bank holiday brunch on Monday.
FAQS
What is the best way to enjoy Hot Cross Buns?
I think the best way to eat classic hot cross buns is to pop them in the toaster and then spread a little button on them. They are best when they’re still warm. Cut them in half long ways so they fit in your toaster.
How are Hot Cross Buns Traditionally Eaten?
Traditionally, hot cross buns are eaten on Good Friday in memory of the Cross. They are traditionally an English food and are most often eaten warm from the oven or toasted.
What goes well with Hot Cross Buns?
Hot cross buns go really well with butter when eaten toasted and they also make a great base for homemade french toast. You can also eat hot cross buns with cream and jam like a scone.
When should Hot Cross Buns be eaten?
Hot cross buns are a breakfast so they are usually eaten on Easter morning. They are perfect when warm and toasted and go really well with a nice cup of tea. They also make a great brunch food if you have to hunt for easter eggs early in the morning.
Other Easter Recipes you might like
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Hot Cross Bun French Toast Recipe
Hot Cross Bun French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 (4) large eggs
- 220 ml (220 ml) milk
- pinch (pinch) salt
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon (½ teaspoon) ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon (½ teaspoon) ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon (½ teaspoon) vanilla extract
- 8 (8) Hot Cross Buns
Instructions
- Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and spices in a bowl until combined.
- Heat a frying pan or a skillet to a medium temperature. I like to use a skillet with lines on it as you get a great pattern on the buns but both work.
- Add a teaspoon of unsalted butter to the skillet.
- Dip the bread in the mix and leave for a few seconds to soak all the way through.
- Put the buns in the frying pan or skillet.
- Bake until golden brown on each side. Add a little extra butter if needed.
- Serve with your favourite toppings. I would recommend fresh fruit, bacon and maple syrup.
Video
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
I love french toast and this is perfect for brekkie over the Easter weekend. Great idea Sisley – thanks for sharing x
Thank you Stuart! You are so kind. I’ve loved making and eating this French toast a lot. All in the name of research of course 🙂
An easy and most delicious Easter brunch. It can’t be beaten for a great breakfast on the bank holiday weekend.
Love it, thank you so much.