Every year around this time I have two distinct thoughts. Thought number one goes something like this: ‘Oh great! It’s Easter season! Time to get my hands on some Hot Cross Buns!’. Thought number two quickly follows thought number one and sounds something like this: ‘There’s no way I’m making Hot Cross Buns from scratch, I don’t care how many people call me an Easter Scrooge… what else can I hot cross?’.
Last year I made Hot Cross Biscuits. They’re almost shaped like buns, and they’re buttery tenderness totally excuses the fact that biscuits aren’t buns.
This year we’re getting away with Hot Cross Pancakes. It’s Lent you can eat, breakfast-in-bed-style. Is that how you’re supposed to celebrate Lent… in bed? Probably not, and yet I’ve still hot crossed my pancakes and doused them in too much syrup.
A more clever woman would insert some sort of Pope joke here but I’ll just stop while I’m ahead.
Let’s pancake.
This recipe begins with my favorite buttermilk pancake base. The batter is thick and the pancakes are durable enough to flip, but they’re wonderfully light and tender. Are they the perfect pancake? Maybe, just maybe they are.
To our classic pancake we’ll add cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg, along with currants and citrus zest. Big full flavors for breakfast!
I forgot melted butter! Melted butter goes in everything.
In this case, melted butter is whisked with egg and buttermilk. Good goes great!
Thick batter meets extra flavor.
I really do love this pancake batter.
This is where things get hot crossed. Cream cheese plus powdered sugar plus heavy cream.
I threw this thick cream cheese topping in a pastry bag with a medium tip. Then I fried up some pancakes.
Golden pancakes: hot and crossed.
Everything would be fine and good just as it is… but of course fine and good is never enough. Let’s add syrup!
A pool of pure maple. Totally normal!
Oh! Ps. I visited a maple syrup farm in Vermont last weekend! I have a lot to share. There’s maple in our future.
These pancakes have all the flavor of warm Easter breads but in pancake form. Sometimes laziness spawns creativity (and breakfast in bed).
Hot Cross Pancakes
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 cup dried currants
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
butter and oil for cooking
pure maple syrup for serving
For Cream Cheese Cross:
4 ounces (1/2 cup) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
In a small bowl whisk together butter, buttermilk, egg, and vanilla extract. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add the wet ingredients all at once to the dry ingredients. Stir to combine. It’s ok if the mixture is a bit lumpy. Add the currants and fruit zest and stir to combine. Allow mixture to sit for 5 minutes while the griddle heats.
Preheat oven to 150 degrees F. Place a oven-proof plate in the oven. This is where the pancakes will stay warm while the entire batch is cooked.
Heat a griddle (or nonstick skillet) over medium heat. Add about a teaspoon of butter and a splash of vegetable oil. Heat until fat is hot. Spoon 2 tablespoons of batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Fry until golden brown on each side, flipping once. Place cooked pancakes on the warm plate in the oven and cover with a clean towel. Place a bit more oil or butter in the pan after each batch of pancakes are cooked.
To make the cream cheese mixture, stir together the three ingredients in a small bowl. Place in a pastry bag with a medium round tip. If you don’t have a pastry bag, a ziplock freezer bag with the corner tip cut off is a good substitute.
Top stack of pancakes with cream cheese cross. Serve warm with maple syrup.
Ana
When I first tried these with icing and syrup…I thought they were merely okay, but then I tried them simply with icing and without syrup and it made a huge difference. They were much improved! I would definitely be sure to lather on the icing:) The batter also smelled just divine.
Melina
Felicitaciones JOY!!!! I´m from Argentina and i just cooked this recipe, it was amazing!!! so delicius! Thanks for sharing your great ideas! Besos! (kisses!)
Emily
These are ridiculously good! For that extra dose of kitchen snobbery, I ground the cinnamon and cardamom by hand which made it that much tastier. Thanks for helping me impress the bejeezus out of my girlfriend.
vegeTARAian
Bravo, this is the most delicious idea I’ve heard in ages!
Ibbs @ La Langosta Y Mi
Joy,
I bow down to your baking domestic goddessness! These pancakes are simply divine, I made them this weekend and am in love. Thank you for such a wonderful creation.
x x x
http://lalangostaymi.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/hot-cross-cross-pancakes.html
Vicki B
Brilliant!!!!!
Alan
These are definitely going on the menu for Easter brunch this year. Cinnamon buns are a Sunday morning tradition around here, this will take it up a notch for the holiday… Thanks for the idea!
Allison @ thebakingyear
Why am I not in my kitchen right now making these?!?
Jey
I really like it! But can You tell me sth about this creame cheese? Simply can I use cheese like cream cheese for sandwiches?
anna
mmmmmmmmmmmmm i want to eat them ALL!
Jen
Pancakes are the best and I love when you use the fancy china :)
Rocky Mountain Woman
i am so making those this weekend! i will be grandma of the week, for sure….
Jen
This is so perfect, it’s sinful! (well, you needed an extra pun in there, right?)
I’ve been so bummed out I wasn’t getting hot crossed buns this year (a dear friend with a B&B makes them every year, but I’m not making it down there this month!) and your recipe will be put to use this weekend so we don’t go completely without. Yay, thanks!
Bernadette @ Now Stir It Up
I love all the flavors in your pancakes. Its a great spin!
Rachel Dickens
Yummoooo! I might have to repost this on my blog as a healthy alternative to bucket loads of chocolate this easter! your blog is always so inspiring :) but i can’t seem to find the vegan baked potato soup recipe with cashews?
Mary
as a Catholic who is in fact also a normal person and who digs your blog, i’d have to say bravo on refraining from the Pope joke. also, i have the same flatware that you do! stole it from my granny. :)
Kristin @ FoodFash
There’s not much I wouldn’t do for a spoonful of cream cheese frosting right now!
Abigail
Hi! ? First time reader here. (I will definitely be back to read more).
I’ve never really been a fan of hot cross buns, but these look delicious. Great photography and presentation too.
joelle (on a pink typewriter)
I always wondered what makes something “hot crossed” – guess it’s just the icing? Either way, I LOOOOVE pancakes.
Faith
I’m not a fan of hot crossed buns, but I may be a fan of these hot crossed pancakes. They look amazing!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Oh my yum! And look at the pool of maple syrup deliciousness!
Chris
this is pretty close to my basic pancake recipe (except for the g-free part)…only now i want to chop up some dried cranberries and make a spiced cranberry orange batch! …with my new-found orange marmalade fruit spread! totally love the inspiration i find here!!! thanks a million, joy!
Beth @ CraveableCleveland
How adorable are these! I know I should like hot cross buns but I just never have – I’m thinking these pancakes look like a much more delicious way to enjoy the tradition :).
Cali
Hi Joy! I love that you’re experimenting with new kinds of posts–the toast just didn’t do it for me. So, I was super happy to see this post and not another about toast. (friendly feedback that rhymes!) Thanks for sharing your work–it’s super fun to read.
muppy
genius :)
Pam
umm do you sing the song while you make these? So much easier than buns I gotta’ try them.
Jessica K
These look so yummy! I am going to give this mouth watering recipe a try for sure! Thanks for sharing and keep those awesome recipes coming! I think I just found my Easter morning breakfast menu item!
Kay
I love your creative writing….must be your great personality coming through (say yes, yes it is: :) ). Love your recipes and photography also. You are so talented!!
Sophie
You continue to amaze. Every. Single. Day.
Abby
These pancakes look incredible – and I love your food styling! The vintage-y plates are so pretty and really add your your {amazing!} photos.
Samantha
My cousin lives in Wisconnsin and she sends me an Easter bag every year. This year, among the many things she has sent me, are peeps. And I cannot for the life of me think of anything else but you and Tracey discussing peeps in your podcast everytime I look at them.
I may have to open the bag and let them dry out a little first…on your recommendation of course. So that is how I am celebrating Easter this year.
Samantha x
Donna-Caroline Khoo
oh my….they look delicious. I especially love the photography work. It’s not easy to do all these things for a blog so I am very much appreciating not only your creative style and flair for the cooking but also the love and adoration of the picture too.
I love your blog – only just stumbled across is recently and it is a pleasure to read.
Love and Warmth
Donna
nectarandstone.blogspot.com
Amanda
As always these looks delicious!!
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence
I could eat that entire stack. Yum!!
Holiday Baker Man
I love flavoured pancakes but I always forget to do it!
Emily
Love those dishes!
Tracy
I think you are the queen of pancakes – I have never made a recipe of yours that I didn’t like!! I’m sure these are amazeballs!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry
I would take a stack of fluffy pancakes over hot crossed buns any day!
Lindsey
whenever i think easter, i think brunch items. this is a great idea. thanks for being so creative and smart!
bakerkat
LOL I Love It! You can be sure that I will be making these pancakes. I’m always telling myself that I should make Hot Cross Buns but I never do. This is a fun way to hot cross something good and easier to make. Thanks
Emma
AAHHH ! I adore a hot cross anything and these look so absolutely immense that I was a bit compelled to write my appreciation. Hah! Love your blog :) x
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Yes! I have no desire to make hot crossed buns any time soon but i could definitely go for these pancakes for sure!
Chineka @ Savor the Baking
These look delicious.
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
you are just too good, joy. too good!
these pancakes look impressive and delicious!
Melissa @ Treats With a Twist
Too cute!! And I’m totally the same way about the hot cross buns. No way am I making them. I’ll pretend another food is just the same :) I’m loving the currents! I bought a Chocolove bar a few weeks ago that is currents, almonds, and dark chocolate, and it’s totally to die for.
I want to sink right into those pancakes!
Haley
I love that “hot cross” and “pancake” both became verbs in this post. Pancake on!
joythebaker
totally wrong and so so right!
Annie @ Annie's Noms
Wow these are great!! I made hot cross buns from scratch last year, but they took so dang long! This year I’m looking for something quicker and these are just perfect!! :)
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
This may be my Easter morning breakfast! Love it!
Seanna Lea
Now I want pancakes for dinner. Maybe because I didn’t have pancakes for breakfast!
Maggie
ahh! these are just PERFECT for Easter. so cute!
Kelly
What a great idea, these look delicious! :)
Tina
I like your hot crossing style! I have been thinking that I need to make buns but totally can’t bring myself to do it. Hot crossed pancakes it is!
allie@sweetpotatobites
i love hot cross buns but have never made them. these pancakes are perfection!
sandra
all laziness should spawn breakfast in bed.
Jamie @ green beans & grapefruit
What I wouldn’t do for a pile of these this moment (vandalism, murder….) but all else is fair game! ;)
Sally
*gasp* Want!!
Amy
This is something i have to make!!!!
Drooling just staring at the photos
http://yummei.blogspot.co.uk/
Raquel Somatra
Oh, this is lovely, Joy. What a comforting take on a tradition.
JK Scaglione
Hey Joy—way cool shot of the syrup being drizzled upon thy crossed pancake stack!
Becca - Cookie Jar Treats
Can pancakes be adorable? Well if they can’t then you just proved everyone wrong because this pancake idea is so adorable. And I want to make these pancakes now so I can criss cross each individual pancake before stacking one on top of each other :P
Kirsty
I made hot cross buns at the weekend. It is a bit of an ordeal though so I wouldn’t exactly recommend it, although they did taste brilliant(if I do say so myself)!
Lauren | Sweet Splendor
Yummmm. I don’t know why I don’t cook breakfast more often but this makes me want to wake up a little earlier on Sundays to make a morning feast!
Becky
Lots of ingredients for little ole pancakes, but very creative! I will try these the weekend after Easter. We look forward to and love our hot cross buns on Easter morning. I make the dough up the day before and shape them. They are ready to bake off Easter morning after a little time out of the fridge. Great recipe on King Arthur website. Thanks for the inspiration!
Tieghan
Those look fat, fluffy and delicious! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Kate @ Kate from Scratch
Cute recipe idea! I’ve never had a hot cross bun before, I don’t think. I’ve heard of the song, of course…played it even on the recorder, thereby driving my parents insane when I was five. But, alas, have never had a hot crossed bun( at least that I’m aware of- many things happened in my early twenties that I don’t remember). Maybe it’s not a new jersey/new york thing? Or maybe I’ve just been living under a rock. Either way, I’m intrigued…and will also make these pancakes. They are cute and I like cute.
Christine @ 24 Carrot Kitchen
Looks delicious and I can’t wait to try.
Quinn Cooper
I’m dying right now! These just look out of control amazing. I like your addition of the zest, and nutmeg to the already delicious pancake batter. All these little flavors make for an amazing combination of yumminess in your mouth. Thanks for the great idea for Easter brunch, I will definitely be making this for mine!
xo Quinn
Quinn Cooper Style
Bee @ deux dilettantes
Oh my! It’s breakfast time! And for that kind of pancakes, it’s always breakfast time.
Abby @The Frosted Vegan
Girl you hot crossed it! Yum!
Jennifer barnaby
I love this recipe for two reasons. One, it looks delicious and two, what a pleasure to find a recipe that’s creative and unique amidst all the sameness. I lift my spatula to you!
Vickie
ooh, yum!
I have (& will be) making hot cross buns – but we have a bread-maker, which is almost cheating…
Miss Kim
With all the spices and flavors added in the batter, I can only imagine the yummy of this dish. The cream cheese cross is perfectly themed for Easter.
Kathryn
What an excellent way to celebrate Easter – I made hot cross buns at the weekend but now I wish I’d made pancakes instead!
Sara {Home is Where the Cookies Are}
Aww. I love that you did hot cross pancakes! I made hot cross buns as a kid, and I honestly don’t remember much about it – except that it wasn’t too difficult. I also think they weren’t difficult because it was my Aunt doing all the work. . . . All I did is cross them with frosting! But – I love the idea of having them in pancake form!
Jayne
I don’t celebrate this Easter thing but I can definitely do with some hot cross anything!
Ellen
Glory be, these look fantastical. I so wish I had read this post earlier in the evening when I had the energy to make them. I might settle for toast with maple syrup as a make-shift but inferior substitute, but these are going on the to-make list!
Katie
Joy! This recipe is all kinds of perfect. I always find hot cross buns so disappointing (I think I go in expecting gooey cinnamon bun-ness and it’s always a let down) but this is genius. Way faster and easier, plus all that maple syrup and cream cheese frosting? Total win! I’m making these this weekend for sure!
axelle the french cook
What an attractive tower !! I definitively have to try pancakes…
Verena
I love that combination, looks perfect!
Mia
Yum! My birthday falls during Easter this year, and I’ve been wondering what to have for birthday breakfast. Needless to say, I’m wondering no more :)
Caz
Who needs hot cross buns when you can have pancakes! They look so good.
Katy @ KatysKitchen
Love pancakes, so comforting. I can’t wait to hear about the maple syrup farm. I visited one when I was so young and it is such a great memory.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Love! That cream cheese cross is perfection!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
So much faster and easier than making hot cross buns. Great thinking! I just made buttermilk pancakes last week for the first time in ages. I used a batter pretty similar to yours here but I need a tutorial on how to flip NEATLY :)
That Cream Cheese Cross is the best looking cross ever! Pinning!
Catherine
Hosanna in the highest. They look delectable.