Hot Cross Bun Tiramisu

This no bake easter dessert is eggless, simple and uses up all those hot cross buns. It is a coffee lovers dream and is the perfect make ahead sweet treat recipe.

It is no surprise that I love hot cross buns. I have a few recipes on the feed which are dedicated to them because I absolutely LOVE eating them during the season of Lent and Easter. In saying this some times you could be left with extra hot cross buns which have gone a little stale or you could find them for cheap as chips in the store as easter is upon us, in which case this tiramisu will blow your mind and change the way you think about hot cross buns.

With a few paltry ingredients you can whip up this no bake easter dessert in little time. It is perfect to make ahead for the season ahead but also it is delicious to make for summer still giving coffee vibes but very cooling, rich and indulgent. Not to mention it is eggless and you do not need any fancy equipment to make this dessert as it is very easy to assemble. It tastes better the next day so I would suggest making this the night before for the best results.

What are hot cross buns?

Hot cross buns mark the end of the Christian season of lent. The bun itself has many meanings depending on the country you come from. Some say the cross depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, while the spices inside signify the spices used to embalm him during the burial. There are many stories on why it signifies however we will not get into every story/belief. However this is not a theology session it is my recipe.

What is tiramisu?

Tiramisu is a cold Italian dessert made with lady finger sponge biscuits soaked in espresso and layered with a rich mascarpone custard like cream. Topped with cocoa powder and served. It is a classic dessert with minimal ingredients but so so delicious. It is best made ahead, chilled, set and spooned onto a plate.

What is hot cross bun tiramisu?

Instead of using lady finger sponge biscuits to soak up the espresso I have used stale hot cross buns. They are such an easy replacement but also a delicious addition to the recipe which makes it taste yummy. The raisins are not for everyone but if you don’t like raisins you can use any buttery brioche bread recipe you have. In many ways I would suggest using any brioche bread you like or have on hand.

What ingredients are needed to make hot cross bun tiramisu?

To make this dessert we need hot cross buns, espresso (really strong black coffee), sugar, vanilla. For the mascarpone cream I have used mascarpone cream cheese, whipping cream, icing sugar, vanilla, almond extract and cocoa powder. This is an eggless recipe otherwise the cream always has eggs in it.

What equipment is needed to make hot cross bun tiramisu?

To make the cream we need a large mixing bowl and whisk, you could also use an electric beater to make it. However you make your espresso/coffee you will need those equipment. The bread should be sliced with a serrated knife and it dessert is layered in an 8×8 inch square tin before chilling in the fridge. The top is dusted with cocoa powder using a strainer.

How to make hot cross bun tiramisu?

Make the espresso/hot coffee as you normally would, add sugar, vanilla, stir and set aside to cool a little. slice the hot cross buns in to half and set aside, if they are not stale, toast them in the toaster until crispy and lightly golden. To make the cream, in a large mixing bowl add the whipping cream, icing sugar, vanilla, almond extract and beat until soft peaks, if you are doing this with a whisk it will take 5-10 minutes, with an electric beater it will take 3-5 minutes.

Add the mascarpone cream and whisk again until combined and thick. Let us get assembling, dunk the hot cross buns in the coffee mixture until soaking, do not over soak it or else it will fall apart. Place in the 8×8 inch tin and repeat until you have a layer of buns at the bottom. Spoon over half the cream mixture and even it out with a spoon. Repeat the process once more. Transfer to the fridge and allow it to chill for at least one hour. When ready to serve generously dust the top with cocoa powder, spoon into plates and serve.

Serving and storing the hot cross bun tiramisu?

Once the tiramisu has chilled for an hour at least, dust the top with cocoa powder and serve. Spoon it out onto serving plates and enjoy. The dessert is best served fridge cold, I would suggest dusting more cocoa powder as needed when serving. The leftovers can be stored in the same tin, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. Spoon and serve as needed, the tiramisu does get firm and sets even further.

Looking for more easter inspired recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this hot cross bun tiramisu recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.