Hot cross buns: Four delicious ideas

Here are four ways to use leftover hot cross buns. Photo / iStock

Who could get sick of warm, toasty hot cross buns? After stuffing your face all Easter weekend-long you just might, so our friends at Bite.co.nz have come up with four ways to make the most of the leftovers.

Hey, maybe you aren't even sick of them yet and just want to incorporate them into every meal?

Either way, here are four delicious ways to use hot cross buns:

1: Hot cross bun croutons

1. Cut hot cross buns into even-sized cubes or thin slices, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with finely grated parmesan (optional), and toast in a hot oven until crisp.

How to eat: Toss croutons through an autumn salad (try pear, blue cheese, candied walnuts and rocket), or sprinkle over a curried pumpkin and apple soup. Try them too in this stuffing, below. Serve crostini with cheese, dips, pates and rillettes.

2: Hot cross bun stuffing

1. Blitz hot cross bun croutons (see above) to make 2 cups breadcrumbs. Mix crumb with ½ cup blitzed walnuts, ½ finely chopped red onion, 1 grated pear (apple, or courgette), a small knob of grated ginger, the zest of a lemon or orange, a small handful of chopped coriander or parsley, 1 tsp dried mixed herbs, salt and pepper, and a little mixed spice to taste. Bind together with 1 beaten egg.

How to eat: We've used chicken breasts, opened out with a sharp knife, stuffed, tooth-picked, seasoned, seared and baked. Or use to stuff a whole chicken or duck, pork or beef schnitzels, or halved buttercups or butternuts.

3: Hot cross bun toasties

1. Halve hot cross buns, smear a big lick of mustard on one side and plum chutney on the other. Layer up with thinly sliced smoked chicken, mozzarella and basil leaves. Season and toast until hot. Serve with extra chutney.

4: Hot cross bun butter and banana pudding

1. Whip approximately 200g softened butter with the zest of an orange and a big glug of rum (or gin) until smooth.

2. Cut hot cross buns into thick slices and butter generously. Layer into a baking dish, adding thick slices of banana between each slice.

3. Heat 2 cups full-fat milk, 1 cup cream and ½ vanilla pod until almost boiling.

4. Whisk together 75g caster sugar and 4 eggs, then whisk into the hot milk. Strain this custard over the buns in stages, allowing it to soak in each time. Top with a few finely chopped dates and some grated nutmeg.

5. Place dish in a large roasting dish half full of hot water and bake at 180C until custard is just set, approximately 30-35 minutes.

For more delicious recipes and meal inspiration see bite.co.nz.

- bite.co.nz