The sweet bread marked with a cross and traditionally eaten in Britain around Good Friday is the hot cross bun.
Hot cross buns are yeast-leavened sweet rolls commonly made with dried fruit and spices. Their most recognizable feature is the cross on top, usually made from flour paste or icing. The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus in Christian tradition.
They are strongly associated with Good Friday, although shops and bakeries in many countries sell them well before Easter. English folklore surrounding the buns includes beliefs that a bun baked on Good Friday could protect a house from fire or help sailors avoid shipwreck, though these are customs rather than established historical facts.
Hot cross buns are sometimes confused with other fruit buns because their ingredients overlap. The cross and Good Friday association distinguish them. Variations now include chocolate, orange, apple and toffee versions, but the traditional style uses dried fruit and warm spices.