Gluten-Free Hot Cross Buns

Makes 12 buns

Ingredients:

240 g ( 8 1/2 oz / 2 cups) buckwheat flour
200 g (7 oz / 2 cups) almond meal
3 tablespoons golden flaxseed meal
3 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
125 ml (4 oz / 1/2 cup) extra virgin olive oil
250 ml (8 ¾ fl oz / 1 cup) almond milk or rice milk + a little extra if needed
60 ml (2 fl oz / ¼ cup) organic maple syrup or honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
250 g (8 ¾ oz) blueberries (fresh or frozen) or raisins and dried apricots if you want to go traditional
Melted dark chocolate for piping crosses (use 80% dark chocolate

Method:

1.PREHEAT your oven to 160°C fan forced (320°F).

2.COMBINE buckwheat flour, almond meal, cinnamon, flaxseed and baking powder in a bowl.

3.COMBINE olive oil, almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla into a separate bowl.

4.ADD the wet ingredients to the flour mix.

5.MIX through gently until a sticky dough forms. What will happen is that the dough will thicken and absorb all the moisture from the almond milk as it rests. I normally like to rest my dough for 5 - 10 minutes before adding blueberries. Add more milk if required…the dough needs to be soft and sticky.

6.ADD blueberries and give the dough one more brief mix – it should be lovely and sticky with the blueberries distributed throughout. Now remember you can use both fresh or frozen blueberries to make these buns. I also love using raisins and apricots that have been hydrated in hot water then drained, for a more hot cross bun traditional recipe.

7.SCOOP out into rounds using an ice cream scoop onto a lined baking tray.

8.BRUSH the top with a little extra almond milk.

9.BAKE for 45 minutes until cooked through and golden brown.

10.COOL and pipe over the crosses using melted dark chocolate.

11.ENJOY on it's own or topped with Blueberry + Chia Jam.

BY TERESA CUTTER @thehealthychef.com