Protein Hot Cross Buns…Good for your buns!

It’s not easter without hot cross buns, you can indulge in this bakery delight while still maintaining your buns! This recipe high in protein with a low carb option to stick to your diet plan over the Easter season to meet your fitness goals. Free from refined sugar, you won’t be able to tell these aromatic goodies are healthy treats.

I always encourage people to use a high quality natural protein powder, have you checked what’s in your brand of protein powder…the ingredients lists are mind boggling! I love Pro-Matrix, they offer high quality organic and grass fed powders which are 100% natural, GMO and gluten free with no artificial crap! Sweetened with only xylitol, a fantastic natural sugar alternative which studies report it does not raise blood sugar levels. All hail the no sugar come down crash! Be wary, many other powders contain artificial sweeteners….check Dr Google to read about the nasty affects of these

Try this gluten free, low carb, high protein and refined sugar free version of the classic this Easter. I like to use buckwheat flour for a rustic flavour but if you are on a keto diet you can omit it!

2 cups almond meal
*1/2 cup buckwheat flour or for lower carb Keto – additional 1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 cup vanilla protein powder – I used Promatrix Wild WPI
1 tsp baking powder (gluten free)
1 tsp bi carb soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup of coconut oil
*4 tbsp of honey or maple syrup
- For low carb (Keto) use 3 tbsp granulated sweetener of choice like stevia, erythiritol, xylitol or monk fruit.

For that hot cross bun spice mix

1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch of ginger powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp all spice
1 tbsp orange juice (from a real orange folks!)
1 tsp vanilla extract or essence

For the cross

2 tbsp almond meal
*1 tbsp buckwheat flour
- For low carb (Keto) additional 1 tbsp almond flour
1tsp granulated sweetener
2-3 tbsp of water

Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius
Mix all dry ingredients together

Make a well in the centre and whisk in eggs stirring gently
Add coconut oil, vanilla and Orange juice
Mix ingredients together gently to form a dough,
If it’s too dry to bind add 1tbsp of milk of choice until dough forms
Knead with your hands
Wrap dough and leave to sit for at least 20 minutes
Form dough into bun shapes and place on lined baking tray
Bake for 10 minutes
While baking make Cross dough
Remove buns from oven and pipe on crosses (I just used a spoon and knife but I’m not big on perfection!)
Turn oven down to 140 degrees Celsius and bake for a further 10-15 minutes
Remove from oven and let cool
Devour with butter!!