Inca Berry & Date Hot Cross Buns

Dairy-free, Refined Sugar-free

Ingredients:

Makes 10 buns

1 ¾ cup wholegrain spelt flour

1 cup almond meal

1tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

1tsp natural or organic vanilla bean extract (*sugar free)

2tsp aluminum-free baking powder

2 eggs, whisked

¼ cup olive oil (can sub for coconut or macadamia oil)

¼ cup water

1/3 cup Inca berries (also known as golden berries)

½ cup chopped medjool dates, roughly chopped

*Optional extra: Could add 1tsp ginger powder to spice it up or 1tsp Maca powder or 1tsp mesquite for some superfood extras

For the cross:

2tbsp wholegrain spelt flour + 1tbsp water, mixed into a paste

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to 165 degreed Celsius, and line a baking tray with baking paper

• In a mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients (wholegrain spelt flour, almond meal, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder) and mix until evenly distributed.

• Add your golden berries and chopped dates into the dry mixture and mix around evenly

• In a separate, smaller bowl mix your wet ingredients together (whisked eggs, oil, water)

• Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until it forms a sticky dough

• Separate the dough into 10 roughly even balls of dough

• Roll each ball between your palms and pat down just a little bit and set each ball closely next to the other (like the picture) on the baking paper

• Place the cross dough into a piping bag (or I used a zip lock bag & chopped the tip off one corner & used as a piping bag. If you don’t have that just use a piece of glad wrap & poke a tiny hole in it.)

• Pipe the crosses along the rows of buns

• Place in the oven for 20-30 minutes, until browned around the edges

*the consistency is dense- similar to a scone & so so delicious!

Serve:

• Have one hot, as soon as it comes out of the oven!

• Slice through the middle and serve with some pure nut butter, tahini, chia jam or your favourite spread of choice! (Pictured above with almond & pistachio butter, sprinkled with bee pollen).

Some nutritional benefits!

• Inca berries have a huge antioxidant score, higher than Goji berries. They contain a huge amount of dietary fiber & a wide variety of nutrients including vitamin C, potassium & phosphorus.

• Wholegrain spelt flour is also high in fiber, promoting a healthy digestive tract. It contains Magnesium and Iron supporting healthy bone & blood functions. Is a source of B-complex vitamins, especially Niacin(B3) & Thiamin(B1), beneficial to your immune system, metabolic pathways & hormonal function.

• Almonds (almond meal) are a rich source of healthy fats & contain plant protein. Almonds have antioxidant & anti-inflammatory benefits, can aid to improve blood cholesterol, contain high amounts of Vitamin E (an important antioxidant), calcium & important minerals such as plant iron & zinc!