*Photography by Elisa Watson for Nourish Magazine March/April 2014.*

Here is another recipe from my Easter spread in the latest issue of Nourish Magazine. This one is for a delicious gluten free, refined sugar free and vegan hot cross bun! Just make sure you substitute the real eggs for flax eggs in the recipe to keep them vegan. These little things are so beautiful to eat, they are perfect for kids and adults alike and are definitely something a little bit different to the norm! Say no to the boring hot cross bun this Easter, and give these a trial - I promise they won't disappoint!

Ingredients
For the bun
3/4 cup buckwheat flour + extra for dusting
3/4 cup plain gluten free flour
1/3 cup potato starch
2 tsp guar gum
1 tbsp dry instant yeast
1 tsp pink lake sea salt
1 sprig rosemary
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp mixed spice
2/3 cup dark chocolate chips
3 tbsp stevia
2 free range eggs/2 flax eggs for vegan (2 tbsp flax meal - 6 tbsp water)
3/4 cup soy or coconut milk
2 tbsp olive oil

For the cross
1/4 cup buckwheat flour
1 sprig rosemary
1 tbsp cacao
1 tsp stevia
1-2 tbsp water

For the glaze
2 tbsp sugar free apricot jam for glaze

Method
Mix the flours, potato starch, guar gum, instant yeast, stevia, chocolate chips, rosemary and salt in a bowl with the spices. Make a well in the middle and gently mix in the eggs and olive oil.

Slightly heat up the soy or coconut milk to just above room temperature and mix into the dough. Roll dough into a ball then place in an oiled bowl and cover with oiled cling wrap. Let dough rise for 30 minutes. Once dough has risen, knead dough until smooth on a surface dusted with buckwheat flour.

*Break mixture into 18 even balls and once each ball is smooth place on a baking tray with around 1/2cm in-between each ball. Sprinkle your second sprig of rosemary onto the buns to decorate the top. Then combine your cross mixture together and place into a piping bag and pipe crosses across the buns.

Place the buns in a warm place for half an hour to rise again. Once buns have risen, place them in a preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden.

Remove buns from the oven and brush with the apricot jam then serve immediately.

***Dough will be a bit sticky - so do not be alarmed, if you believe dough is too sticky just add in an extra 1 tbsp of buckwheat flour.
**If not serving buns immediately, just gently warm them in the oven again before serving.

Rosemary & Chocolate Hot Cross Buns