Hot Cross Buns

I am so excited to share this recipe with you all!
After a lot of searching, I found this masterpiece of a recipe:
http://glutenfreescdandveggie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/allspice-grain-free-hot-cross-buns-gf.html
No messing around with yeast or rising time or proving draws, mix all the ingredients up and put the buns in the oven. Et Voila you have a super healthy hot cross bun without it tasting super healthy! 
I did a little tweaking to suit my preferences and have a bit of fun but this gal got it spot on! 
Gluten, wheat, dairy and refined sugar free doesn't sound too appealing, and I thought that the result would be far from the original.
However, these are light and delicious and not too dissimilar to regular hot cross buns!
I added flaked almonds to the mix to give it a bit more of a bite, the same can be done with other nuts and seeds.

Chocolate chip with a marzipan cross on the top row and fruity with coconut cross on the bottom 

Recipe(Makes 6 buns):

Ingredients: 
300g ground almonds
20g flaked almonds (broken into smaller pieces)
1 1/2 tsps cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 
2 eggs
3 1/5 tbsps honey
2 tbsps olive oil

For citrusy, raisin buns:
rind of 1 lemon
rind of 1 orange
70g raisins

For chocolate chip buns:
70g dark chocolate chips 

For marzipan crosses:
3 tbsps ground almonds 
2 tsps honey (or until at the right consistency)

For coconut crosses:
2 tbsps coconut flour 
9 tbsps/ 50 ml water (or until at the right consistency)

Method:

Chocolate chip bun with a marzipan cross

• Preheat the oven to 180oC and line a baking tray with baking paper
• Put all the dry ingredients into a bowl and mix together
• In a separate bowl, add all of the wet ingredients and mix using an electric whisk until fluffy
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently stir to combine (the dough should be quite a sticky consistency)
• Divide the dough into 6 and, using wet hands, roll into balls. 
• Place the balls onto a lined baking tray and flatten them slightly
• Make your crosses by combining the ingredients in a small bowl. 
• Spread the coconut mixture onto the buns in a cross shape 
• Put them into the preheated oven. After 5 minutes turn down the temperature to 140oC and cook for a further 15-20 minutes until deep golden brown on top and cooked through
• Transfer to a cooling rack and leave to cool
• Once cold combine the marzipan mix and roll between two sheets of baking paper to about 0.5cm thickness, cut to size and place on the buns
• Grill and enjoy with butter or jam or nut butter or even on their own

*** Can easily be made throughout the year as fruit buns! ***