Healthy Recipe: Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns

There’s nothing better than starting your day with something fresh out of
the oven. These cinnamon hot cross buns are soft, lightly sweet, and full of
warm cinnamon flavor — perfect for a cozy morning at home.

They’re also a little lighter than your average baked good. Made with almond
milk, coconut oil, and dried fruit, they keep the flavor but skip the extra
sodium. Whether you’re making brunch for friends or just want something
special with your coffee, these buns are a simple way to treat yourself.

Cinnamon hot cross buns — makes 12 servings

Ingredients:
• ½ cup of almond milk, unsweetened
• ¼ cup of light brown sugar
• ¼ oz. (1 package) of dry yeast
• 1 cup of almond flour
• 2 ¼ cups of white flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 cup of dried currants, raisins, cherries, or other berries
• 4 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Heat almond milk on low in a small saucepan until warm to the touch, remove
   from heat. Stir in sugar and yeast and let sit for 5 minutes. Mixture should
   be foamy.
2. In a large bowl, stir together flours, cinnamon, and dried fruit. Add the
   yeast mixture, coconut oil, and egg. Mix using your hands until dough comes
   together.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about a minute.
   Shape into a ball and place in a lightly greased large metal bowl. Cover
   tightly with plastic wrap and set in a warm place. Let the dough rise until
   it doubles in volume, about two hours.
4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and punch down to deflate
   dough and release air. Shape into 12 small buns and arrange in a 9” x 13”
   lightly greased baking dish. Cover loosely with a baking towel and let rise
   for a second time until puffed, about one hour.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F. Score a cross in the top of each bun. Bake until
   golden brown, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting, or
   skip it for a lower-calorie treat.
6. Handy Hint: Turning out bread dough can be tough, but it helps if you
   lightly dust your hands with flour as you go. It'll keep the dough from
   sticking and make it easier to work with.

Nutritional Information:
Calories: 218.2
Fat: 10.4
Saturated fat: 4.4
Polyunsaturated fat: 0.2
Monounsaturated fat: 0.4
Cholesterol: 15.5
Sodium: 24.1
Carbs: 26.5
Fiber: 2.1
Protein: 5.1

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