Spiced Orange Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
Author: 
Recipe type: Yeast Breads, Snack, Vegan
Serves: 12
 
Ingredients
  • DOUGH
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2¼ tsp traditional yeast (1 8g package)
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup oats, ground into flour
  • 1¼ to 1¾ cups spelt flour*
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 1⅓ cups mini chocolate chips**
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • A pinch each of cloves, allspice, and freshly ground nutmet
  • Zest of 1 large orange (about 1 tbsp zest)
  • EGG WASH (optional, omit if vegan)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • CHOCOLATE CROSSES
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips
  • ½ tsp coconut oil
Instructions
  1. Warm almond milk and maple syrup in microwave for about 1 minute, or until warm to the touch but not scalding. Stir in the yeast and allow it to bloom for 10 minutes. Activated yeast should be foamy.
  2. Mix the oat flour, 1¼ cup spelt flour, salt, chocolate chips, spices, and orange zest briefly in stand mixer to roughly combine.
  3. Pour the melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and activated yeast into the bowl of the standing mixer containing the dry ingredients.
  4. Mix on low speed with a dough hook attachment until a thick and sticky dough forms. Increase to medium speed and knead the dough for 5 to 7 minutes or until a soft dough forms and begins to gather around the hook. Add up to ½ cup more of spelt flour after 2 minutes if dough still looks too wet. Finished dough will partially wrap around the hook and still be sticky. Avoid over-kneading for soft and fluffy bread.
  5. Oil a large mixing bowl and transfer the dough into the oiled bowl. Turn the dough a few times to coat the surface of the dough with oil. This will prevent it from sticking as it rises. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in a warm place and draft-free place (such as a microwave that isn't turned on) to allow dough to rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  6. Once dough has expanded to twice its initial size, punch the dough and divide into 12 equal dough balls. Arrange the dough balls in a greased baking pan smooth side facing up. Using a sharp knife, cut crosses on each bun. Cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap or a moist tea towel and allow it to rise again in a warm spot for 30 to 40 minutes.***
  7. If using, whisk together the ingredients for the egg wash and brush it over the tops of each roll; this will provide a glossy sheen. Bake at 350⁰F for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for at least 15 minutes.
  8. After rolls have cooled, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil for the crosses and pipe or drizzle crosses along the cut marks on top of buns.
Notes
*Any gluten-containing flour will work (i.e. all purpose or whole wheat flour)
**Check ingredient list to ensure chocolate chips are vegan
***Overnight option: After dividing dough into 12 buns, wrap baking tray tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Bake according to step 7 the next day.
Recipe by Radiant Rachels at https://radiantrachels.com/spiced-orange-chocolate-hot-cross-buns/