Tropical Hot Cross Buns
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast, Bread, Snacks
Serves: 12
 
A sunny twist on the classic Easter bun, studded with candied papaya, mango, pineapple and enriched with coconut milk.
Ingredients
  • BUNS:
  • ½ cup coconut milk, warmed
  • 1 cup mixed dried fruit (papaya, pineapple, mango), chopped into small cubes
  • 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 tbsp dried yeast
  • ¼ cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp honey, divided
  • ¼ cup coconut oil, softened
  • 1 egg + 1 egg white (keep yolk for egg wash), at room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch of pink salt
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • Pinch each of ginger and all spice
  • 2 to 2½ cups whole wheat flour
  • EGG WASH:
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp water
  • ICING:
  • ½ cup confectioner's sugar
  • 1 tsp coconut milk
  • 4 drops vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Soak chopped dried fruit in warmed coconut milk for 30 to 45 minutes.
  2. Dissolve yeast in warm water with about 1 tsp honey and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes.
  3. In stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat softened coconut oil with honey until well combined.
  4. Add whole egg and one egg white, coconut milk and fruit, vanilla, yeast mixture and beat until well combined.
  5. Switch to dough hook and add 2 cups of flour. Add salt, spices, lemon zest, and extra flour until dough comes together, mixing all the way.
  6. Knead for 5 minutes, until smooth and no longer tacky (dough should not stick to finger when touched).
  7. Cover bowl with a towel and let it rest in oven (turned off!) for 1 hour.
  8. Punch dough and then turn onto a clean, floured surface. Knead a few times until smooth and elastic.
  9. Roll dough into a log, cut into 12 equal pieces and then roll each piece into a round bun.
  10. Place buns close together in a greased pan. Cover and let rise for another 45 minutes in the oven.
  11. Preheat oven to 350⁰F. Brush tops of bun with egg wash (egg yolk whisked with water).
  12. Bake buns for 20 to 25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Do not overbake! Buns should have internal temperature of approximately 180⁰F when done.
  13. After buns have completely cooled, make glaze by combining icing sugar with coconut milk. Use a piping bag to draw crosses on each bun.
Recipe by Radiant Rachels at https://radiantrachels.com/tropical-hot-cross-buns/