Easter Recipe: Jessica Sepel’s Healthy Hot Cross Buns

You can have your hot cross bun and eat it too!

Easter is a season filled with good food. In fact, the holiday is practically dedicated to baskets filled with chocolatey, sugary indulgences. If you are health-conscious, there’s no need to deprive yourself over the long weekend. Enjoy these divine, healthy hot cross buns from nutritionist Jessica Sepel instead; think gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free with a hint of spice and zesty citrus. Plus, a touch of decadent dark chocolate to finish. Now, that’s what we call an Easter treat!

Ingredients


Makes 8 buns

2 1/2 cups almond meal3 tbsp coconut flour1 1/2 tsp baking powder1 tsp sea salt1 tsp ground cinnamon1 1/2 tbsp mixed spiceZest of 1 small orange (optional)3 tbsp coconut sugar (optional)3 tbsp melted coconut oil2 tbsp honey3 eggs (2 for the mixture, 1 for glazing)1 tsp vanilla extract1/4 cup raisins1/4 cup dark chocolate, melted

Method


Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.Combine the almond meal, coconut flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, mixed spice, orange zest and coconut sugar in a medium bowl, stirring well to remove any lumps.Whisk together the coconut oil, honey, 2 eggs and vanilla in a jug.Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well. Add the raisins and stir to combine.Roll 1/4 cup worth of mixture into a bun shape and add to the baking tray. Repeat with the rest of the mixture.Whisk remaining egg and using a pastry brush, brush each bun with a little egg to glaze.Add to oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until lightly golden and cooked through.Remove from oven and leave to cool for 5-10 minutes.While they are cooling, melt the dark chocolate in a snaplock bag ready for piping.Once the buns are cooled cut off a tiny corner of the snaplock bag using scissors, and then pipe the chocolate straight onto the bun in a cross shape.

Jessica Sepel (BHlth, Adv Dip Nutritional Medicine) is a clinical nutritionist, best-selling author, international health blogger and the beloved voice behind JSHealth and @jshealthHer philosophy is focused around balance, rest and building a healthy relationship with food. Jess is a longstanding advocate of Califia Farms and uses their product range in many of her recipes. 

You Might Like

Cafes

Best New Cafes in Adelaide for Brunch in 2025

A coffee and a sweet treat have never looked this good!
Read More
Bars

The Best Bars in Crows Nest for Your Next Post-Work Drop

This lower North Shore suburb has no shortage of trendy watering holes.
Read More
Restaurants

The CBD Dining Destinations You Need to Try at Least Once

From French and Italian to modern Australian and Asian fusion, try a bit of everything in Adelaide's dining hotspots.
Read More
Restaurants

A Definitive List of the Best Burgers in Adelaide

Juicy, burger goodness. With chips on the side, thanks.
Read More
Please wait...