Low Carb Keto Hot Cross Buns

Easter can certainly be a bit challenging for anyone trying to watch their intake of sugar and carbs. Temptation is all around and the focus is definitely on sugar at this time of year. Let me make your life a little easier with this delicious recipe for Low Carb Keto Hot Cross Buns. This fabulous recipe is also paleo and gluten free, so it covers many different ways of eating, so is a great choice to bake for a crowd.

If you want to check out how simple it is to make these delicious Low Carb Keto Hot Cross Buns, check out the video. They are quite simple to make and might be just the recipe you need to stay on track this Easter.

Low Carb Fruit Options for Low Carb Keto Hot Cross Buns

I am looking forward to sharing an Easter brunch with my family and will definitely be enjoying these with a coffee at the end of the meal. They have the delicious, warm cinnamon spice flavor of a traditional hot cross bun. You can choose any additional flavors that will fit in with your lifestyle. If you are trying to reduce your carbs even more you can leave the fruit out of this recipe.

My favorite low carb fruit to use in this recipe is to add home made dried blueberries as featured in the recipe. You can check out the simple to make recipe by following this link for Sugar Free Dried Blueberries. The great thing about the dried blueberries is that you can use either fresh or frozen blueberries so can make these all year round. If you make a batch they are fabulous to use in low carb muesli, trail mixes as well as other recipes such as Low Carb 90 Second Fruit Bread.

I occasionally still use currants or sultanas but minimise how many are added to keep it low in carbs. FYI – 1/4 cup of sultanas adds about 2 gms of carbs to each hot cross bun. If adding any fruit of choice fits in with your way of eating, then feel free to use in the recipe. You could also switch the fruit for dark chocolate as well to create Chocolate Hot Cross Buns. I would add about 100 gms/ 3.5 oz of dark chocolate chips (or chopped dark chocolate for a cheaper choice) and fold them through once you have mixed your dough. Make sure your dough is not warm when you do this or your chocolate could melt.

Baking Without Gluten

For any of you who are new to this lifestyle, you simply cannot make light and fluffy baked products without gluten. I just want to make sure you have the right expectations when you try these. Although these are not exactly the same in texture as a traditional hot cross bun, they are a superb substitute. These buns taste absolutely delicious and are a brilliant low carb version of the original. They have the perfect amount of spice and a delicious moist centre. My favorite way to eat these is toasted and slathered with butter.

Using Yeast and Baking Powder

I have used dry yeast in the recipe to impart that yeasty flavor to the buns but of course you won’t get a full rise from yeast if you aren’t using gluten. The yeast really adds to the traditional ‘yeasty’ flavor of the recipe though so make sure you add it. It also does help the buns rise a little as well. Although unusual to use both baking powder and yeast in a recipe, this to try to get the buns to rise as much as possible.

This recipe will store for up to 3 days but is also great for freezing. Simply defrost quickly in the microwave straight from the freezer and pop in the toaster for a quick breakfast option.

If you are looking for some other great recipe ideas for Easter, check out some of these other fantastic recipes.

Sugar Free Raspberry Dark Chocolate Balls
Sugar Free Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Low Carb Rocky Road
Low Carb Lemon Syrup Cake
No Bake Lemon Slice
No Bake Chocolate Slice
Low Carb Hazelnut Chocolate Bliss Balls
Celebration Fruit Cake
Cinnamon Donuts

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do. Please let me know if you enjoyed this recipe, and it would be great if you could share it as well.

Enjoy your Easter.
Karen

Low Carb Hot Cross Buns

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Resting time: 50 minutes minutes

Course: Baking, Breakfast, Cakes, Muffins and Sweets

Cuisine: Diabetic, Diabetic Recipe, Gluten Free, Keto, LCHF, Low Carb, Sugar Free

Keywords: budget keto, easter, hot cross buns, keto easter, keto fruit buns, keto fruit loaf, keto hot cross buns, lchf, low carb hot cross buns, sugar free easter

Servings: 12 serves

Ingredients

Hot Cross Bun Ingredients

• 240 gms /8.5 oz blanched almond meal or almond flour
• ½ cup coconut flour
• ¼ cup Erythritol /sweetener of choice. Add to taste if desired.
• 1 tablespoon psyllium husk powder - don't use whole psyllium husk-see notes*
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1½ teaspoons mixed spice or ½ tspn each of ground allspice, ground nutmeg and ground ginger and ¼ tspn ground cloves.
• 1 packet dry yeast - 7 gms/1/4 oz
• ¼ cup Sugar Free Dried Blueberries /dried cranberries (or currants/sultanas if they fit with your way of eating).
• 1 tablespoon orange peel zest optional
• 3 large eggs
• 200 mls /7 oz warm water
• 100 gms /3.5 oz melted butter at room temperature

For Glazing and Crosses

• 1 egg beaten
• 1 tablespoon coconut flour

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

• Mix all dry ingredients so they are well combined in a large mixing bowl, including the dry yeast. Mix though the dried fruit (and the orange peel if using.)
• Beat the 3 eggs for a few minutes with a hand mixer or a whisk until light and fluffy. Add the water and the melted butter to the egg mix and whisk to combine.
• Add wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir until well combined. Make sure ingredients are really well blended, using a spatula to knead the dough a little in the bowl. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes as the coconut flour and psyllium will absorb moisture. Bowl knead roughly once more before shaping.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece and create into your desired hot cross bun shape.  Place on a piece of baking paper on a light colored baking tray leaving a gap in between each bun so air can circulate and the dough can expand.
• Cover the tray with a clean cloth or cling wrap and leave in a warm place for another 45 minutes.
• Preheat a fan forced oven to 165 C/330 F.
• Prepare the buns for baking by pressing a blunt instrument into the tops of the buns to create crosses but don't actually cut the dough. Cut out a cross template on a piece of paper or cardboard. 
• Beat the egg for the glaze and brush onto the tops of the buns. Using your template and a small sieve, dust a liberal amount of coconut flour onto each bun to create your cross.
• Bake buns for 45-55 minutes or until the buns are cooked on the inside. You may need to cut one in half to check the middle of the bun before removing from the oven.
• If the buns brown too quickly, cover them with aluminium/aluminum foil and turn the oven down a little while they continue to cook.

Recipe Notes

Slice in half and toast on medium heat in the toaster, taking care not to burn. Slather with butter and enjoy. Hot cross buns can also be heated in the oven or the microwave.

Use 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips instead of fruit for Low Carb Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns. Add the chocolate when the dough has cooled to room temperature.

*Note that this recipe uses psyllium husk powder not whole psyllium husks. If you want to grind your own psyllium, measure the powder once it has been ground. Whole psyllium husks are too gritty for a recipe like this.

Due to variations in almond meal/flour and coconut flour, some brands are more absorbant than others. If your mixture is a little dry, mix through an egg white until well combined. If it is too wet, add a small amount of  additional psyllium powder/coconut flour or almond flour and allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. 

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1bun made with blueberry option | Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Fiber: 4g

Note that we calculate our own nutritional values so they may not be precise. Calculate your own if desired. Carb values exclude sugar alcohols such as Erythritol, as they generally have no impact on blood sugar levels. 50% of the carbs from Xylitol is added to nutritional values. This is consistent with industry practice.

If you liked this recipe, let us know what you think!Mention @alowcarblowsugarlifestyle or tag #ketohh

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