a hot cross bun off.

For the last number of years, I've chosen to be quite strict with what I eat because I notice the difference it makes to my body. Choosing not to eat certain foods helps my digestion, mood and energy. At times I've gotten a bit slack but since having my baby who vomits and seems to react when I eat gluten, dairy and refined sugar, I'm being super strict about what I eat, because I want what is best for her (and it helps that it's also best for me!).

Usually this is ok, but at Easter I LOVE hot cross buns.

In previous years I have made The Healthy Chef's Hot Cross Buns but I thought I'd give a few other recipes a try and see if there were any better. (I didn't make the recipe I've made in the past as it is no longer on her website, but you will see that I did try one of her newer recipes below).

So here is my comparison of four hot cross bun recipes. The criteria for marking are the same for each and have been judged by myself and my husband.

1. The Merrymaker Sisters Paleo Hot Cross Buns.

Closeness to a regular Hot Cross Bun:

• Flavour            4/5          3/5
• Texture            0/5          0/5
• Appearance     2/5          2/5

Overall:

• Flavour            5/5          3/5
• Texture            4/5          3/5
• Appearance     4/5          3/5

                                  19/30      14/30

Ease to Make: easy to follow recipe, no food processor/one bowl, had all ingredients in the cupboard, annoying to grate apple

Notes: used coconut oil instead of butter and it was super oily in the pan post cooking!!! the crosses didn't work – all of the water pushed out of them as I tried to pipe them but I made 3 by rolling the mixture instead. I used homemade almond meal which affected the texture and make it much more bitsy.

Summary: delicious. Scored super well in the overall ranking but not so well in the closeness to HCB. Would definitely make again. Excellent as long as you're not expecting a traditional HCB.

2. I Quit Sugar Paleo Hot Cross Buns.

Closeness to a regular Hot Cross Bun:

• Flavour            1/5          3/5
• Texture            0/5          0/5
• Appearance     1/5          2/5

Overall:

• Flavour            3/5          3/5
• Texture            1/5          1/5
• Appearance     3/5          2/5

                                  9/30      11/30

Ease to Make: the mixture was very dry and couldn't be mixed. I needed to add extra water and rolled them into balls instead of pouring the mixture into the tray.

Notes: I used half walnut flour instead of all almond meal as I had run out but have used this substitute in the past with success. The mixture was very dry, I had to add water. I omitted the chocolate (but should have replaced with sultanas!). I didn't attempt the crosses. Did the dairy-free option of coconut oil instead of butter.

Summary: these are descried as "nutrient dense" and a "crowd pleaser." They definitely are dense but I think they'd only please a crowd of starving people. I will not be making this one again!

3. The Healthy Chef Healthy Hot Cross Buns

Closeness to a regular Hot Cross Bun:

• Flavour            4/5          3/5
• Texture            2/5          3/5
• Appearance     1/5          2/5

Overall:

• Flavour            4/5          4/5
• Texture            3/5          3/5
• Appearance     2/5          2/5

                                  16/30      17/30

Ease to Make: this was a bit more labour intensive than the other recipes. It needs to be made over two days and needs a mixmaster with a dough hook to make it. Unfortunately my bowl didn't spin itself (not sure if that's because of the dough or my machine) which meant I had to manually spin it. The recipe was easy to follow and I had the ingredients on hand.

Notes: I used buckwheat and rice flours to make this gluten-free and substituted the dried apricots for dried figs (as it's too difficult to find preservative-free dried apricots). I think these substitutions worked well. I used dried yeast which I have kept in the freezer to held maintain it's shelf-life (and it is past its best before) but mine didn't rise as I would have expected them to. I would be keen to try again with fresh yeast.

Summary: Teresa has a number of different HCB recipes on her website and because of my success with other THC recipes in the past I would like to attempt others. I chose this recipe even though it wasn't gluten-free but used different flours to almond meal. I would definitely make this again. It was the most similar to a traditional HCB.

4. Wholefood Simply Quick and Easy Hot Cross Bun Mug Cake. 

Closeness to a regular Hot Cross Bun:

• Flavour            1/5          1/5
• Texture            2/5          1/5
• Appearance     2/5          1/5

Overall:

• Flavour            3/5          3/5
• Texture            3/5          3/5
• Appearance     3/5          2/5

                                  14/30      11/30

Ease to Make: mug cakes are known for being quick and easy to make: mix and microwave, and this held up their reputation. 

Notes: I doubled the recipe and divided it between two mugs. My mugs were obviously much larger than Bianca's and they came away from the sides but still worked. 

Summary: These were yummy but not really like a hot cross bun at all! I might make these again, but don't need to be set aside for Easter! I'm keen to try her 'slap dash hot cross buns' and 'hot cross bun bliss balls' but ran out of time to get this out before Easter.

S U M M A R Y

Overall Winner: The Healthy Chef.

But I will definitely also be making The Merrymaker Sisters recipe again. It was yummy!!!

Have you tried any other gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free hot cross bun recipes? Please comment and let me know how they are! There's still time for me to make more!

the best apple recipes.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"You're the apple of my eye."

"Apples are so sweet, and they're wholesome, and it's biblical – and I just thought it sounded so lovely and... clean!"
     Gwenyth Paltrow on naming her daughter.

Apples, obviously have a good thing going. And when, just down the road, you can get 4kg for $5, you know that's a good thing!

The other week I went and purchased one of those bags and ate many apples and made many things from apples. I wasn't disappointed – I found many awesome recipes and enjoyed the fresh, crisp apples.

So if you find yourself with an excess of apples or just need to get more fruit into your life, here are some ways I have eaten apples:

• as a snack. Apples are an easy food to chuck in your handbag, or take with you wherever you're going. They're hardy, filling and refreshing.

• as a snack with toppings. My personal favourite is apple slices with nut butter – it's high in protein and good fats and makes a filling and delicious afternoon tea. I also enjoy apple sprinkled with cinnamon, and my husband had apple with (a healthified) salted caramel sauce for dessert the other night. And I'm sure apple slices dipped in dark chocolate would also be delicious! 

• apple chips. These are delicious, easy to make, and make a great snack – just careful not to eat too many at once! All you need to do is grab a mandolin (or a knife), slice thinly, chuck them in your dehydrator (or I've done it in the oven!) and wait patiently. They're just so good!

• apple crumble. I love apple crumble and it's one of my go-to desserts when having people over. I usually use this recipe by The Healthy Chef (or make a variation of it) but my husband needs to be eating less gluten so I thought I'd try a new recipe from a new cookbook: Love Life and Gluten Free. (I do realise that The Healthy Chef's recipe has a gluten-free option but why not try something new?!). I made this Apple Berry Crumble in individual ramekins and we ate it for breakfasts for a week (it made 10!). Healthy, delicious and filling – my husband was so happy to be able to eat apple crumble for breakfast!

• apple blueberry chia bircher. This was another breakfast we enjoyed – and it was even better because it served 4 (so lasted two days), was super easy to prepare, and can be made in a jar and taken on the road if need be. It is also from the Love Life and Gluten Free cookbook. It's a mixture between a chia pudding and bircher muesli – a good in-between, in my opinion! So good I didn't take any photos, so you'll just have to imagine how good it is! Comment below if you'd like the recipe and I'll type it up for you.

I now need to go back for more because I still have a list of incredible apple recipes to make:

• As I was writing this post, a recipe for Vanilla Toffee Apples by Alexx from Low Tox Life came up on my Facebook newsfeed. YUM!

• I'm keen to make (and decrease the quantity and type of sugar in) this Nigella Apple and Almond Cake recipe. 

• Speaking of cake, I'm keen to make my fave Spiced Apple Coconut Cake from I Am Food. I've made this a lot but not in a while, but it's so moist and uses desiccated coconut as the flour – an excellent gluten free alternative.

• Other cake recipes I've come across include Brown Butter Apple Cakes and Coconut Apple Cake from Eleanor Ozich's – from Petite Kitchen – cookbooks.

• I'd love to also make gluten-free versions of an Applesauce Sweetened Granola and Apple Pie, as well as try an Apple Pie Milkshake and make some Stewed Apples to have when I have porridge.

So many apple recipes to try. I just want to make all of them. Have you got any more to recommend? Please comment below – I'd love to try them. I better get in quick while they're still in season and such a great price at the farm down the road.