After many requests here is my take on Vegan Chocolate Hot Cross Buns!

You will need:

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Mixing bowl

• Baking Tray

• Prep: 1 Hour

• Total Time: 1 Hour 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 kg all-purpose flour (save 3 tablespoons for surface)

• 4 tablespoons sugar of your choice

• Pinch of Salt

• 1 and 1/2 Sachets of instant yeast

• 1 & 1/2 slabs of dark vegan chocolate such as a big aero dark

• 1/2 a cup of warm water

• 1 1/4 cup of plant-based milk

• 2/3 cup apple purity

• A teaspoon of vanilla essence

Icing

• 1/2 slab aero dark or vegan dark chocolate

• 2 tablespoons of plant-based milk

Glaze:

• 2 Tablespoons of oil of your choice

• 1 tablespoon of maple/coconut/agave syrup

Directions:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together.

2. Cut up your chocolate into small nibs and mix in with the dry ingredients.

3. Add in the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms. You may need to add more milk depending on how dry the mixture is.

4. Need dough for 5-10 minutes on a well-floured surface.

5. Place in a warm draft free area to rise for 45 minutes.

6. Once the dough has risen pre heat the oven to 180°C.

7. Roll the dough out into a long sausage onto a floured surface.

8. Flatten the sausage slightly and slice squares about 5 to 7 cm long and shape into more of a square look and place onto your non stick baking trays.

9. Place the trays in a warm area to rise again for about 15 minutes while you start the chocolate mix.

10. Melt your chocolate by heating it in a bowl over steaming water in a pot(ensuring the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water).

11. Mix in the plant-based milk until creamy.

12. Pop the chocolate mixture into a piping bag or a ziplock bag and snip a hole in the corner.

13. Pipe a "V" or whatever you fancy on-top of the buns.

14. Place them in the oven to bake 15-20 minutes.

15. Once they have baked, drizzle the slightest bit of glaze on-top and allow them to cool slightly before serving.