Recipe
3 cups whole wheat flour
Scant 1/4 cup coconut sugar
Dash of salt
2 1/4 tsp yeast (one packet)
1 1/3 chai tea (steeped and cooled for 5-10 mins)
1 cup or so of pitted dates (softened)
1/3 cup water
2 tbsp maple syrup
Dash salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cloves
Method
Start by putting the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl and stir to combine. Add the tea little by little and continue stirring until a soft dough forms (it should be a little bit sticky but still a dough; you do not want it to be stiff, it’s better to add a little too much water and re-add some flour later). Once you have your dough, cover the bowl and allow it to rise for one hour. In this time, prepare your filling by placing softened dates (if they aren't soft when you open them, soak them in water for at least 30 mins before using) and all remaining ingredients except for the spices to a blender and pulse until a smooth caramel forms.
After the one hour, uncover your dough and knead 8-12 times before rolling it out onto a floured countertop. Roll into a flat rectangle and spread your caramel mixture evenly across the entirety of the dough. In a separate bowl, combine the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves until well mixed. Sprinkle spice mixture evenly across caramel and roll the dough bottom to top, sealing it by pinching slightly when you finish. Cut cinnamon rolls approx 1 1/2 inches thick and place on a lined or greased pan. Once again cover with a tea towel and allow to rise an additional 30 mins. Once risen, bake them at 350 for 20-25 mins until lightly browned.
And there you have it! A cozy holiday treat that's sure to please vegans and non-vegans alike.
I hope you enjoy, lovelies! And, as always, be sure to let me know what you think on Instagram, and if you have any holiday treats you'd like recipes for, I'd love to hear them. They might just end up being included in the next post!
Until next time, love and light!
-Clara