Hazelnut Chocolate Swirl Buns

Light and fluffy chocolate swirl buns studded with crunchy hazelnuts and laced with lots of creamy chocolate. These are easy, no-knead and no-yeast buns that deliver every time while taking less than 35 minutes. Plus they are naturally vegan, low sugar and a delicious treat.

I asked, you answered, and I’ve delivered! A few weeks ago, on my Instagram stories I asked what sort of festive recipes you’d like to see. Along with calls for nut roast and stuffing (both of which you can find links for!), there was a desire for cinnamon rolls with a cool twist. To add to my Mince Pie Cinnamon Rolls, I thought it was about time that chocolate became involved. I was also aware of wanting to create a recipe that was slightly different from the former one and perhaps even easier.

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Buns

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Buns

These Hazelnut Chocolate Swirl Buns tick those boxes. They use a completely different recipe as they do not call for any yeast which also means no kneading (well, there is a little 2-minute kneading involved) and less time waiting around. The rise and lightness in the buns come from self-raising flour (use your preferred GF self-raising blend here) and that’s it. Simply stir the dough ingredients together, roll out flat, spread over the chocolate sauce mixture, top with chopped hazelnuts and roll-up.

A few things to note:

1. When making the dough, make sure the plant-based milk is room temperature. And that the vegan butter or margarine has cooled down. You want to avoid a large difference in temperature.
2. No need to over-knead as you don’t need to work the dough a lot.
3. The roll method is easy, just make sure to read it through so you are certain. Start with the shorter side of the rectangle closest to you. Visually divide the length of dough into thirds, fold the bottom third up to cover the centre third. Fold down the top third to cover the middle third. Now slice!
4. Be careful to not make the slices too thin as all the filling will spill out.
5. The twisting method is also very simple! Hold the strip in both hands and twist to make a “cheese straw” shape. Wrap this twist on itself to form a “knot”.

That’s all there is to it!

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Buns

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Buns

I hope you will enjoy these simple, no-knead, no-yeasted buns this festive period and throughout the year. They are packed with a creamy chocolate centre that spills out over the rolls, studded with crunchy hazelnuts and paired with a sticky sugar glaze. They are delicious straight from the oven or enjoy cold. Leftovers will keep for a couple of days and they’re so good warmed back up for a few minutes in the oven.

If you are looking for more festive treats, how about my Orange and Cranberry Almond Biscotti, Chocolate Hazelnut Truffles or Homemade Mince Pies.

Hazelnut Chocolate Swirl Buns

• Servings: 12-14
• Time: 35 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Light and fluffy chocolate swirl buns studded with crunchy hazelnuts and laced with lots of creamy chocolate. These are easy, no-knead and no-yeast buns that deliver every time while taking less than 35 minutes. Plus they are naturally vegan, low sugar and a delicious treat.

Ingredients

• 375g (2 ½ cup) self-raising flour, plus extra to dust
• 20g (2 tbsp) coconut sugar
• 240ml (1 cup) plant-based milk, room temperature
• 40g (2 tbsp) melted vegan butter or margarine, cooled
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 50g (¼ cup) vegan butter or margarine, plus extra
• 55g (1/3 cup) Dark Hazelnut Chocolate (or plain chocolate)
• 50g (1/3 cup) hazelnuts, chopped plus extra to serve
• 150g icing sugar
• 2 ½-3 tbsp milk

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 160Fan/180*C and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Stir together the flour and sugar in one bowl and the milk, cooled vegan butter or margarine and vanilla essence in another. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until a dough forms.
3. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 1-2 minutes until smooth. Carefully roll out to about 1/2-cm thickness into a rectangle (about 24 x 36cm).
4. Make the filling by melting together the vegan butter or margarine and the chocolate in a bain-marie until smooth and glossy. Spread over the dough in an even layer. Sprinkle over the chopped hazelnuts
5. With the short edge of the rectangle closest to you, fold up the bottom third of the dough to the centre and fold down the top third of the dough to cover it. Slice into thin strips (about 2-3 cm) and twist each strip around themselves. Now twist each one into a knot.
6. Brush each bun with a little more melted butter and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and risen.
7. Prepare the glaze by stirring together all the ingredients until smooth. Pour over the slightly cooled buns and sprinkle with extra chopped hazelnuts.

Chocolate Hazelnut Swirl Buns

I look forward to hearing what you think of these Hazelnut Chocolate Swirl Buns – please let me know below. Tag me in your bakes, too! I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest  – please say hello!

I first made these Hazelnut Chocolate Swirl Buns for Divine Chocolate and their dark hazelnut chocolate which was amazing. This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.