Copycat Sin-O-Bun (Juice Press)

Hubs will tell you that every time we go in to New York City, I DEMAND that we stop at Juice Press for a Sin-O-Bun!  They are the perfect, hearty, scrumptious little snack.  And more than that, I ate one right before we got married so I wouldn't get hangry during all the photos :)

Here is what the box looks like:

Here are what mine look like:

I must say, they look uncannily similar to the real deal, if I do say so myself!

I used another copycat recipe I got online and made some tweaks.


INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups buckwheat groats (Whole Foods bulk bins)
• 5 Medjool dates
• 2T ground flaxseed
• 1t+ ground cinnamon
• 2t vanilla paste
• 1t maple syrup or dark honey
• Dash of sea salt

(Note for next time: maybe add 2T almond butter + 1 extra date to dough)

• 1/4c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (if necessary)

• Can of coconut milk (NOT the "lite" kind)
• 1T maple syrup or dark honey
• 1/2t vanilla powder
• 2T coconut water

• 15 raisins (or 1 more Medjool date)

DIRECTIONS:

• The night before... 
• Refrigerate the can of coconut milk in advance so the coconut butter separate from the coconut water  
• Soak dates in a small bowl of water overnight  
• Soak buckwheat groats in a sauce pan with water overnight 

• The next day...
• When the dates are soft, remove pits and roughly chop
• Drain and gently rinse buckwheat

• Combine the first group of ingredients (buckwheat through sea salt) in a blender
• A Vitamix works really well here
• Stop blender periodically to make sure ingredients are being evenly mixed
• If more liquid is required to make a pasty dough, add the almond milk
• Turn dough out onto the counter
• I like to have the counter covered with plastic wrap first
• Use hands to form 15 small balls/buns and slightly flatten onto a plate

• Now make the cream topping by beating together all of the coconut butter from the top of the refrigerated can of coconut milk + a couple tablespoons of the remaining coconut water from the can + the vanilla powder and extra honey/syrup
• When smooth, spoon on top of each of the buns

• And now, to finish...
• Top each bun with one raisin, or one piece of chopped date
• Lightly sprinkle more cinnamon over the top of everything
• Allow to refrigerate for a couple hours

The hands-on time is minimal and the reward is great!  Great taste and very similar to Juice Press'. They were a little drier than the original version, so I may add some almond butter to the dough and/or include another date or two.  Considering each Sin-O-Bun costs $4 at Juice Press, this recipe will be saving me A LOT of money!