Grain-free Hot Cross Muffins (Makes ~12)

This Easter I wanted to make a tasty treat that would fulfill the urge for a kitchen full of delicious spicy scents, and something festive to put in my kids' school lunches.  I tend to make muffins around once a week to fill the lunchboxes, so I figured I might as well put crosses on them this week to embrace Easter.  Here is what I came up with.  These are not traditional yeasty Hot Cross Buns, but they are pretty delicious!

Blend in the food processor until well mixed and creamy (or mix with a cake mixer or stick blender):

2 cups almond meal
1 large spoonful of honey (a scant 1/4 cup, or just a huge blob from the jar!)
5 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 rounded tsp. cinnamon
1 rounded tsp. mixed spice
1 rounded tsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda

Stir through by hand:

1 apple, grated (or in my case, random bits of apple cut of the windfall from our trees)
Dried fruit or peel of choice (my kids and husband hate dried fruit in muffins, so I left theirs without, and mine had sultanas)
Finely chopped 70% or darker chocolate (optional, to taste)

-Bake in silicon muffin cases at 160 degrees C for approx. 15-20 minutes (I don't time it so I am guessing!)
-Remove from cases and cool on a wire rack
-When lukewarm, pipe crosses onto the top using melted 70% or darker chocolate.