I put a range of supermarket hot cross buns to the test to see which comes out on top.
Supermarkets across the nation have been stocking their shelves with hot cross buns ahead of Easter. In recent years, the big brands have been adding more than the traditional spiced, raisin bun to their shelves.
There has been a rise in different flavours, from lemon to chocolate and carrot cake to cherry Bakewell. It seems there is something for everyone, but it can be hard to know which ones to pick.
I decided to try as many supermarket hot cross buns as I could. But I have to admit it was quite the challenge.
Some were delicious, and I found many that I would buy again. However, others left a very unpleasant taste in my mouth. Here is my honest opinion of the hot cross buns on the market…
Asda
Cherry Bakewell – £1.77
Now, I have to admit I am not particularly fond of cherries, so I was sceptical about trying this hot cross bun. It had a very strong smell upon opening the packet, which continued as it cooked.
For me, the flavour was way too strong as someone who isn’t keen on a cherry Bakewell. It also had a very strong aftertaste. The pros are that the bun was light and fluffy. If you love cherries, this is for you, but steer clear if you aren’t a fan.
1/10
Lemon and white chocolate – £1.77
I love white chocolate and lemons, so this was a perfect match for me. The bun was tangy, sweet and light. It was packed with flavour and wasn’t too overpowering. The white chocolate melted well and felt like a delicate springtime treat.
10/10
Aldi
Rhubarb and custard – £1.19
I was left disappointed by this bun from Aldi as it tasted really bland. I cut it in half and found only one piece of rhubarb. It tasted more like a sweet bread, and I would expect more rhubarb to be packed in.
1/10
Luxury fruit – £1.19
Aldi’s classic hot cross buns are everything you need. It was packed with currants and flavour, yet light and fluffy. I like a cinnamon flavour in my hot cross buns so that it could do with a bit more spice for my taste.
8/10
Mighty cheesy – 85p
The best way to describe this bun was that it tasted just like cheese on toast. It was pretty incredible how much flavour has been packed into these. They smelled amazing and tasted just as good. If you are after a savoury hot cross bun, this is the one for you/
9/10
Tesco
Salted caramel and chocolate – £2
This tasted just as you expected a salted caramel and chocolate bun to taste. It had a nice, sweet caramel flavour and proved a perfect sweet treat.
8/10
Marble Neapolitan – £2
For me, this bun was far too sweet and had a more artificial flavour than I expected. It tasted quite strange, and I didn’t think the flavours worked too well.
2/10
Chocolate Orange – gluten-free – £3
I am not gluten-free, so I found this one too dry and bland for my taste. If you are gluten-free, I think this is a great substitute for a sweet, chocolate-flavoured hot cross bun.
1/10
Extra fruity – £2
This bun was packed full of fruit and spices. It was a fluffy bun, a great traditional Easter treat.
8/10
M&S
Extremely chocolatey – £2.50
M&S provided an indulgent treat with this hot cross bun, which would make an ideal pudding. It tasted just like a chocolate brownie and tasted just as good toasted as it did untoasted.
The bun is very sweet, but in a good way. You don’t even need the butter as it is so packed with flavour.
9/10
Granny Smith apple – £2.50
I loved the sound of this hot cross bun, and expected it would rank high. However, I think the flavour could be stronger, and it was more delicate. The bun was sweeter than a traditional one, but I think it needed more apple flavour.
6/10
Extremely lemon – £3
Again, I expected more flavour. It had lemon curd inside the bun, which tasted zesty. However, the rest of the bun could use more lemon flavour.
6/10
Luxury fruited – £2.50
The bun was packed with fruit and was light and fluffy. Just like the Tesco ones, I would prefer a bit more spice, but it proves to be a great traditional option.
7/10
Waitrose
Berry blush – £2.50
I really enjoyed trying this bun as it tasted sweet yet fruity. I do love strawberry-flavoured food, so I felt like a real treat. The bun was much larger than many of the others and tasted nice and soft.
9/10
Apple and cinnamon – £2
This bun had a strong flavour, which tasted more like apples than the M&S ones. The apple taste was pleasant, yet more cinnamon could be added.
7/10
St Clements – £2
I found this bun to be a perfect twist on a standard hot cross bun, especially if you are after a fruity flavour. It was zesty, flavourful and packed with fruit. The buns have a tangier flavour than the traditional ones.
8/10
Belgian chocolate – £2.50
If you are after a real treat, this is it. The chocolate pieces melted into the bun once toasted and tasted very similar to a brownie. It is certainly a treat, and something I would prefer to eat in the afternoon rather than the morning. The bun was large, as it came in a two-pack, so it was a bit sickly at times, but I still enjoyed it.
9/10
Leckford fruit and seed – £2.50
The buns aren’t too different to a classic hot cross bun, but have a pleasant addition of the seeds. They are soft and packed with fruit. I do love a cinnamon flavour from a hot cross bun, which could be stronger in these.
8/10
Milk chocolate and fudge – £2
If you are a chocolate lover, this would be right up your street. They toasted well and the chocolate pieces melted to provide a rich flavour. The buns aren’t dry and aren’t too sickly.
9/10
Lemon and white chocolate – £2
These buns are light and fragrant. It is a sweet bun but could have a stronger lemon and white chocolate flavour to rival the ones from Asda.
8/10
Sainsbury’s
Rhubarb and ginger – £2
The bun was very sweet but needed more ginger, as it was hard to taste. I expected more flavour overall, but found this was lacking.
3/10
Carrot cake – £2
This surprised me as it really did taste like carrot cake. It had all the right spices and gave a nice aftertaste. If you like carrot cake, I would recommend giving this one a try.
8/10
Double chocolate and cherry – £2
Again, I am probably not the best at giving a true opinion on cherry as I am not a fan. This bun reminded me of liquorice, which was very unexpected. After one bite, I couldn’t bring myself to have any more.
1/10
Morrisons
Apple and cinnamon – £1.80
The bun was fruity and is best described as a traditional hot cross bun with hints of apple. It included chunks of apples, but I would like a hint more spice to get the cinnamon flavour truly.
8/10
Lemon drizzle – £1.80
Both of Morrisons’ buns were thick and gave a more homemade, rustic feel, which I liked. The lemon bun had a lovely sweet smell while cooking and eating. It was pleasant and provided a sweet, tangy taste. At times, it felt slightly artificial.
6/10
Winner
Asda’s lemon and white chocolate at £1.77.
