We tried 31 different hot cross buns from Tesco, Asda, Amazon, Lidl, Aldi and more
Even if you don't like the traditional dried fruit variety, there is something for everyone with these amazing array of supermarket hot cross bun offerings.
Daily Express samples hot cross buns from UK's supermarkets
Hot cross buns are a staple across the UK at Easter. You can enjoy them as a breakfast, snack, afternoon tea or dessert and there are now so many flavours on offer even if you don't like the traditional fruit buns, you are bound to find one you like.
And the supermarkets have gone overboard this year with their offerings, from tiramisu and rhubarb flavourings to buns infused with fudge, cheese and apple. So if you are wondering what the best buns are, we have tried 31 different buns to give you a breakdown of the best, the classics, and perhaps the ones to avoid. But we thought the supermarkets had done so well, there were perhaps only three most wouldn't have again, and all would be great toasted with a little butter - but then who doesn't love a toasted hot cross bun?
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Overall impressions
We were impressed with the overall quality of the buns, but Tesco's bun texture stood out as the best, although Asda, Aldi, Waitrose and Co-op had great buns too.
Unfortunately, Lidl and Iceland's bun texture seemed a little dry and hard at times, so perhaps a look at their recipe for next year.
Morrisons buns came middle of the range because they were just not as soft as the others, and the same is true of Amazon's offering.
So what new flavours should you be toasting up and trying this Easter?
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The top five
Let's just get straight to it because we are taking up precious hot cross bun eating time.
5 - Tesco Finest Chedder & Red Leicester Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, or 45p each)
Of course, this works. While it is not overpowering, good news for people put off by the thought of a savoury hot cross bun, this feels like a excellent base for more cheese, maybe even a sandwich, or cheese on toast... The possibilities are endless. Some tasters thought Tesco could go further and add more cheese. 4.5/5
4 - Co-op Irresistible Apple Crumble Hot Cross Buns (£2 for four, so 50p each)
The best apple flavoured buns on our list, they really are flavoured like an apple crumble. We loved the soft bun and the crumble toppings for added crunch but staying sticky and sweet. Imagine toasted, perhaps with a bit of custard? 4.5/5
3 - Waitrose Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns (£3 for four, so 75p each)
The best chocolate hot cross bun, you can taste the delicious chocolate through the bun, unlike some other brands and there is a good amount of rich Belgian chocolate chunks - tasters could easily see themselves having these for breakfast on Easter Sunday. 5/5
2 - Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each)
Soft and squidgy from all that fruit, and they are really packed, and they smell delicious like a hot cross bun should. All the extra fruit gives the sweetness this comforting richness. These are going to be spectacular toasted with butter. 5/5
1 - Exceptional by Asda Fudge Hot Cross Buns (£1.43 for four, so 35.8p each)
We all knew this was going to work, but it was so good. They are squidgy, sweet, sticky, fudgy - a delight. For some of the tasters, this might be better than an original hot cross bun. 5/5
Ones to avoid?
Tesco Finest Rhubarb & Custard Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each)
When first removed from the packet, the bun was alarmingly pink and built did smell of rhubarb and custard. Our testers thought the bun itself was sadly tasteless, although it avoided being too stodgy and dense.
Morrisons The Best Strawberry & Clotted Cream Hot Cross Bun (£1.80 for four, so 45p each)
We felt Tesco did a better version, if this is what you are after, it just didn't really taste of anything, although the glaze and bun was OK.
Lidl's Deluxe Deluxe Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns (£1.39 for four, so 34.7p each)
Our testers found these hard to cut because they were so dry and almost stale in texture and they had only a very slight taste of apple, which was disappointing.
So what about everything in between, the other 23 hot cross buns?
Well, yes, there are many that bun enthusiasts may love on our list, from salted caramel to blueberries and lemon; there are so many great flavours to choose from; here is our complete list from ones to avoid to the must-haves this Easter.
31. Tesco Finest Rhubarb & Custard Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) 1/5
30. Morrisons The Best Strawberry & Clotted Cream Hot Cross Bun (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) 1/5
29. Lidl's Deluxe Deluxe Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns (£1.39 for four, so 34.7p each) 1/5
28. Tesco Finest Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) - Quite bland one, good hot cross bun texture, but could barely taste any apple, just a mild sweet spice. 1/5
27. Lidl Deluxe Deluxe Premium Very Berry Hot Cross Buns (£1.39 for four, so 34.7p each) - There are a lot of berries packed into these little buns that are sweet and fruity, but the bun lets it down as it is a little too dry and dense. 1/5
26. Exceptional by ASDA Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.43 for four, so 35.8p each) - Taste testers found this one too dry compared to others despite the amount of fruit. 1/5
25. Tesco Finest Strawberries & Clotted Cream Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) - Smelt divine, but were oddly tasteless. The fruit pieces were packed with flavour that they were a little overpowering against the flavourless bun. 2/5
24. Lidl Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns (£1.39 for four, so 34.7p each) - A good amount of fruit and nice sprices let down by the bun being too dry. 2/5
23. Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.75 for four, so 44p each) - Nicely spiced, and the fruit is lovely and plump, but the bun itself is too dry. 2/5
22. Co-op Irresistible Blueberry & Lemon Hot Cross Buns (£2 for four, so 50 each) - While the bun is lovely and soft, the balance of flavours is not there and the lemon is too overpowering. 2/5
21. Morrisons The Best Millionaires Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) - A little bland and tasters were disappointed with the amount of chocolate after being promised chucks of Belgian chocolate but said they would be fine toasted with butter. 2.5/5
20. Co-op Irresistible Chocolate & Salted Caramel Hot Cross Buns (£2 for four, so 50 each) - These are dense and there is a chocolate flavour, but testers felt the salted caramel was too subtle. 2.5/5
19. Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.75 for four, so 44p each) - Smell delicious, they have and have a nice toffee sweetness to them, but again, the bun is a little too dry. 2.5/5
18. Exceptional by ASDA 4 Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns (£1.43 for four, so 35.8p each) - Good taste of apple nice alternative that doesn’t deviate too much from the classic bun. 3/5
17. Exceptional by ASDA 4 Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns (£1.43 for four, so 35.8p each) - Smell strongly of tiramisu, good amount of chocolate, nice soft bun, could have done with more coffee flavour. 3/5
16. Lidl Hot Cross Buns (£1.09 for six, so 18p each) - A good classic, a little more spongy than some other but good amount of fruit and spices. 3/5
15. Aldi Specially Selected Rhubarb & Custard Hot Cross Buns (99p for four, so 24.7p each) - You can really taste the rhubarb and the bun has a good texture, some of our tasters just weren't convinced on the flavour. 3/5
14. Co-op Irresistible Richly Fruited Luxury Hot Cross Buns (2 for four, so 50p each) - It is rich with fruit and nicely spiced with a lovely sweet glaze but one found the bun a little dense. 3/5
13. Morrisons The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) - This is a decent bun, a nice sticky glaze, and plenty of fruit, but not as soft as some of the others. 3/5
12. Lidl Deluxe Premium Triple Choc Hot Cross Buns (£1.39 for four, so 34.7p each) - Divided some taste testers, some thought there wasn't enough chocolate, others thought it was perfect with an intense flavour. 3.5/5
11. Tesco Finest Blueberry & Lemon Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) - A proven winner of a flavour combination worked really well in hot cross bun form, although some found the lemon overpowering. 3.5/5
The top 10
10. Amazon Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns (£1.35 for six, so 32p each) - Nice and chewy, with loads of fruit and a nice glaze over the top with some good punchy spices. 4/5
9. Waitrose Apricot & Stem Ginger Hot Cross Buns (£3 for four, so 75p each) - These have a delightful fruit, fresh apricot flavour, the ginger is more subtle, but it is there and these are a treat. 4/5
8. Tesco Finest Salted Caramel & Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, or 45p each) - Sticky and sweet, they smell of chocolate with a yummy salted caramel taste running through. 4/5
7. Aldi Specially Selected Banoffee Hot Cross Buns (1.39 for four, so 34.7p) - Unusual with a great texture and surprisingly good banoffee flavour. 4/5
6. Aldi Nutoka Hot Cross Buns (£1.29 for four, so 32.2p) - Lovely and chocolatey, but have stayed light and bouncy, perfect for toasting. 4/5
5. Tesco Finest Chedder & Red Leicester Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, or 45p each) 4/5
4. Co-op Irresistible Apple Crumble Hot Cross Buns (£2 for four, so 50p each) 4.5/5
3. Waitrose Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns (£3 for four, so 75p each) 4.5/5
2. Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.80 for four, so 45p each) 5/5
1. Exceptional by Asda Fudge Hot Cross Buns (£1.43 for four, so 35.8p each) 5/5
