We recruited 75 hot cross bun enthusiasts to blind-taste and rate 10 supermarket hot cross buns, including those from Aldi, Asda, M&S and Morrisons.
Scores ranged from a disappointing 60% to a chart-topping 75%, with some supermarkets showing themselves to be a better bet for a perfectly spiced springtime treat.
Asda and M&S triumphed in our test, while one of the priciest options came in last overall. Read on to find out which supermarket hot cross buns we recommend, why some buns shouldn't go in your toaster, and what you need to know about sugar content.
Best supermarket hot cross bunsBest Buy: Asda 'Extra Special' 4 Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns – 75%
£1.60 per pack (40p per bun)
Asda’s buns excelled in all categories this year, scoring high marks for appearance, aroma, flavour and texture, giving them a well-deserved Best Buy.
Their appearance was rated the best among all other buns with one taster describing them as a ‘lovely golden colour’.
Most of our tasters really liked the flavour. But the texture and moistness of these buns was what really impressed, with both being rated as 'just right' by 79% of our panel.
Available from £1.85 per pack (46p per bun)
The aroma, flavour and texture of these buns were scored just as highly as Asda's Best Buy buns, making them a great choice for M&S shoppers this Easter.
Most of our tasters found the sweetness and amount of fruit in the buns spot on, with 77% saying the sweetness was 'just right' and 81% saying the same for the amount of fruit.
They are a tad more expensive than Asda’s hot cross buns, but still a worthy alternative.
Other high-scoring hot cross buns to look out for
Hot on the heels of our top two are hot cross bun offerings from Morrisons and Co-op, so wherever you live a tasty choice shouldn't be too out of reach.
If price is paramount, consider Iceland and Aldi's hot cross buns (25p and 32p per bun respectively). Both scored 69% so while they weren't perfect, they're still a decent choice.
Morrisons 'The Best' Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns – 73%
£1.59 per pack (40p per bun)
Morrison’s buns also scored very well for their aroma, flavour, and texture, so are a great alternative choice for a sweet treat this Easter, if you've got a Morrison's nearby.
They didn't match up to Asda's buns on appearance, and 65% of tasters found that the sweetness was 'just right' – a rating just a tad lower than our Best Buys.
Fruit content and moistness was also rated as slightly lacking compared to our two top scorers, which is why these buns narrowly missed out on a Best Buy.
Available fromCo-op Irresistible Limited Edition Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns – 72%
£1.60 (40p per bun)
Co-op's buns scored high marks for aroma, flavour and texture and are worth considering if you’re a Co-op shopper. A respectable 76% of our tasters also scored the moistness of these buns as 'just right', putting them nearly equal to Asda and M&S.
A few of our tasters found that the spice levels weren’t strong enough, while only 64% of tasters thought the amount of fruit was 'just right'. That's around 10% less than our top scorers, which is why these buns fell slightly short of the top spots.
Available from – see which supermarket jams beat the brands in our taste test – we reveal which dairy-free butters are best-ratedHow Aldi, Tesco, Waitrose and other supermarket buns compare
Iceland 4 Hot Cross Buns – 69% Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns – 69% Tesco Finest 4 Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns – 69%Lidl Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns – 66%Sainsbury's Fruity Hot Cross Buns, Taste the Difference – 64% Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns – 60% Should you toast or grill hot cross buns? Why it’s worth checking before you cook
Your default might be to slice it in half and shove it in the toaster, but some hot cross buns aren't suitable for toasting.
Heavily fruited or flavoured buns (such as cheese or chocolate) are particularly likely to leave your toaster in a sticky mess – or get stuck (a recipe for burned fingers or risky retrieval tactics).
Grilling is generally recommended as the best cooking method, though it's obviously more wasteful energy-wise if you're only doing one or two buns.
How sugary are hot cross buns?
Hot cross buns can be surprisingly sugary, so it's worth bearing this in mind before you pile on the jam.
Levels vary significantly by brand too. Our top two scorers have the highest sugar content at around 20g per bun, whereas lowest scorer Waitrose has almost half the sugar content.
undefinedIf you're a regular hot cross bun eater, opting for a slightly lower scorer will cut sugar levels to a middle ground of around 15g per bun. But bear in mind that all are classed as at least medium for sugar content according to healthy eating guidelines.
Salt content can also be quite high, so going easy on the butter (and not reaching for that second bun) is worthwhile.
How to serve hot cross buns
Typically, hot cross buns are served slathered in butter. What goes on next is often fiercely contested – some like them plain, while others like to add toppings such as jam, marmite or chocolate spread.
You could explore more unusual ideas if you’re feeling daring, or have an excess of buns to use up. Try a hot cross bun buttie with bacon and eggs for breakfast, or serving them as lunchtime sandwiches filled with roasted lamb and mint.
If you prefer a sweet treat, try a French-toast styled hot cross bun served with yoghurt, berries and peanut butter.
Bear in mind extra toppings will add significantly to the already high sugar and salt levels, but as an occasional treat this shouldn't be too much of an issue.
Do hot cross buns contain palm oil?
Yes, most do. But all the hot cross buns we tested use either palm oil or palm fat that is sustainably certified.
Most come in a packaging that includes a piece of card and a plastic film. The card can be recycled at home. The film can sometimes be recycled at your local supermarket, but not all can – it's best to check the packaging for guidance.
How we taste-tested hot cross buns
The buns were assessed in February 2023 by a large panel of consumers who regularly buy and consume hot cross buns. We focused on main supermarket own-brand premium options.
The make-up of the panel broadly represents the demographic profile of adults in the UK. Each bun was assessed by 75 people.
Half a bun was served either toasted or grilled, according to pack instructions. The panellists rated the taste, texture, aroma, and appearance of each product and told us what they liked and disliked about each one.
The taste test was blind, so the panellists didn’t know which product they were trying. The order they sampled the hot cross buns was fully rotated to avoid any bias. Each panellist had a private booth so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.
The overall score is based on:
These weightings are based on consumer rankings of the importance of different hot cross bun attributes.
Prices and availability correct as of 08 March 2023
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/best-hot-cross-buns-for-easter-2023-apeje0l0WVu8