The best hot cross buns for Easter, according to Choice

While Canva investors will probably tuck into hot cross buns from Baker Bleu (6 for $30), Bourke Street Bakery (6 for $20) or the Sonoma Not cross buns (6 for $20) this Easter, you don’t have to have bagged a 50x exit to enjoy some tasty baking over the long weekend.

Consumer advocacy group Choice has pulled together a trio of experts to check out 19 buns in the economy section of local supermarket, including some gluten and fruit free options.

Judges Eddie Stewart, Jane Bardell and Brigid Treloar (she’s a judge at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show Competition) looked at 19 hot cross buns from Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Aldi, Bakers Delight and Costco. The blind taste test saw them assess flavour, aroma, appearance and texture to create a taste test score out of 100%.

They also rated them for nutrition and tried them fresh and toasted.

Hot cross bun judges Eddie Stewart, Jane Bardell and Brigid Treloar

And the winner is: Coles Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns in the traditional bun category, followed by the Aldi Bakers Life Fruit Hot Cross Buns, which Startup Daily can also vouch for, especially at the very bootstrapped price of 67 cents per bun. Last year Woolies took the crown. 

Choice editorial director, Mark Serrels said that while it can be hard to choose the best bun, Coles had the clear winner in the traditional category with a score of 75%.

“Our experts praised it for its great array of fruits, which produced interesting flavours and textures. Our judges also said this one is perfect for toasting and buttering,” he said

“We tested four chocolate hot cross buns from Coles, Aldi, Woolworths and Bakers Delight, and Coles once again took out the top spot. The Coles Bakery Easter Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns received an impressive score of 82%. Our experts were pleased with the amount of chocolate chips, noting the chocolatey smell was evident! If you prefer a chocolate hot cross bun, our experts recommend trying this one.”

Interestingly, the did try the Sonoma Indulgent Fruit and Spice buns (4 for $6.50), which you can get from Coles, but didn’t rate them, giving them 49% with comments like “unpleasant flavour but pleasant when toasted with mild spice flavour, nice cranberries and sweet peel, very slight artificial aftertaste”. The Sydney baker is famed for its sourdough breads. 

In the gluten-free category, the winner was Aldi Bakers Life Gluten Free Fruit Hot Cross Buns, with a 68% rating, while Woolies grabbed the gold in the GF chocolate section with Woolworths Free From Gluten Choc Hot Cross Buns at 64%.

You can check out all 19 hot cross bun reviews here. Below are the podium buns in the traditional and chocolate categories.

Best traditional hot cross buns 

WINNER

Coles Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns

• Choice Expert Rating: 75%
• Toasted score: 80%
• Fresh (untoasted) score: 70%
• Price: $1.38 per bun ($5.50 per 4-pack)
• Health Star Rating: 3.5
• Good to know: The pack price has gone up $1 since last year; suitable for vegetarians; no artificial colours or flavours
• Experts say:
  • “Good size, shape and even cross; great fruit variety so adds interesting flavours and textures. No glaze but overall a delicious product.”
  • “Apricot is a great touch; needs glaze; when fresh it has a raw spice flavour but when toasted it has great texture and flavour.”
  • “Perfect for toasting and buttering. Love the array of fruits.”

2. Aldi Bakers Life Fruit Hot Cross Buns

Choice Expert Rating: 72%

Price: 67 cents per bun

3. Coles Bakery Easter Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Buns

Choice Expert Rating: 66%

Price: 73 cents per bun

Best chocolate hot cross buns

WINNER!

Coles Bakery Easter Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns

• Choice Expert Rating: 82%
• Toasted score: 83%
• Fresh (untoasted) score: 90%
• Price: 73 cents per bun ($4.40 per 6-pack)
• Health Star Rating: 2
• Good to know: 25% chocolate; the pack price has gone up 40 cents since last year; suitable for vegetarians; Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa.
• Experts say:
  • “Looks great, good amount of chocolate chips. Toasted – visually is perfect, chocolate smell is good, fluffy and dense from chocolate chips, flavour hit the mark.”
  • “Chocolate pieces are evident and chocolate aroma and flavour comes through well.”
  • “Nice milk chocolate flavour, no spice. Toasted flavour overpowers chocolate a bit. This one is better fresh.”

2. Aldi Bakers Life Chocolate Hot Cross Buns with Milk Chocolate Chips

Choice Expert Rating: 70%

Price: 67 cents per bun 

3. Woolworths Bakery Hot Cross Buns Made with Cadbury Milk Chocolate Chips 

Choice Expert Rating: 68% 

Price: 73 cents per bun

Choice recommends the traditional and chocolate hot cross buns with an expert rating of 70% or more, and the gluten-free options with a score of 60% or more.