Best hot cross buns to buy in the UK

Rich, warm and filling, the hot cross bun is an iconic Easter staple.

Adorned with a white cross, the lightly spiced teacake is traditionally eaten on Good Friday, but can be found all year round at various supermarkets and bakeries. It's usually served lightly toasted with a butter spread and, nowadays, comes in different flavours – think orange and chocolate.

After chomping through mountains of buns, from Aldi’s Specially Selected variety to the Waitrose Bramley Apple flavour, we’ve selected the best to buy this Easter.

1. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns

If you like a bun that fills you up, then this one really hits the mark. Sainsbury’s has won a place in our hearts with its delightfully plump buns, packed with plenty of fruit to delight your sweet tooth. As lovely as they taste, it’s the moist and fluffy texture that deserves all the praise. Best served toasted.

£1.50, Sainsbury’s, Buy it now

2. Bettys Large Chocolate & Orange Hot Cross Bun

Traditionalists, look away now. Bettys has upgraded the iconic Easter treat with candied orange peel and dark chocolate chunks. The rich, moist dough is packed with flavour throughout, making it a good choice for those who find regular hot cross buns too bland. The crystallised orange slices are a lovely finishing touch. Top marks all round.

£6.25, Bettys, Buy it now

3. Tesco Finest Very Berry Hot Cross Bun 4 Pack

These rich buns might be a bit overwhelming for some, but should go down well with sweet tooths. The flavour of the fruit – cranberries, wild blueberries, lingonberries and currants – really comes through. They have a brownish, glossy top and are impressively rounded. We’d serve them warm with a steaming cuppa.

£1.50, Tesco, Buy it now

4. Waitrose Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns

This modern twist on a classic is certainly a delight for your taste buds. The buns have a slightly dark brown top with a light white cross to compliment. They’re generously sized too, with just the right balance of sweet and warm flavours. Slather on some butter and tuck in.

£1.69, Waitrose, Buy it now

5. Iceland Luxury 4 Hot Cross Buns

These perfectly shaped treats are everything a hot cross bun should be. You get a decent amount of fruit, with a rich cinnamon flavour coming through and a golden top with a nice shiny glaze. Moist, fluffy and not bad looking, these are definitely the best value for money option.

£1, Iceland, Buy it now

6. Morrisons The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross Bun

These ‘Extra Fruity’ buns from Morrisons didn’t quite live up to their name. They lacked a shiny top and weren’t as flavourful as we expected them to be. You could taste the vine fruits and spices, but there wasn’t enough to make them stand out from the others in our list.

£1, Morrisons, Buy it now

7. Asda Baker's Selection 6 Hot Cross Buns

Another great budget batch. These satisfyingly plump buns are not only cheap, but pack a good punch. All the classic flavours are there, making each mouthful as good as the last. They’re also impressive in appearance – nicely shaped with an almost perfect white cross.

£1, Asda, Buy it now

8. Aldi Specially Selected Hot Cross Buns

These ‘Specially Selected’ buns from Aldi are as traditional as they come, but didn’t quite hit the spot. There was enough fruit, but they lacked that strong spiced flavour and were a little dry in texture. The small size means they’re not too filling– so are best eaten as a between-meal snack or just because.

£0.99, Aldi, Buy it now

VERDICT: It didn’t take long to decide that Sainsbury's is our winner. Perfect at any time of the day, the Taste The Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns are tasty enough to serve to those who aren’t fans of the traditional treat. For a bun with a twist, turn to the indulgent Bettys Large Chocolate & Orange Hot Cross Bun.