Call off the search – we've found THE best hot cross buns for Easter
We’ve officially found the best hot cross buns for Easter 2025!
Fluffy, spiced and packed with juicy fruit, we’ve rounded up 18 of the best traditional, flavoured and gluten-free teatime treats to stock up on ahead of the long weekend (Easter Sunday falls on 20th April this year, just FYI).
Looking for more delicious Easter treats? Check out our guides to the best Easter eggs (we tasted 96 so we should know!) and the best Easter roasts for that showstopping, crowd-pleasing centrepiece.
Best hot cross buns for 2025
In a hurry? These are the Good Housekeeping Institute's top-rated buns at a glance but read on for our panel's full (and tasty) reviews.
What’s the symbolism of hot cross buns?
The piped flour cross represents the crucifixion, and they’re traditionally eaten on Good Friday to mark the end of Lent. But these days, they're not just limited to Easter – hot cross buns start to appear on shelves shortly after we’ve packed the mince pies away!
How do you eat a cross bun?
Toasted and buttered, or eaten straight out of the pack, hot cross buns are an essential to have on standby in the run-up to Easter. We like ours with a strong cup of tea, but there are endless ways to consume them.
For those following a gluten-free diet, we’ve also found the best gluten-free hot cross buns to ensure no one is left out this Easter. And for those looking for something a little more innovative, we’ve also tried the best flavoured hot cross buns for 2025. From Belgian chocolate to sticky toffee, and even cheese, you'll find our experts' favourites below.
How we test hot cross buns
Our panel tested 39 traditional, flavoured and gluten-free buns from the leading supermarkets and independent retailers to find their favourite Easter bakes for toasting and slathering with butter. Each was scored on its spiced aroma, flavour, presentation (neat piping, please!) and well-leavened rise. These are the ones we’ll be tucking into.
Best traditional hot cross bun
Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 86/100
If you like a classic hot cross bun, then you’ll love this year’s winner from Waitrose. Our testers were fans of the light, fluffy texture, warming spice and sticky glaze, describing them as “incredibly moreish”. Add salted butter for the perfect serve.
Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 80/100
Sainsbury’s has stuck to a classic combination of lightly spiced dough, scattered with sweet fruit – proving that sometimes the simplest recipe is hard to beat. We think they’re perfect for those that prefer a more savoury tasting HXB.
Hand Finished Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 80/100
What sets these traditional hot cross buns apart is the malty, wholemeal flavour of the soft dough. Inside, you’ll find plump vine fruit scattered throughout and, according to our panel, the optimum level of spice.
Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 78/100
Daylesford makes these hot cross buns by hand on its organic farm in the Cotswolds.
They're generously packed with sweet, flavoursome vine fruit, and candied citrus peel – and our experts described the level of spice as "perfect". Overall, they felt it was a great, all-round classic hot cross bun, worthy of the price tag.
Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 79/100
If you enjoy a “simple” hot cross bun with mild spice and light sweetness, this is the one for you. Testers loved the light and fluffy texture of these and the crispy cross on top, noting a fresh orange aroma from the plump, moist vine fruit.
Irresistible Richly Fruited Luxury Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 78/100
Co-op's fruity buns promised a lot from their aroma but were slightly less spicy on the palate. However, there was a well-balanced sweetness from the plump, juicy vine fruit, and you could finish with a slather of cinnamon butter to help enhance the warming spice.
Specially Selected Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 78/100
While the fruit in Aldi’s bakes is plump and juicy, the bread was a little dense, and the spice was extremely subtle – which could make them a good option for children.
Luxury Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 76/100
Our panel enjoyed the sweet, sticky glaze on Marks and Spencer’s luxury bakes, describing the bread as light, fluffy and creamy, with sweet fruit and plenty of cinnamon.
Hot Cross Buns 6pk
Score: 75/100
Stock up with this six pack of hot cross buns from Amazon. Chunky dried fruit provides big bursts of sweetness, with cardamon and cinnamon spice throughout. Soft and bready, but a little dry, we’d serve these toasted, buttered and with a side of hot tea.
These also passed...
Lidl Deluxe Hot Cross Buns, £1.49 for 4pk, Score: 74/100
Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns, £1.75 for 4pk, Score: 74/100
Best flavoured hot cross buns
No.1 Apricot & Stem Ginger Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 81/100
Vibrant apricot and punchy stem ginger give our (joint) best flavoured buns a fresh new take for Easter 2025. Testers adored the sweet caramelisation and fruity acidity, finding each bite beautifully balanced and full of flavour.
No.1 Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 81/100
One for the chocoholics, these flavoured hot cross buns from Waitrose smell just like a cup of rich hot chocolate. They’re deliciously buttery and packed with dark chocolate chips and cocoa, which stops them being too sweet, along with a moist, fudgy texture. The perfect grown-up Easter treat.
Sticky Toffee Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 78/100
Sticky toffee pudding lovers rejoice – these springy flavoured buns have all the flavour of your favourite dessert. Rich and fruity with a strong date note, the toffee is sugary and caramelised, without being overly sweet.
Bramley Apple Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 77/100
The marriage of candied apples, juicy sultanas and sweet cinnamon combine beautifully to recreate the flavour of homemade apple pie in hot cross bun form. Our testers thoroughly enjoyed the natural, fresh flavour and soft, chewy texture. Superb!
Fig & Honey Hot Cross Buns 6pk
Score: 76/100
These mini hot cross buns are dense and well-risen, with rich, warming spices reminiscent of a fruit loaf and hints of tawny port.
Testers enjoyed the bready texture, which was punctuated by fig, but felt they could almost be mistaken for traditional hot cross buns – a great choice for traditionalists who are after a subtle flavour twist.
The Best Millionaires Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 75/100
Morrisons has taken the classic hot cross bun and turned it on its head, by lacing it with the caramel, chocolate and biscuit pieces found in millionaire’s shortbread. As a result, you’ll find melted pockets of chocolate and swirls of caramel sauce throughout, giving this bun a particularly sticky texture.
Large Yorkshire Rarebit Hot Cross Bun
Score: 74/100
For something completely different, look no further than Bettys’ sharing-style, savoury hot cross bun. Made with intense mature cheddar and parmesan, a hearty marmalade porter ale and a sprinkling of chives, it’s best enjoyed toasted and buttered at breakfast time – just add eggs and bacon.
Deluxe Triple Chocolate Hot Cross Bun 4pk
Score: 73/100
Despite the price tag, Lidl has packed these buttery buns with plenty of creamy milk chocolate, to ensure each bite is bursting with the good stuff. We think they’d make a great option for kids who are less keen on the spice in a traditional HXB.
These also passed...
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Coffee & Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Buns, £1.80 for 4pk, Score: 72/100
Authentic Bread Co. Chocolate & Orange Hot Cross Buns, £4.45 for 6pk, Score: 72/100
Aldi Specially Selected White Chocolate & Raspberry Hot Cross Buns, £1.49 for 4pk, Score: 71/100
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Orange Marmalade Hot Cross Buns, £1.80 for 4pk, Score: 71/100
Co-op Irresistible Apple Crumble Hot Cross Buns, £2 for 4pk, Score: 70/100
Best gluten-free hot cross buns
Taste the Difference Free From Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 78/100
Sainsbury’s has nailed the gluten-free hot cross bun this year, with both a traditional fruited bun and flavoured version (below) coming in joint first place.
With a flavour reminiscent of shop-bought scotch pancakes, our testers enjoyed the sweet sultanas and lemon oil note.
Taste the Difference Free From Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns 4pk
Score: 78/100
These hot cross buns taste just like a slice of apple pie with notes of baked apple, warming cinnamon and brown sugar. A perfect addition to the more traditional sweet vine fruit and soft, spicy dough.
These also passed...
ASDA Free From Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns, £2.98 for 4pk, Score: 77/100
ASDA Free From 4 Hot Cross Buns, £2.98 for 4pk, Score: 76/100
Morrisons Gluten Free Fruited Hot Cross Buns, £2 for 4pk, Score: 71/100
Tesco Finest Free From Chocolate Orange Hot Cross Buns, £3 for 4pk, Score: 70/100
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