FEMAIL tries out 26 hot cross buns for 2022

Aldi Cheddar & Caramelised Red Onion Hot Cross Buns

£1.19 for four 

I’m not sure I could taste the difference between these and a plain piece of bread.

I love a cheesy bun, but these just weren’t cheesy and all – and I couldn’t get a whiff on caramelised onion.

Really it’s just a bread roll with a cross on the top. The bread was nice, but not one for traditionalist or anyone looking for a cheesy hit!   – Bridie Pearson-Jones

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Co-op Chili and Masala Hot Cross Bun 

 £1.50 for four

Bridie said the Co-op Chili and Masala Hot Cross Bun was nicer than a plain bread roll, and appreciated the addition of raisins, but would have liked a stronger flavour

I was very excited by these, I love chilli, I love masala, what’s not to like!

While tasty, I think it could have focussed for on the chilli taste. A curry bread is a great idea but this just wasn’t strong enough.

They were definitely nicer than a plain bread role, and I like how they added raisins – which is a nice nod to a traditional hot cross bun, but would have loved a stronger flavour. -Bridie Pearson Jones 

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Morrison’s The Best Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns

£1.00 for six

Bridie said: ‘The apple chunks were a nice touch, but it was overwhelmed by the currants inside’ 

A traditional apply flavour – sure to be a hit with anyone who opts for an apple treat.

I just think these lacked a little bit of flavour, but it was by no means bad.

The apple chunks were a nice touch, but it was overwhelmed by the currants inside.  – Bridie Pearson-Jones

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Sainsbury’s Triple Chocolate Hot Cross Buns

 £1.25 for four

Although these Sainsbury’s chocolate buns had a nice flavour and good chocolate chips, they fell apart in the toaster 

 These were so nice in flavour and were a nice mix of all three chocolates and the  chocolate chips melted perfectly.

However, the structure was awful and it fell apart after going in my toaster. I’m not sure how else to eat them as they definitely need to be toasted. – Bridie Pearson-Jones 

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Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns 

£1.65 for four

 The absence of a stick glaze and a dry and claggy bun meant these Waitrose treats failed to impress  

You might expect a bun which claims to be ‘richly fruited’, to be moist and juicy – but I can tell you, this bun is not that. 

It’s pretty dry and claggy in fact. The raisins themselves have a delicious flavour but the dough is very dry. 

It’s also missing that lovely glaze which some buns have. It might be good toasted with a little butter, but on it’s own it’s a solid 3/5 at the absolute maximum. – Harriet Johnston 

Aldi Bramley Apple Hot Cross Buns

99p for four 

 These Aldi apple-flavoured buns were too sweet and more like an apple pie with too many raisins that added to the richness  

 Not at all bad for less than £1 – but definitely not to my taste. 

The first thing I noticed when opening the packet was a overwhelmingly sweet smell, that almost headache-causing sugary smell I’d associate more with an American apple pie rather than a British hot cross bun.

But it tasted quite nice, it was very very rich with lots of raisins that added to the over saturation of sweetness. – Bridie Pearson-Jones

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Waitrose Brioche Hot Cross Roll

£1.50 for four 

Nothing screams hot or cross about this bun! It’s effectively just a brioche roll with a cross on it

Nothing screams hot or cross about this bun! It’s effectively just a brioche roll with a cross on it.

There’s no fruit or cinnamon or the usual aroma and flavour you’d expect.

That said, it’s a decent brioche roll and would be a fun festive treat to take to an Easter BBQ – Bridie Pearson-Jones

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Iceland Hot Cross Buns

£1 for six  

The texture was a little too ‘doughy’ to my taste, which meant the whole bun felt overly chewy

The strong scent of these hot cross buns was immediately obvious as soon as the packet was opened. 

The texture was a little too ‘doughy’ to my taste, which meant the whole bun felt overly chewy. 

While I wouldn’t describe it as a claggy texture, it wasn’t particularly pleasant either. 

Meanwhile the cinnamon taste is also a little overwhelming – I’d like the flavour to be a little more subtle, with a few more raisins and a bun with some more moisture – Harriet  Johnston

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Co-op Irresistible Carrot Cake Hot Cross Bun 

£1.50 for four 

The only thing that is recognisable is the bun’s raisins, which is not even the best part of the traditional bun to begin with

I love carrot cake so I was excited to try this new spin on hot cross buns from Co-Op, but this was not only disappointing. It was upsetting.

While the bun is fluffy as you’d except, it is not nearly as sweet as it should be, and the carrot is barely perceptible. 

The only thing that is recognisable is the bun’s raisins, which is not even the best part of the traditional bun to begin with! 

If you see those and think you’ll get the lovely, spicy taste of an indulging carrot cake, think again. It also does not have the lovely cake’s frosting, which is only making matters worse. – Claire Toureille

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Aldi Specially Selected Strawberries And Cream Hot Cross Buns 

£1.19 for four 

Joanna said: ‘The strawberry and cranberry pieces mixed well to give a really lovely, fruity taste and texture but combined with the double cream flavour and white chocolate chunks, it was sugar overload.’

These were so sweet! 

The strawberry and cranberry pieces mixed well to give a really lovely, fruity taste and texture but combined with the double cream flavour and white chocolate chunks, it was sugar overload.

 To me, they tasted of pick and mix sweets, which is probably why my four-year-old gobbled his down and immediately asked for another! I, meanwhile missed the spice of an original hot cross bun.

They’d be perfect to serve as a summery dessert. – Joanna Crawley

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 M&S Marmite Cheese Hot Cross Buns

£1.75 for four 

Harriet said: ‘It doesn’t have any fruit, so it ends up being very doughy – and while the dough is very soft, and tasty, it’s not really doing it for me as a snack.

First of all, this is not a hot cross bun. While it may be the customary shape and have the usual cross on top, that’s where the similarities between this and a hot cross bun end. 

It’s essentially a quite strongly flavoured marmite bun.

 It doesn’t have any fruit, so it ends up being very doughy – and while the dough is very soft, and tasty, it’s not really doing it for me as a snack. 

I think if it came layered up with slices of cheddar or brie, maybe it would be a bit better. – Harriet Johnston

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Sainsbury’s Hot Cross Bun Bagel

£1.60 for four

Bridie said: ‘I expected the unique texture you get from bagels, but it was clear this wasn’t boiled and baked in a New York deli.’

This is a really fun idea! I love bagels but this was really a hot cross bun with a hole in it.

I expected the unique texture you get from bagels, but it was clear this wasn’t boiled and baked in a New York deli.

It was very dry and nothing to write home about. Stick to a cinnamon and raisin bagel! – Bridie Pearson -Jones

ASDA Extra Special Tickled Pink Belgian White Chocolate & Cranberry Hot Cross Buns

£1.50 for four

I’d buy these for a Peppa Pig loving toddler – but avoid otherwise! – Bridie Pearson-Jones Rating:

These are a bit of a showstopper, with a bright pink hue when they’re cut open. Not the most appetising to my eyes, but I’m sure most kids would love it.

However, I fear these are a bit all looks no substance. I didn’t really get much flavour of white chocolate or cranberry, it was quite hard to distinguish any flavour other than general manufactured sweetness.

I’d buy these for a Peppa Pig loving toddler – but avoid otherwise!   – Bridie Pearson-Jones

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M&S 4 Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Bun 

This offering from M&S promised a savoury twist on the traditional treat, but ended up being more like a disappointing cheese bap, rather than a hot cross bun  

I love a sweet and savoury combo, so I was excited to try this variety in the hope there would be some hot cross bun spice mixed with the cheese for an Easter treat that’s a bit different from the norm. 

But disappointingly, these aren’t really hot cross buns. There was no other detectable flavouring to link it to the traditional snack, or at least if there was, I couldn’t detect it. 

This was effectively a cheese bap, and not a very good one at that. The cheese isn’t particularly strong or plentiful and it’s quite a flat bun, not the fluffy texture you’d hope for that crisps up nicely when toasted.

Even the addition of butter, or chutney to complement the cheese couldn’t save it. I’d suggest getting a regular hot cross bun to use as a base for cheese instead. – Siofra Brennan

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