It wouldn’t be Easter without hot cross buns! And if you’re on the hunt for the tastiest bunch, don’t fret, Choice has done the hard work for you and rounded up the best-tasting store-bought hot cross buns.
The consumer advocacy group reviewed 21 products from brands including Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Aldi, Bakers Delight and Costco to see which hot cross buns are best. Each bun was scored on a range of criteria, such as flavour, appearance, aroma and texture.
Coles’ Traditional Fruit took out the top spot, earning an 80 per cent Choice expert rating, thanks to its “bouncy texture” and “balanced flavour”. The best part is, a six-pack will only set you back $3.50.
Aldi’s Specially Selected Traditional Fruit wasn’t far behind, with a Choice expert rating of 79 per cent. Choice experts described it as an “attractive bun [with] good texture and distribution of fruit”. A four-pack is just $2.99.
And Bakers Delight’s Traditional Fruit rounded out the top three, earning a Choice expert rating of 78 per cent. Choice experts described it as “a typical hot cross bun”.
If you’re more inclined to dig into a chocolate hot cross bun, Coles took out the top spot here too. The Coles Chocolate variety has been dubbed the best thanks to its “good chocolate hit”. The buns earned an 84 per cent Choice expert rating and cost just $3.50 for a six-pack.
But if you’re a glutton for chocolate chips, head over to Bakers Delight where you can pick up its Choc Chip variety packed with little bursts of chocolatey goodness. A six-pack is $7.98. The popular buns earned a Choice expert rating of 75 per cent.
Woolworths’ Cadbury Chocolate came in a number three, winning over Choice experts with its “chocolate aroma and moist texture”. It earned a Choice expert rating of 74 per cent and costs just $3.48 for a six-pack.
If you’re after something a little different, Woolworths is the place to go for apple and cinnamon hot cross buns. The supermarket’s Indulgent Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns earned a Choice expert rating of 70 per cent.
And if you’re coeliac or have a gluten intolerance, Coles’ Chocolate I’m Free From Gluten Wheat & Dairy took first place, with a Choice expert rating of 60 per cent.
“Coles was clearly the winner in our testing this year, with their hot cross buns coming first in both the chocolate and traditional fruit categories,” Choice food journalist Rachel Clemons said.