The best hot cross buns 2026, tried and tasted, received from Saga, 2026 03 09
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Colin Howard
Mar 9, 2026, 10:59:01 AM (3 days ago) Mar 9
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Greetings,
I like hot cross buns but prefer them made with wholemeal flour, I can only
stand white bleached-type flower occasionally, tend to choose wholemeal for
most occasions.
I like mine with plenty of spice and ruit, not sure I'd really fancy a
rhubarb and custard, or strawbury and clotted cream bun, a cheesie bun may
well tickle my taste buds, especially when presented in the way this article
suggests.
How about you?
Richly fruited, chocolate, cheese and even rhubarb! We've tasted the
supermarket hot cross buns for 2026 to find out which are the best and which
to avoid.
By Phillipa Cherryson | Published - 8 Mar 2026
You know the countdown to Easter has really begun when packets of hot cross
buns start to fill the supermarket shelves.
Once there was a simple choice between an economy or a more expensive bun.
But now there is a bewildering choice of different flavours and sizes.
So which is the best to buy? Our tasting team split the class of 2026 into
two groups: classic hot cross buns, stuffed with fruit and spice and
flavoured hot cross buns, which can include everything from cheese to
caramel and even rhubarb.
So before you load your trolley for Easter, check out our findings to see
which are the best and worst hot cross buns to buy in 2026.
How we tested
Our panel of testers first tasted each bun straight from the packet without
any butter. Each one was then toasted, spread with some lightly salted
butter and then tasted again.
Some of our team already had favourite brands and, in terms of eating, one
preferred hers straight from the packet and the rest preferred theirs
toasted.
The best hot cross buns to buy in 2026
Last year it was the Waitrose Richly Fruited bun which claimed the top spot,
but this year it failed to even make the podium.
Instead a few of testers had to put aside supermarket snobbery and swallow
their prejudices to agree this year's clear winner was Iceland's Luxury Hot
Cross Buns, they had a great blend of fruit and spice.
The majority of the other fruited buns on test received very similar scores
and there wasn't a lot to choose between them. But in the end second place
went to Asda Exceptional and bronze was lifted by Tesco's Finest.
Our favourite budget brand was Tesco which was a good bun for the price and
better than some of the more expensive choices.
Then it was on to the flavoured varieties which always include some
surprising flavours.
Our winner for the second year running was the M&S Extremely Cheesy Hot
Cross Buns. Grilled or air fried and filled with bacon, egg or your
breakfast choice, this could be the perfect start to an Easter weekend.
Second was Tesco's Chocolate and Salted Caramel, a good choice for children
or those looking for an alternative chocolate fix to Easter eggs.
And the ones to avoid
If we're being honest here, the flavoured ones had the lowest rankings, but
right at the bottom of the pile, barely scraping half a mark, were the
Iceland Luxury Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Buns. The buns tasted like
stale chocolate cake and weren't improved by toasting and covering with
butter (something which normally works on most foods).
1. Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Best in test
RRP: £1.80
Excellent. Well-fruited and with the taste of cinnamon and clove coming
through, these were a great traditional bun.
Like most on test, they were a bit doughy eaten raw. They were delicious
toasted although they lost a little of the spice.
Tasted straight from the pack, these lived up to their promise of being
richly fruited, with an even distribution and a good balance of spice.
One-and-a-half points clear of their closest rivals, they were exactly what
a hot cross bun should be.
4.5/5
2. Asda Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Second place
RRP: £1.77
These had a good amount of fruit and some spice coming through, but they
were a little more doughy when eaten raw.
Like all the buns, they lost a little of the spice flavour when toasted, but
were still well balanced with fruit. A good runner up but more spice would
have been nice.
3/5
3. Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Third in test
RRP: £2
These didn't have as much fruit as the Iceland or Asda buns, nor as much
spice.
Doughy when raw, they were a lot better when toasted.
3/5
4. Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross buns
RRP: £2
Our team had high hopes for these after they won last year's crown, but as
soon as the packet was opened, the difference was obvious.
"They don't smell of anything," one of the testers noted. The team agreed
these buns had none of the spiced fruit smell you would expect.
On tasting, the buns did contain a good amount of fruit but the comments
were overall they were dry and bland.
Toasting helped, but they remained disappointing after last year's success.
3/5
5. Lidl Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.39
These were heavier and denser than most of the other buns. Tasters noted the
fruit wasn't as evenly distributed as others on test and they were very
dense to eat. "These really aren't pleasant," one taster said.
Toasting took longer than other buns because of the density and although it
improved them, they were bland. Disappointing from a brand that scores so
well for its spiced Christmas food.
2.5/5
6. Marks and Spencer Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2.50
The M&S buns were the most expensive fruited ones on test, but they didn't
impress the team.
"They are claggy," one of the testers commented. They were lacking in spice
and there was very little fruit in the top half of the bun, it had sunk to
the bottom.
They were better toasted, but even then tasters complained they still stuck
to their teeth.
2.5/5
7. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These buns were very pale. There wasn't a lot of spice, but testers could
taste the sultanas. The packaging said they were made with a sourdough
starter, but they did not have the characteristic taste. In fact these buns
were sweeter than most of the other fruited ones on test.
Toasting didn't add much to the party here. There wasn't anything offensive
about them, they were just a bit sweet and bland.
2.5/5
8. Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.19
Another dense bun, lacking in spice. Toasting improved them but not by much.
It's a shame as the brand is so good at spicing its Christmas cakes and
mince pies.
2/5
Best essential hot cross buns
If you are looking for a budget hot cross bun this year, our team put five
different varieties to the test.
Winner were the Tesco Hot Cross Buns, with a RRP of £1.40 for a pack of six.
These had a good amount of fruit, some spice and were nice toasted. A good
budget bun and better than some of the luxury varieties on offer.
Second were the Morrisons Hop to It Hot Cross Buns (RRP: £1.35 for six),
followed by Waitrose Essential Hot Cross Buns (RRP: £1.50 for six).
Looking for a gluten-free option?
M&S Made Without Wheat Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns (RRP: £2.50 for four)
These tasted more cakey than the other buns, but they had a good amount of
fruit and spice. They were also very nice toasted. A great option for those
who are gluten intolerant.
The best flavoured hot cross buns for 2026
1. M&S Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2.50
Raw these left our testers unimpressed, but the cooking instructions
recommended either grilling or cooking these in the air fryer and then
filling with bacon, sausage or egg. This fired the imagination of all our
tasters.
Even just grilling and covering them with butter transformed these buns into
something really quite tasty.
They aren't hot cross buns, not really. But if you fancy something different
for your Easter breakfast then these are definitely worth a taste.
4/5
2. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Chocolate and Salted Caramel Hot Cross
Buns
RRP: £2
These were chocolatey and quite dense when eaten raw. Toasting them
definitely improved them and they weren't cloyingly sweet.
Our tasters agreed although they weren't for everyone, they would suit
children or adults who aren't keen on "real" hot cross buns.
So if you feel you can't get enough chocolate this Easter from eggs alone,
then these may be for you.
3/5
3. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Lemon and White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These buns had a good lemon taste to them but were very sweet when eaten raw
due to the white chocolate.
However they were a lot better toasted. If you love sweet lemony cakes, then
these are worth trying.
2.5/5
4.Tesco Finest St Clements Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
Our tasters were hopeful about these buns, but they were disappointing.
"It's less of the zest and more of the pith," said one of the team, it was
true. They weren't sweet buns and although they had a definite citrus taste,
testers weren't convinced about them.
Toasting improved them.
2/5
5. Waitrose Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These really did taste of apple when eaten raw but the promised sultanas and
candied apple pieces were very sparse. Testers struggled to taste any
cinnamon.
On toasting they lost some of the apple taste which was a shame.
1/5
6. Aldi Specially Selected Rhubarb and Custard Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.19
Rhubarb and custard is a classic combination. but in a hot cross bun? For
our team these didn't really work.
They were sweet, with not a lot of taste and the rhubarb was very sparse.
Toasted they were more pleasant but more of a sweet toast than a bun.
1/5
7. Tesco Finest Strawberry and Clotted Cream Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These didn't work either.
"They are like strawberry cake, but dry," said a taster.
Strawberry fans may enjoy them as they do have a strawberry flavour when
eaten raw. But the combination of toasting them with butter felt and tasted
wrong on many levels.
0.5/5
8. Iceland Luxury Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.80
Oh dear, these weren't good. They barely scraped a rating.
"These taste like a cheap, dry chocolate cake," one of testers announced and
the others agreed.
Toasting actually made these worse.
"Now it tastes like burnt chocolate cake," came the quip and unfortunately
everyone agreed it was true.
0.5/5
Goytre Hall
A big thanks to Goytre Hall for hosting our tasting session.
Written By: Phillipa Cherryson
Senior Digital Editor
Phillipa Cherryson is senior digital editor for Saga Magazine. Phillipa has
been a journalist for 30 years, writing for national newspapers, magazines
and reporting onscreen for ITV. In her spare time she loves the outdoors and
is an Ordnance Survey Champion and trainee mountain leader.
Colin Howard, living in Southern England.
I like hot cross buns but prefer them made with wholemeal flour, I can only
stand white bleached-type flower occasionally, tend to choose wholemeal for
most occasions.
I like mine with plenty of spice and ruit, not sure I'd really fancy a
rhubarb and custard, or strawbury and clotted cream bun, a cheesie bun may
well tickle my taste buds, especially when presented in the way this article
suggests.
How about you?
Richly fruited, chocolate, cheese and even rhubarb! We've tasted the
supermarket hot cross buns for 2026 to find out which are the best and which
to avoid.
By Phillipa Cherryson | Published - 8 Mar 2026
You know the countdown to Easter has really begun when packets of hot cross
buns start to fill the supermarket shelves.
Once there was a simple choice between an economy or a more expensive bun.
But now there is a bewildering choice of different flavours and sizes.
So which is the best to buy? Our tasting team split the class of 2026 into
two groups: classic hot cross buns, stuffed with fruit and spice and
flavoured hot cross buns, which can include everything from cheese to
caramel and even rhubarb.
So before you load your trolley for Easter, check out our findings to see
which are the best and worst hot cross buns to buy in 2026.
How we tested
Our panel of testers first tasted each bun straight from the packet without
any butter. Each one was then toasted, spread with some lightly salted
butter and then tasted again.
Some of our team already had favourite brands and, in terms of eating, one
preferred hers straight from the packet and the rest preferred theirs
toasted.
The best hot cross buns to buy in 2026
Last year it was the Waitrose Richly Fruited bun which claimed the top spot,
but this year it failed to even make the podium.
Instead a few of testers had to put aside supermarket snobbery and swallow
their prejudices to agree this year's clear winner was Iceland's Luxury Hot
Cross Buns, they had a great blend of fruit and spice.
The majority of the other fruited buns on test received very similar scores
and there wasn't a lot to choose between them. But in the end second place
went to Asda Exceptional and bronze was lifted by Tesco's Finest.
Our favourite budget brand was Tesco which was a good bun for the price and
better than some of the more expensive choices.
Then it was on to the flavoured varieties which always include some
surprising flavours.
Our winner for the second year running was the M&S Extremely Cheesy Hot
Cross Buns. Grilled or air fried and filled with bacon, egg or your
breakfast choice, this could be the perfect start to an Easter weekend.
Second was Tesco's Chocolate and Salted Caramel, a good choice for children
or those looking for an alternative chocolate fix to Easter eggs.
And the ones to avoid
If we're being honest here, the flavoured ones had the lowest rankings, but
right at the bottom of the pile, barely scraping half a mark, were the
Iceland Luxury Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Buns. The buns tasted like
stale chocolate cake and weren't improved by toasting and covering with
butter (something which normally works on most foods).
1. Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Best in test
RRP: £1.80
Excellent. Well-fruited and with the taste of cinnamon and clove coming
through, these were a great traditional bun.
Like most on test, they were a bit doughy eaten raw. They were delicious
toasted although they lost a little of the spice.
Tasted straight from the pack, these lived up to their promise of being
richly fruited, with an even distribution and a good balance of spice.
One-and-a-half points clear of their closest rivals, they were exactly what
a hot cross bun should be.
4.5/5
2. Asda Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Second place
RRP: £1.77
These had a good amount of fruit and some spice coming through, but they
were a little more doughy when eaten raw.
Like all the buns, they lost a little of the spice flavour when toasted, but
were still well balanced with fruit. A good runner up but more spice would
have been nice.
3/5
3. Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Third in test
RRP: £2
These didn't have as much fruit as the Iceland or Asda buns, nor as much
spice.
Doughy when raw, they were a lot better when toasted.
3/5
4. Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross buns
RRP: £2
Our team had high hopes for these after they won last year's crown, but as
soon as the packet was opened, the difference was obvious.
"They don't smell of anything," one of the testers noted. The team agreed
these buns had none of the spiced fruit smell you would expect.
On tasting, the buns did contain a good amount of fruit but the comments
were overall they were dry and bland.
Toasting helped, but they remained disappointing after last year's success.
3/5
5. Lidl Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.39
These were heavier and denser than most of the other buns. Tasters noted the
fruit wasn't as evenly distributed as others on test and they were very
dense to eat. "These really aren't pleasant," one taster said.
Toasting took longer than other buns because of the density and although it
improved them, they were bland. Disappointing from a brand that scores so
well for its spiced Christmas food.
2.5/5
6. Marks and Spencer Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2.50
The M&S buns were the most expensive fruited ones on test, but they didn't
impress the team.
"They are claggy," one of the testers commented. They were lacking in spice
and there was very little fruit in the top half of the bun, it had sunk to
the bottom.
They were better toasted, but even then tasters complained they still stuck
to their teeth.
2.5/5
7. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These buns were very pale. There wasn't a lot of spice, but testers could
taste the sultanas. The packaging said they were made with a sourdough
starter, but they did not have the characteristic taste. In fact these buns
were sweeter than most of the other fruited ones on test.
Toasting didn't add much to the party here. There wasn't anything offensive
about them, they were just a bit sweet and bland.
2.5/5
8. Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.19
Another dense bun, lacking in spice. Toasting improved them but not by much.
It's a shame as the brand is so good at spicing its Christmas cakes and
mince pies.
2/5
Best essential hot cross buns
If you are looking for a budget hot cross bun this year, our team put five
different varieties to the test.
Winner were the Tesco Hot Cross Buns, with a RRP of £1.40 for a pack of six.
These had a good amount of fruit, some spice and were nice toasted. A good
budget bun and better than some of the luxury varieties on offer.
Second were the Morrisons Hop to It Hot Cross Buns (RRP: £1.35 for six),
followed by Waitrose Essential Hot Cross Buns (RRP: £1.50 for six).
Looking for a gluten-free option?
M&S Made Without Wheat Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns (RRP: £2.50 for four)
These tasted more cakey than the other buns, but they had a good amount of
fruit and spice. They were also very nice toasted. A great option for those
who are gluten intolerant.
The best flavoured hot cross buns for 2026
1. M&S Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2.50
Raw these left our testers unimpressed, but the cooking instructions
recommended either grilling or cooking these in the air fryer and then
filling with bacon, sausage or egg. This fired the imagination of all our
tasters.
Even just grilling and covering them with butter transformed these buns into
something really quite tasty.
They aren't hot cross buns, not really. But if you fancy something different
for your Easter breakfast then these are definitely worth a taste.
4/5
2. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Chocolate and Salted Caramel Hot Cross
Buns
RRP: £2
These were chocolatey and quite dense when eaten raw. Toasting them
definitely improved them and they weren't cloyingly sweet.
Our tasters agreed although they weren't for everyone, they would suit
children or adults who aren't keen on "real" hot cross buns.
So if you feel you can't get enough chocolate this Easter from eggs alone,
then these may be for you.
3/5
3. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Lemon and White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These buns had a good lemon taste to them but were very sweet when eaten raw
due to the white chocolate.
However they were a lot better toasted. If you love sweet lemony cakes, then
these are worth trying.
2.5/5
4.Tesco Finest St Clements Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
Our tasters were hopeful about these buns, but they were disappointing.
"It's less of the zest and more of the pith," said one of the team, it was
true. They weren't sweet buns and although they had a definite citrus taste,
testers weren't convinced about them.
Toasting improved them.
2/5
5. Waitrose Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These really did taste of apple when eaten raw but the promised sultanas and
candied apple pieces were very sparse. Testers struggled to taste any
cinnamon.
On toasting they lost some of the apple taste which was a shame.
1/5
6. Aldi Specially Selected Rhubarb and Custard Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.19
Rhubarb and custard is a classic combination. but in a hot cross bun? For
our team these didn't really work.
They were sweet, with not a lot of taste and the rhubarb was very sparse.
Toasted they were more pleasant but more of a sweet toast than a bun.
1/5
7. Tesco Finest Strawberry and Clotted Cream Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £2
These didn't work either.
"They are like strawberry cake, but dry," said a taster.
Strawberry fans may enjoy them as they do have a strawberry flavour when
eaten raw. But the combination of toasting them with butter felt and tasted
wrong on many levels.
0.5/5
8. Iceland Luxury Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Buns
RRP: £1.80
Oh dear, these weren't good. They barely scraped a rating.
"These taste like a cheap, dry chocolate cake," one of testers announced and
the others agreed.
Toasting actually made these worse.
"Now it tastes like burnt chocolate cake," came the quip and unfortunately
everyone agreed it was true.
0.5/5
Goytre Hall
A big thanks to Goytre Hall for hosting our tasting session.
Written By: Phillipa Cherryson
Senior Digital Editor
Phillipa Cherryson is senior digital editor for Saga Magazine. Phillipa has
been a journalist for 30 years, writing for national newspapers, magazines
and reporting onscreen for ITV. In her spare time she loves the outdoors and
is an Ordnance Survey Champion and trainee mountain leader.
Colin Howard, living in Southern England.
Rita Bayliss
Mar 9, 2026, 3:20:28 PM (3 days ago) Mar 9
to avip...@googlegroups.com

   Hi Colin,
I usually treat myself to one fresh bakery traditional hot cross bun on Good Friday. I don't buy the supermarket ones as they are in multiple packs and I am the only one that eats them in my household.
Hope you enjoy your hot cross buns, whichever type you choose.
Rita
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