FEMAIL tries out 26 hot cross buns in search of the best Easter treat

Tesco Free From 

£1.90 for pack of four. Two packs for £2 

Rating:

As a hot cross bun fan, this was a delight. 

The fruit was perfectly sweet and with a layer of melted butter is was, frankly, delicious. Devastated I only had one and would gladly scoff an entire packet. Gluten free food is normally abhorrent, dry and tasteless! 

But this hot-cross bun was none of the above. By a mile the best free-from thing I’ve ever eaten in that case. I’m not entirely sure I believe its gluten free. – Joe Pinkstone

Co-op Irresistible Limited Edition Richly Fruited Luxury Hot Cross Buns 

£1.35 for pack of four

Rating:

‘The bun was absolutely delicious and very sweet. I’m really keen for more now and looking forward to Easter!

Having been told that this is in fact a fruit hot cross bun, I have to say that I didn’t taste much fruit. 

I did, however, taste lots of sugar. Good value for money I think, but don’t be bowled over by the ‘fruit’ element! –  Luke Andrews

M&S Salted Caramel and Chocolate

£1.50 for pack of four 

Rating:

‘This hot cross bun reminds me if a chocolate brioche, which I love! I don’t think it needs butter or anything else to compliment the flavour and it’s quiet moreish.

‘It’s probably not for everyone…but I think my fellow chocoholics can appreciate it. – Latoya Gayle

M&S Bramley Apple

£1.50 for pack of four   

Rating:

I was very impressed with this hot cross bun and cannot fault it. The bread to fruit ratio was spot on, with it also having a perfect chewy consistency. 

None of the raisins had gone soggy and were full of flavour – would definitely buy a packet of these delights! 

Didn’t really get the apple vibes, just fruit in gen, but boy oh boy looks like I’ll be splashing the cash on M&S buns this season – Bryony Jewell

Morrisons Best Mocha Hot Cross Buns

£1 for a pack of four 

Rating:

This dough on this was nice and soft and it had a little bit of a coffee kick to it. 

Not usually a fan of things that are coffee flavoured but this was a cool take on the traditional hot cross bun.

I also liked that the top of the bun was glazed and a little bit sticky as it added the sweetness needed because of the bitterness of the coffee. 

The little chocolate chips were a nice extra too. – Terri-Ann Williams

 M&S Chilli and Cheese Hot Cross Bun

£1.50 for a pack of four 

Rating:

I was pleasantly surprised with the chilli and cheese flavour. I’ve never tried a savoury hot cross bun so was sceptical at first, but it tasted lovely toasted with some butter. – Sophie Law

Tesco Finest Salted Caramel and Belgian Chocolate 

 £1.50 for a pack of four. Two packs for £2

Rating:

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of hot cross buns, and sadly I don’t think that this offering is going to change my opinion much. 

The subtle hints of rich chocolate were a pleasing addition — if less intense than one might have wished for. However, the bun itself was somewhat more stodgy than I might have liked. 

I couldn’t taste the salted caramel at all, which — in hindsight — is disappointing. I guess it’s decent value for what you’re getting, and I definitely didn’t hate it, but I would still prefer a higher quality item. – Ian Randall

Waitrose Sticky Toffee Pudding

£1.69 for a pack of four 

Rating:

This is a great hot cross bun – good doughy consistency, tasty flavour and nice shine atop. It’s a little sweeter than your classic bun and, although I’m not exactly sure what the sugary flavour is, I’m not adverse to it. 

I also enjoyed the size of the baked treat, because it was just large enough for a mid-morning snack without leaving you craving more. 

I’m not sure it can top the classic hot cross bun flavour and I’d question how many currants there are inside, but all in all a strong 4/5. – Harriet Johnston

M&S Golden Hot Cross Buns 

Rating:

£1.50 for a pack of four

I’m a huge hot cross bun fan and this little treat didn’t disappoint! It was lovely and moist and packed full of flavour. 

Would definitely purchase a bag! – Charlotte Dean

M&S Luxury Hot Cross Buns

Rating:

£1.50 for a pack of four

It certainly looked like a perfectly-proportioned hot-cross bun. But my admiration soon turned to mild distress when the glaze turned out to be a little too sticky to handle with ease. 

I persevered nonetheless and it redeemed itself within the first bite. It was packed full of fruit – ‘a sure sign of quality’, I thought to myself. Similarly, the dough was a good consistency. Just chewy enough to savour without being left with a jaw ache. Overall, 4/5, would eat again. – Raven Saunt

Aldi, Bramley Apple

 99p for a pack of four

Rating:

It had a nice fluffy texture and the apples in it were not overpowering. A good, solid hot cross bun. – Joe Middleton 

Aldi, Salted Caramel 

Rating:

£1.09 for a pack of four

The dough for this one was a little bit bitter but the sweetness of the chocolate chips really did make up for it. 

Although I think I might prefer a traditional hot cross bun with currants. If it didn’t have the chocolate chips it would really be a little bit plain as it just wasn’t sweet enough for me. – Terri-Ann Williams

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference, Fruity Hot Cross Buns  

Rating:

£1.25 for pack of four

I found the hot cross bun a little stodgy – it looked good optically but the unusually rounded shape meant it was quite doughy and lacked flavour a bit. However the lack of raisins pleased me and it was still a tasty snack. – Jessica Rach

Asda Free From

Rating:

£2 for a pack of four

‘This hot cross bun has a fruity flavour that almost distracted me from the extraordinarily dry texture. It’s a decent size but would need a generous serving of butter to be satisfying. I’m not a huge hot cross bun person but tasted like something was missing – Latoya Gayle

M&S Sweet Marmalade 

Rating:

 £1.50 for a pack of four

This hot cross bun had a fab consistency and just the right amount of chew. 

The spices and fruity parts blended nicely, and it had a little zest of orange, which didn’t disappear with a little touch of butter – Bryony Jewell

Waitrose Chocolate and Cherry  

Rating:

£1.69 for a pack of four

This wasn’t a bad twist on a hot cross bun – the cherry and chocolate worked well together but it could have done with more of both to really make it stand out. – Faith Ridler