Best hot cross buns for Easter 2026

A toasted hot cross bun, slathered in butter and enjoyed with tea or coffee, is a classic Easter staple. 

But which buns taste best? To find out which supermarket makes the best buns, we tested more than 400 individual buns (yes, it was as delicious as you can imagine) and asked a panel of 75 people to blind-taste and rate 10 supermarket options, including buns from Aldi, Lidl and Sainsbury’s.

Both Asda and M&S were top of the table this year and their buns were a big hit with our tasters. Asda is both a Best Buy and Great Value.

See how all the supermarkets fared below, and what you need to know about sugar levels, alternative flavours and more.

Best hot cross buns

If you're after superb flavour for less, you're in luck. Asda was the joint top-scorer, winning over our panel with its great texture and good amount of fruit, earning both a Best Buy and a Great Value. M&S also matched Asda in score, but missed out on the Great Value due to its higher price point.  

Best Buy and Great Value: Asda Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns - 77%

£1.40 per pack of four (35p per bun)

These fruity hot cross buns from Asda were rated a superb 77%. 

The buns had the most appetising appearance of the buns tested, were deliciously sweet, and most of our testers thought the texture, flavour and amount of fruit were spot on.

At £1.40 a pack, they're the cheapest buns we tested this year, also earning a Great Value badge. With great flavour at a great price, it's one to include in your Easter spread. 

Available from Asda in-store and online. 

Best Buy: M&S Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns - 77%

£2.50 per pack of four (63p per bun)

The majority of our tasters thought these hot cross buns were deliciously sweet and spiced, and our panel praised the amount of fruit.

These buns were also the priciest on the list, at £2.50 for a pack of four, but are worth it for the delicious recipe filled with fruit and spice. 

Available in-store and online at Ocado.

M&S also sells mini hot cross buns (£2.50 for nine) if you're looking for a lighter treat. We haven't taste-tested these, but they are from the same range.

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns - 75%

£2 per pack of four (50p per bun)

These tasty Sainsbury's buns impressed our panel, earning a score just shy of the top.

The soft texture was spot on, and they had just the right amount of sweetness, but about half the panel said they would prefer a touch more spice.

Even though these buns are third overall, their high score means they are still a fantastic option if you don't have an Asda or M&S near you.

Available from Sainsbury's.

Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns - 73%

£2 per pack of four (50p per bun)

Tesco's hot cross buns finished fourth. 

Most tasters enjoyed the soft texture and good amount of fruit, but around a third of our panel felt the buns could be a bit spicier and a tad sweeter.

Available from Tesco. 

Tesco also sells mini hot cross buns (£2 for nine). We haven't taste-tested these but they are the same range.

Looking for more food and drink recommendations? See our pick of the best chocolate hazelnut spread, the best instant coffee and the best baked beans

How other supermarket hot cross buns compare

Most of the other supermarket hot cross buns scored similarly to each other, with most scoring at least 70%. However, some marks were lost for being too dry and not spicy enough. Here's what our tasters thought of the rest:

• Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns - 71%. These were rated fairly well on the amount of fruit and texture. However, a third of tasters thought the spices were too strong and too dry. Available from Iceland.
• Lidl Deluxe Hot Cross Buns - 71%. The testers enjoyed the sweetness and texture of these buns. Although the majority of the tasters felt the buns were too dry and they were split when it came to flavour - about half of the panel felt that they could've been spicier. Available in-store from Lidl.
• Morrisons The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns - 71%. These buns scored well on texture, sweetness and amount of fruit. However, the buns could've had a bit more flavour from the spices and almost half thought they were too dry. Available from Morrisons.
• Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns - 70%.  These buns were also a bit lacking in the spice department, and they were among the lowest in sweetness. But they had a decent amount of fruit, so if you prefer a less-sweet bun with milder spices, you'll enjoy these. Available in-store from Aldi.
• Co-op Irresistible Richly Fruited Luxury Hot Cross Buns - 70%. Around half of the panel felt the buns needed more spice and sweetness, and that they were a tad too dry. Co-op.
• Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns - 68%. The majority of our tasters said the spices were too weak, and half said the buns were dry. The buns needed more fruit and weren't sweet enough. Available from Waitrose.

Best cheap supermarket food and drink – find out which cheaper own labels have beaten the big brands in our blind-taste tests

Full results from our hot cross bun taste test

How we tested hot cross buns

All the hot cross buns were blind-tasted and rated by a panel of 75 people in February 2026 at our specialist test lab.

The panel were regular buyers of hot cross buns, and they broadly represented the demographic profile of adults in the UK (age range, gender split and more). 

The buns were toasted according to the pack instructions, and the taste test was blind so our testers didn’t know which brand they were trying. They tasted the hot cross buns in a fully rotated order to avoid any bias. Each tester had a private tasting booth, so they couldn’t discuss what they were tasting or be influenced by others.

The tasters rated the flavour, aroma, appearance and texture of each hot cross bun, and told us what they liked and disliked. 

The overall score was based on:

• 50% flavour
• 20% aroma
• 20% appearance
• 10% texture.

These weightings are based on what people ranked as the most important attributes when tasting hot cross buns. All our results are checked and analysed by our in-house statistical team.

Find out more about our editorial independence policy and see behind the scenes of our taste tests to understand more about how we work

How healthy are hot cross buns?

The fruit content and glazed top mean that hot cross buns can have quite high sugar levels, especially flavoured varieties – some will wipe out nearly a quarter of the adult daily recommended allowance of sugar in one go.

Iceland's hot cross buns have the highest sugar content, at just over 27g per bun, while Co-op has the lowest. Tesco's buns were similarly low in sugar content and scored pretty well for taste.

Many supermarkets also do mini versions of hot cross buns if you want to scale down your portion size and calories while enjoying a seasonal treat.

How to serve hot cross buns

Most standard hot cross buns can be either heated under the grill or popped in a toaster.

However, if you're buying flavoured buns, it's worth checking the instructions, as toasting them could pose a potential fire risk. If the bun has added ingredients, such as chocolate chips or a curd/cream filling, they may stick to the toaster wires, burn and potentially catch fire. Using the grill or an air fryer is generally a safer option (and will keep your toaster nice and clean). Also, because hot cross buns have a higher sugar content, they are more likely to toast quickly, so keep an eye on them to avoid a burnt bun. 

For more on why squeezing a hot cross bun into your toaster may not be a great idea, head to our article on why toasting your hot cross bun could actually be a fire hazard.

Hot cross buns are traditionally served warm with butter or jam, and adding a dollop of clotted cream makes for an indulgent treat. 

Flavoured hot cross buns

If a standard spiced bun doesn’t float your boat, there are plenty of alternative flavours to try, from apple and cinnamon to white chocolate and lemon. The more adventurous might be intrigued by savoury options such as M&S's Extremely Cheesy Cheddar and Red Leicester Hot Cross Buns (which are delicious with a few rashers of bacon).

Most supermarkets offer a couple of alternative versions, with Sainsbury's and Tesco having the widest selection. Here's an overview:

• Asda hot cross buns (cherry bakewell, salted caramel and chocolate, apple and cinnamon, lemon and white chocolate)
• M&S hot cross buns (red velvet, lemon curd, chocolate, cheese, tiramisu, apple and millionaire's mini hot cross buns) – also available from Ocado
• Morrisons hot cross buns (apple and cinnamon, lemon drizzle)
• Sainsbury's hot cross buns (apple and cinnamon, chocolate and cherry, chocolate and salted caramel, lemon and white chocolate, marmalade, carrot cake, triple berry, rhubarb and ginger)
• Tesco hot cross buns (apple and cinnamon, chocolate orange, St Clements, Cheddar and red Leicester, salted caramel and chocolate, strawberries and clotted cream, triple chocolate, Neapolitan, brown butter and chai tea, caramelised biscuit)
• Waitrose hot cross buns (apple and cinnamon, St Clements, white chocolate and lemon, milk chocolate and fudge, fruit and seed, Belgian chocolate, berry blush)

Are hot cross buns vegan?

Buns aren't typically labelled as vegan, so you'll need to carefully check the ingredients.

While some hot cross buns don't list animal products, others contain milk, butter and egg. There is a wide variety of 'free from' options available, so you won't miss out this Easter if you have specific dietary requirements.

Price and availability correct as of 3 March 2026