The best hot cross buns of 2023 

Price: £1.70 

Average weight: 77g 

Calories per bun (average): 206 kcal 

Fruity and sweet with a good texture. The cinnamon spice really comes through. Our testers’ favourite. 

Rating: 5/5 

Price: £1.85 

Average weight: 68.2g 

Calories per bun (average): 174 kcal

These sounded nice: made with soaked dried fruit, including Chilean flame raisins, and real butter. We couldn’t spot the Chilean flame raisins, but still a good bun. Less fruity than some, but good bread texture. Solid rather than light, but overall a well-balanced bun with a good range of flavours. Note that Waitrose also do a Luxury version, made with a sourdough starter, butter and cream, if you really want to impress your guests.

Rating: 4/5 

Price: £1.25 

Average weight: 85.3g 

Calories per bun (average): 223 kcal 

These divided our testers. There was a good balance between fruit and bread texture, sweet with nice spice notes. But some testers found them dry.  

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £1.90 

Average Weight: 73.3g 

Calories per bun (average): 220 kcal 

Lots of fruit, which was juicy and tasty, in a sweet, sticky bun, which was were somewhat lacking in spice. Our testers agreed that they were rather chewy, but differed on whether this was a good thing. But they agreed that this was a rather lacklustre eating experience overall. 

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £1 

Average weight: 104.5g 

Calories per bun (average): 274 kcal 

These were a surprise as we weren’t expecting much, seeing as they were the cheapest on offer and the largest in size. They weren’t the best we tested, but not bad at all, with noticeable cranberries along with other dried fruit. 

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £1.60 

Average weight – 75.2g 

Calories per bun (average) – 184 kcal 

Not as fruity as some of the others (such as the Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons buns we tested) but still tasty. The spicing was quite subtle. 

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £ 1.19 

Average weight – 72.3g 

Calories per bun (average) – 206 kcal 

These divided our testers – some loved the soft, light texture and the amount of fruit, while others felt they lacked flavour in comparison to others. Not as fruity or as spicy as some. 

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £1.25 

Average weight: 75.8g 

Calories per bun (average): 189 kcal 

Our testers found these a little dry (which was improved by being toasted) and slightly bland, although some spice flavour (especially cloves) comes through. Not the most fruity. 

Rating: 2/5 

Price: £1.39 

Average weight: 76.3g 

Calories per bun (average): 214 kcal 

These didn’t have a lot of fruit or spice, and the buns seemed doughy and dense. The word “luxury” seems like a bit of a stretch in this case. 

Rating: 2/5 

Price: £2 

Average weight: 65g 

Calories per bun (average): 189 kcal  

Not one for traditionalists, these hot cross buns are super squidgy and packed full of flavour. While the caramel flavour isn’t that strong, the hit of banana is, which gives it a lovely fruity overtone (if that’s what you are looking for). It feels less like a hot cross bun and more like a dessert – but is a good option if you don’t like the classic hot cross bun but still want an Easter-themed treat. 

Rating: 4/5 

Price: £1.60 

Average weight: 70g 

Calories per bun (average): 189kcal 

A lot of candied peel – the sultanas and raisins get a bit lost under all the citrus. No noticeable spice. They seem a bit dry inside, but once toasted, you don’t notice and the texture strikes the right balance between light and heavy. Good for citrus lovers but, otherwise, they seem like an unbalanced hot cross bun. 

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £1.50 

Average weight: 70g 

Calories per bun (average): 202 kcal 

More like a chocolate muffin in the shape of a hot cross bun, although not as chocolatey as you might expect from the name. There’s no dried fruit. A bit dry, so much improved by being toasted. Definitely for people who don’t like hot cross buns.  

Rating: 3/5 

Price: £1.60 

Average weight: 65g 

Calories per bun (average): 209 kcal 

A claggy, almost soggy texture, even when lightly toasted, which makes them a bit unappetising. More like a heavy chocolate brioche. The chocolate chips are pleasant enough, if unevenly spread. The salted caramel pieces have a slightly odd flavour. Toasted, they are pleasing enough, in the way that most things are edible with melted chocolate on them. One for children, or people who don’t like hot cross buns.  

Rating: 2/5 

Price: £1.60 

Average weight: 62.4g 

Calories per bun (average): 181 kcal 

They actually contain more currants than blueberries. Still, we found the blueberry flavour overpowering (potentially some blueberry flavouring has been added, as well as “black carrot juice” which gives them a distinctive colour). No noticeable spice – more like a blueberry muffin than anything else. Perhaps if you love blueberry flavour you’d enjoy these.  

Rating: 1/5