There’s no better breakfast or afternoon snack than the best hot cross buns on Easter weekend.
Soft, springy and fragrant with warming spices, these fruit-studded buns have long been a staple in the UK. Traditionally, they’re packed with currants and sultanas bearing a cross decoration. Recipes have now come a long way. You’ll find everything from savoury, cheese-flavoured buns to indulgent chocolate recipes. That said, traditionalists needn’t worry – there are still plenty of classic takes that stick closely to the spiced, fruit-filled formula.
To bring some seasonal delight to breakfasts and afternoon teas alike, I’ve taste-tested nearly 20 varieties to find the standout hot cross buns worth buying this year. Read on for the full review and final verdict.
The best hot cross buns for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Gail's six hot cross buns: £14, Gails.com
- Best gluten-free – Waitrose free from hot cross buns: £2.40, Waitrose.com
- Best seeded hot cross buns – Waitrose Leckford fruit and seed hot cross buns: £2, Waitrose.com
- Best savoury – Tesco Finest Cheddar and Red Leicester hot cross buns: £2, Tesco.com
Gail's six hot cross buns
Best: hot cross buns overall
Number in packet: Six
Price per bun: £2.33
Why we love it
- Big on spice
- Delicious texture and taste
- Juicy cranberries and sultanas
Take note
- Expensive
From the counter of the popular high street bakery, Gail’s hot cross buns are hard to beat. In the hand, they are noticeably heavier and darker than supermarket buns, which intrigued me. On the eyes, they are stunning: a crispy shell made from a clove, star anise and nutmeg syrup that’s oh so moreish, finished with an artisanal cross effect.
The dough is heavily, but perfectly, spiced and studded with candied orange peel, which adds a complex citrus hit, while the cranberries and sultanas are juicy. At £2.80 per bun, they’re a splurge but one that brings a ray of sunshine on each bite. The convenience is also unbeatable, as you can have them delivered straight to your door or click and collect, depending on where you live.
Buy now £14, Gails.com
Sainsbury's taste the difference carrot cake hot cross buns
Best: carrot cake hot cross buns
Number in pack: Four
Price per bun: 50p
Why we love it
- Made with a sourdough-starter
- Warming spices
Take note
- Carrot cake twist might not be to everyone's taste
This wholesome carrot cake twist on the hot cross bun is new this year for Sainsbury’s. Out of the packet, they are visibly moist and fluffy, and take on a nice golden brown colour once toasted. Flavour-wise, the dough is livened with a warming spice and moist texture thanks to the roasted carrot shavings, which are subtle on the taste buds.
Running through the dough, there are white chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds, which elevate the taste and texture. Plus the buns are made from a sourdough starter, which give a high-quality feel. Overall, they’re lovely, crowd-pleasing hot cross buns, with a flavour that feels in-keeping with the season.
Buy now £2, Sainsburys.co.uk
Waitrose free from hot cross buns
Best: gluten-free hot cross buns
Number in pack: Four
Price per bun: 60p
Why we love it
- Tasty bun
- Orange-soaked fruit lifts flavour
Take note
- A little dense
The gluten-free range is impressive this year across supermarkets, with many offering inclusive recipes. I could barely notice a difference with the Waitrose free from hot cross buns, our best gluten-free option. They’re plump and well-presented buns with a nice-tasting dough and a well-balanced sweetness.
The sultanas, raisins and currants that run through the bread are orange-soaked, which adds a lovely and subtle bright flavour. As expected, the texture is a little denser than the supermarket’s bun with gluten, but overall, it’s a free-from bun that holds its own.
Buy now £2.4, Waitrose.com
Waitrose Leckford fruit and seed hot cross buns
Best: hot cross buns with seeds
Number in pack: Four
Price per bun: 62.5p
Why we love it
- Varied texture
- Bursting with fruit
Take note
- Not that spiced
This wholesome take on the hot cross bun is made in part from flour from Waitrose’s regeneratively farmed estate, Leckford Farm in Hampshire. Cutting them open, the buns are bursting with the usual sultanas, sweetened dried sliced cranberries, currants, but they also incorporate pumpkin and sunflower seeds, which add a nourishing crunch.
The mixed peel in the dough gives the bun a more complex, adult-tasting sweetness and texture that, toasted, comes alive. While remaining light, the dough has that moreish dense look – plus they taste high quality. Finish with a spread of salted butter to balance the sweetness.
Buy now £2.5, Waitrose.com
M&S luxury hot cross buns
Best: classic hot cross buns
Number in packet: Four
Price per bun: 63p
Why we love it
- Taste is on point
- Orange and lemon peel add a complex flavour
- Juicy sultanas
While the supermarket has released decadent flavours and fillings, these M&S luxury hot cross buns prove you can’t beat the classic. Tasty and aromatic, the dough pulls apart in steamy layers, releasing a warm, spiced aroma.
The buns are studded generously with plump sultanas and Vostizza currants that have been soaked in M&S luxury gold tea, adding a supple texture. The taste is gently brightened with orange and lemon peel, which marry the elements together in a harmony that creates a delightful and elevated classic bun.
Buy now £2.5, Ocado.com
Aldi specially selected luxury fruited hot cross buns
Best: budget hot cross buns
Number in pack: Four
Price per bun: 30p
Why we love it
- Great value
- Packed with fruit
- Delicious, sticky topping
Our best budget hot cross bun hails from Aldi with its specially selected luxury fruited hot cross buns. The buns are thick and puffed up with that nostalgic sticky top. Cutting each in half, they’re visibility packed-full of sultanas and currants, which work to add a lovely sweetness, while the mixed peel adds a deeper, richer flavour.
Despite being named as “luxury”, they come in at just £1.19 (30p each), so are an excellent value choice to stock up on this Easter.
Buy now £1.39, Aldi.co.uk
The Authentic Bread Company organic hot cross buns
Best: organic hot cross buns
Number in pack: Six
Price per bun: 65.8p
Why we love it
- Snack-sized
- Light dough
- Juicy sultanas
Take note
- Slightly pricier than others
Our best organic hot cross buns are hand-made at the Gloucestershire-based bakery The Authentic Bread Company. In the pack, there are six petite buns, which are the perfect snack-sized treat. Striped back, unlike other buns in this guide, organic sultanas run through the dough, which are big, juicy and add a good level of sweetness.
Toasted, the dough becomes light and has a subtle spice taste. A simple bun executed with excellence, the bakery also uses high-quality organic ingredients, traditional long fermentation and handmade methods of production.
Buy now £3.95, Abelandcole.co.uk
M&S extremely lemony curd filled hot cross buns
Best: filled hot cross buns
Number in packet: Four
Price per bun: 75p
Why we love it
- Zingy curd
- Fluffy dough
- A fun twist on a classic
Take note
- Pricier than others
M&S has blessed us with a new addition to its Easter range with its extremely lemony curd filled hot cross buns. Designed to be eaten cold, our best filled hot cross buns offer an indulgent afternoon tea (or decadent breakfast) and a creative spin on the seasonal treat.
Fluffy and brioche-like, these filled hot cross buns are all things lemon with a dough enriched with lemon juice, oil, candied peel – and injected with a lemon curd in its centre.
Tearing the bun open, there’s a decent amount of filling that’s pleasingly zingy and sharp, contrasting the bun. With the flavour, these are quite a far cry from most imaginations of the hot cross bun, but one that’s playful, yummy and fun – especially if you're a fan of the citrus fruit.
Buy now £3, Ocado.com
Tesco finest Cheddar and Red Leicester hot cross buns
Best: savoury hot cross buns
Number in packet: Four
Price per bun: 50p
Why we love it
- Pillowy dough
- Cheddar brings a deep cheesey flavour
Take note
- Not loads of cheese chunks
For those who prefer a savoury spin on Easter Sunday morning, our best savoury hot cross buns might just be your best bet. These buns from Tesco’s finest range combines extra mature Cheddar and Red Leicester cheese into a brioche-like bun.
While the flavouring and taste don’t scream Easter, they are an enjoyable twist on the seasonal staple. While toasting you get a lovely, cheesy aroma from inside the toaster and when ready, they have a complex flavour thanks to the extra mature Cheddar.
While Tesco describes the buns as containing “chunks” of cheese, the cheese pieces are a little scarce and left me wanting more – that’s coming from a big fan of the stuff, though.
Buy now £2, Tesco.com
Co-op irresistible chocolate and salted caramel hot cross buns
Best: salted caramel hot cross buns
Number in packet: Four
Price per bun: 50p
Why we love it
- Tasty flavour
- Oozy fudge pieces
Take note
- Not that chocolately
A season known for decadence – Co-op’s irresistible chocolate and salted caramel hot cross buns pretty much sum it up. While a few supermarkets are offering a salted caramel and chocolate hot cross bun this year, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco (which I also tested), Co op’s option was the tastiest.
The buns are a toasted brown colour with a neat white cross decoration, made from a dough that’s studded with dark chocolate chips and salted caramel fudge pieces.
While the dough isn’t very chocolately, I didn’t mind as it helps to balance the sweetness and richness of the chocolate and caramel. In the toaster, the fudge pieces become oozy and pop on bite, while the dark chocolate adds a depth of flavour. The dough becomes slightly dry after toasting, so I would recommend adding butter for a truly decadent hot cross bun.
Buy now £2, Coop.co.uk
The Newt hot cross buns
Best: farm shop hot cross bun
Number in packet: Four
Price per bun: £1.50
Why we love it
- Made in small batches with high quality ingredients
- Light and tasty dough
Take note
- Very lightly spiced
These enticing hot cross buns are made in the estate bakery of the luxury Somerset hotel, The Newt (which is open to non-staying guests), in small batches. They have a rich golden hue, an attractive glaze that’s sticky to the touch, and are one of the biggest I’ve tested. The dough is slow‑fermented and then folded with spices, vine fruits and candied peel. Before mixing, the fruit is soaked in The Newt’s cyder, which gives the sultanas a really plump texture.
After toasting, the dough doesn’t gasp for butter, unlike some on this guide, but remains light and fluffy with a taste that’s only enhanced by the spread. I would say the amount of fruit is middling; it’s not loaded but there’s just enough for a juicy hit in a bite.
The dough is lightly spiced, but it did leave me slightly yearning for that really aromatic punch we so associate with hot cross bun. I did enjoy that the white cross decoration was unexpectedly crunchy, which I didn't find when tasting other buns. The high quality ingredients and artisan processes are clear in the tasting, but at almost £6 for four, I’d save them for Easter Sunday.
Buy now £5.95, Thenewtinsomerset.com
What are the best hot cross buns?
If you’re looking for this year’s best hot cross buns, there’s no beating Gail’s. Despite the higher price tag, the freshly baked delights really hit the spot. However, from supermarket shelves, it has to be M&S’s luxury classic buns or for a budget pick, Aldi’s specially selected luxury fruited hot cross buns.
If you’re looking to mix things up, the Tesco finest Cheddar and Red Leicester hot cross buns are a wonderful savoury option, but if you want something a bit lighter the Waitrose Leckford fruit and seed hot cross buns are very tasty. Whichever option you go for this Easter, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
How the best hot cross buns were tested
For a few weeks, my London flat became a bakery with the continuous wafts of fresh hot cross buns from my toaster. Toasting and buttering as you normally would eat them, I tested a range of supermarket and artisanal buns looking for a great-tasting dough, balanced flavour and value for money. I was after buns that toasted well on the outside but stayed fluffy and moist on the inside, while also considering fillings and how well they kept in the cupboard after a few days.
I tested a huge selection of buns, from filled to flavoured, as well as the classic, of course, to curate this guide. While testing, I paid attention to the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer and production journalist at IndyBest. A self-confessed foodie, she is on top of the best Easter food and drink launches this year, having found the best Easter eggs, reviewed the M&S filled hot cross buns, and tackled Hotel Chocolat’s £90 ostrich egg. Alice has previously covered food and drink launches and reviews for IndyBest including the best supermarket pizza, and best creatine supplements as well as contributed to shopping sections from interiors to beauty. When it comes to hot cross buns, she weighed up quality against value for money to curate her guide.
From supplements and health foods to supermarket buys like olive oil and wine, the wider IndyBest team have hand-picked the best of the best. As we test everything in real-life settings, we’ll only recommend something truly worth your money.
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