With Easter just around the corner supermarkets and bakeries are stocked to the rafters with hot cross buns.
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However, the historical origins of the yeasty fruit bun are unclear. The decorative cross, made of icing or pastry dough, is believed to represent the crucifixion of Jesus.
In the late 16th century Queen Elizabeth forbade the sale of hot cross buns at any time other than burials, Good Friday and Christmas, as they were considered too special for mundane days.
Woolworths says it sold more than 1.8 million individual hot cross buns the first week they were on sale in 2021.
Here's where to find the best hot cross buns in Australia:
Australia's best hot cross bun
Banana Boogie bakery in Belair, South Australia took home first and second prize for best hot cross bun at the 2023 Baking Association of Australia's annual Victorian baking show.
The buns are judged on criteria including volume, colour, fruit to dough ratio, flavour and moistness of fruit.
Best supermarket hot cross buns
In their annual survey of hot cross buns, CHOICE recruited professional culinary judges to assess the options available in national supermarkets, Bakers Delight and Costco.
The experts blind taste tested each hot cross bun, and rated the buns by assessing flavour, appearance, aroma, and texture.
Woolworths Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Buns took out first place. They are vegan friendly with no preservatives. Coming in at $4 for a six pack, these are budget friendly as well as delicious.
![Hot cross bun. Picture by Karleen Minney. Hot cross bun. Picture by Karleen Minney.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/190143465/aaec3875-a994-4ba6-8e6b-96fc0e98362f.jpg/r0_218_4256_2611_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Coles traditional fruit hot cross buns took second place in the CHOICE survey, with Woolworths luxurious richly fruited hot cross buns taking out third place at $5 for a pack of four.
Of the chocolate hot cross buns sampled in that review, Aldi bakers life chocolate hot cross buns scored highest for toasted, freshness, price, and health rating. The experts said this chocolate bun was better when toasted.
Community Co chocolate hot cross buns and Coles chocolate hot cross buns were the runners up.
The gluten free hot cross buns scored poorly compared with regular versions but the best GF option was Coles' 'I'm free from gluten wheat and dairy' chocolate hot cross buns.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Regional stand outs
![Golden Nugget Bakery owners Alicia and Wal Matthews with their award-winning hot cross buns in 2021. Picture by Adam Trafford. Golden Nugget Bakery owners Alicia and Wal Matthews with their award-winning hot cross buns in 2021. Picture by Adam Trafford.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/190143465/f201efc8-d8fc-48b8-acb4-eb0390ade789.PNG/r0_25_1028_603_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In Ballarat, Victoria, the Golden Nugget Bakery placed second in Australia's best hot cross bun at the Victorian Baking Show in 2021 and are baking buns fresh every day up to Easter Sunday.
Bendigo's The Good Loaf bakery won Australia's best hot cross buns at the Australian Bakery Championships in 2018 and 2019 and remain a local favourite.
In the Riverina region of NSW, family business O'Brien's Wagga Hot Bake has been serving up hot cross buns for more than 40 years. The bakery only makes traditional hot cross buns.