We tried & tested the best supermarket hot cross buns and there’s one clear winner

The best in name and the best in nature, Morrisons The Best Hot Cross Buns are big, fluffy and packed full of flavour. The ratio of spice to fruit was perfect, they were all even in size and the cross on the top was neat! I would say that these taste better toasted with lots of butter, rather than right out of the packet.

These M&S Luxury Hot Cross Buns were described by our testers as being rich and aromatic, packed full of juicy fruits, mixed peel and a unique blend of warming spices. Enriched with butter and egg, and infused with a "unique spice blend".
We were drawn to this because it looked loaded with fruit. It was soft, moist, fruity and full of flavour. Oozing with flavour but light, and deliciously squidgy. They were a very close 2nd!

These Waitrose Mini Hot Cross Buns were a real crowd-pleaser and certainly met our expectations! Perfectly sized for a quick snack, they were soft, fluffy, and bursting with the classic flavours of cinnamon and mixed fruit.

The glaze on top added a lovely touch of sweetness without being overpowering. Whether enjoyed on their own or paired with a cup of tea, these mini buns are a delicious treat. The piping is uneven, but other than that, they are a great option for those looking for something a little more indulgent without the commitment of a full-sized bun!

Moist and packed full of flavour, these Co-op hot cross buns were indeed rich! They were generously sized, with the right amount of spice and toasted nicely. However, upon biting into them, we did notice a few hard pieces of zesty citrus peel lurking around.

If you're not a fan of warming spices such as cinnamon, but love raisins, you will enjoy these Tesco Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns. They were evenly shaped and sized, offering a nice, uniform bite. Personally, I would've liked the dough to have been more flavourful, but I was pleased to see plenty of fruit, making them a great choice for those who prefer a fruit-forward bun.

Sainsbury's Fruity Hot Cross Buns were smaller than many of the other options and not very uniform, but at just £1.50 (with a Nectar card), they were one of the most affordable. They were delightfully moist, thanks to the plump, pre-soaked raisins. However, much like others, they lacked a strong spice profile, which might be a downside for those who prefer a more traditional, spiced bun.

Generously sized and priced, ALDI makes wonderful hot cross buns that can be popped into the toaster for a quick snack or eaten right out of the packet. They were slightly disappointed by the fruit's texture, but the buns themselves were nice and soft.

If you're steering clear of traditional hot cross buns, can I tempt you with these Rhubarb & Custard offerings from ALDI? The candied rhubarb pieces add a tart, slightly tangy contrast to the sweet custard-like dough and white chocolate chips, creating a lovely balance that doesn’t overwhelm the palate. Delicious!

Just to note, the butter may go a slight pink colour once it melts into the bun Also, my pack had large pieces of rhubarb that weren't evenly distributed - which may be a bit soggy when eaten from the packet - so it may be best to grill them rather than toast them.

These ALDI hot cross buns are only available to buy in-store

While I didn't taste much white chocolate in ASDA's Raspberry & White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns, the raspberry certainly packs a punch. They're fruity, and when you cut them open, they're pink inside. I recommend pairing them with some jam.

I imagine this is what you get if you cross a doughnut with a hot cross bun. Super zesty and packed full of lemon curd, lemon oil and candied Sicilian lemon, these M&S Lemon Curd Filled Hot Cross Buns certainly pack a punch!

They're ready to eat, but if you're opting for toasted, you may want to put them under the grill or in the air fryer for a minute or two.

These fruited hot cross buns are made with sultanas, white chocolate chunks, sourdough, sweetened dried sliced cranberries, sweetened dried blueberries, currants and sugar-infused dried strawberries.

We thought these buns looked so pretty and different but the strawberry notes do make it overly sweet and there's only two in a packet. They are quite dense and would be good with a cream filling, and served as a treat for 3pm slump. But we'd say they're a bit too sweet for breakfast.

As a lover of almonds and Bakewells, I was excited to try these Cherry Bakewell Hot Cross Buns from the ASDA Exceptional range. Soft and moist, they hit the spot texture-wise. Now for the taste...

I was apprehensive about the almond flavour, as sometimes it can be synthetic, but it wasn't too bad; however, I would've preferred more jam (yes, I know I can add this after toasting) and a less chewy glacier cherry filling, although there were lots of them, which was good.

These buns are described as smooth and sweet, rich dark chocolate buns loaded with irresistible dark and milk chocolate chips, without being overly sweet or sickly. M&S recommend filling these Extremely Chocolatey Hot Cross Buns with berries and cream, but we reckon they'll taste just as good with a smattering of butter!

Our testers really loved these. They are packed with chocolate. You don’t need any additions to this bun in way of toppings as they are so moist and have a generous amount of chocolate chips. These are a real treat – good enough to be a dessert!

Think hot cross buns mixed with ice cream! These buns combine Neapolitan flavour with milk chocolate chips, strawberry flavoured jelly fruit pieces, dried cream and a chocolate flavoured cross. We weren't sure about these at first, especially the bright pink colouring. Surprisingly they were light, fluffy with the right amount of sweetness – just subtle! We loved the chocolate flavoured cross. Overall, it was very ‘yummy’!

Those with a sweet tooth will want to get their chops around these Tesco Finest Caramel and Chocolate Hot Cross Buns. Oozing with toffee pieces and dark chocolate chunks, they're sticky and indulgent - just don't leave them for too long in your toaster!

Ella Croft, our SEO Content Strategist recommends the M&S Bramley Apple Hot Cross Buns. "These are my favourite hot cross buns I've ever tried. I've been buying them every year for several years now and don't buy any others." 
 
These are a great option for those who are also not a big fan of the traditional hot cross bun." "I'm not the biggest fan of currants, the flavour is a bit too sharp for me, and these hot cross buns don't have them - they just have sultanas and apple pieces as the fruit, which I love as they're both so sweet and juicy.
 
Just like me, she found them to be very succulent. "The dough is very moist, not dry at all like some other hot cross buns are. They're also really nicely spiced, they smell divine when they're being toasted. I usually love them with butter and sometimes chocolate spread."

Tesco Finest Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns have a lovely, light fruitiness to them, which is complimented with the sultanas. I think they could have done with a bit more cinnamon for that warming kick you need from a hot cross bun, but overall, they were pretty tasty.

Waitrose Easter Apple and Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns have a strong flavour profile and are made with scrummy Bramley apples. They are quite bready, but the compote adds some wetness, making them palatable. If I were to be picky, there wasn't enough sultanas for my liking.

If you're a fan of warmly spiced treats, Lidl’s Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns are a delightful option to pick up this season! Upon unwrapping the pack, you’re immediately greeted with the comforting aroma of cinnamon, with a subtle sweetness from the apple. They are moist, heavy but soft, golden-brown buns are perfectly baked, with a cross on top.

These are only available to buy in-store

M&S have also catered toward a more savoury palate with their Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns. Crammed full of extra mature Barber's farmhouse Cheddar and smooth Red Leicester, it's a delicious vessel for a bacon and egg breakfast sandwich.

I can see where ALDI were going with these Mighty Cheesy Hot Cross Buns, but sadly, they didn't quite hit the spot. I love Marmite, but the Mighty Marmite-like flavour made the bread very salty and bitter, with little cheese flavour.

However, the flavour improved with the addition of butter and extra Mighty Yeast Extract spread - perhaps some melted cheese would elevate it.

These hot cross buns are only available to buy in-store