Hot cross buns taste test: Find out which flavour reigns supreme!

Gone are the days when a hot cross bun was a simple affair of spiced dough with a few sultanas or currants.

Today, Woolworths and other supermarkets have transformed these Easter staples into various flavours, each vying for the title of the ultimate hot cross bun.



To save you the trouble of navigating this flavorful maze, the 9Honey team have taken on the delicious task of sampling every hot cross bun variety Woolworths offers.

Their taste test was a serious affair, with each bun scrutinised for its taste, texture, and how well it paired with a good old cuppa.


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The 9Honey team tested out all of Woolworths’ hot cross buns to determine which one was the best. Credit: Woolworths


They tasted seven distinct flavours, ranging from the classic to the downright adventurous.

The traditional, fruit-free, chocolate, and apple & cinnamon varieties represented the more conventional choices.

On the other end of the spectrum, we had the Caramilk, Biscoff, and fairy bread flavours, which are sure to intrigue the more daring palates among Aussies.

The 9Honey team, with taste buds at the ready, embarked on this culinary journey to bring you their definitive ranking—from the least to the most scrumptious.



In seventh place, the Woolworths Fruitless Hot Cross Buns 6 Pack ($4) was, as expected, a bit of a letdown for the team.

‘You see, a fruit-free hot cross bun is technically just a loaf of spiced bread, there's nothing particularly special about it,’ they said.

‘Our team tended to have the same opinion: fruit-free hot cross buns are just bland compared to other flavours.’

The Woolworths Traditional Hot Cross Buns Buns 6 Pack ($4), much to the chagrin of purists, landed in sixth place.

‘You see, during our taste test, there seemed to be a general consensus, although traditional hot cross buns are good, they're just not quite as good as the apple & cinnamon,’ they said.



This brings us to the fifth placer—Woolworths Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns 4 Pack ($4).

One member of the 9Honey team said, ‘Delicious, perfect as an all-round winner as it's not too sweet.’

They said these hot cross buns are ‘the perfect stepping stone for those wanting to venture into the world of the wild and wacky but wanting to take the relationship slow’.

‘It's like holding hands with the guy in high school who gets detention for not wearing his hat when outside.’



The Woolworths Fairy Bread Hot Cross Buns 4 Pack ($5), which took fourth place, was the wildcard of the bunch.

Each bun is adorned with a layer of pink icing and comes with a packet of 100s and 1000s for customers to sprinkle on themselves.

The result is a fun, colourful, delicious treat described as 'nostalgic', 'pretty', and 'delectable'.

However, the 9Honey team weren’t that impressed with this flavour.

‘No one really had much to say about this flavour except for the fact they tasted exactly like fairy bread, which poses two questions—is that what you want from a hot cross bun? And why not just eat fairy bread since that's exactly what it tastes like?’ they said.



Now, let's talk about the top three–the crème de la crème of hot cross buns.

‘These three flavours are like the Powerpuff Girls of the culinary world—each brings something completely different to the table, but each is just as important as the other,’ the 9Honey team said.

The Woolworths Indulgent Hot Cross Buns Filled With Biscoff 4 Pack ($5.50) is the Buttercup among the three and takes third place.

This was released in Woolworths supermarkets on 31 January, and Woolworths shoppers and Biscoff fans couldn’t get enough of this treat.

‘You see, the Biscoff flavour is very rich, it’s filled with a thick layer of Biscoff spread,’ they said.

A member of the 9Honey team described it as a ‘true win for those who love Biscoff’, and the team could’ve said it better themselves.



The Woolworths Cadbury Chocolate Hot Cross Buns 6 Pack ($4), our second-place winner, is the Blossom of the bunch.

‘She's a leader, an innovator, the first hot cross bun flavour to ever venture out of the traditional spiced-bun world,’ the 9Honey team said.

‘It's a reliable flavour, it's not too traditional, it's not too eccentric, it's the perfect medium for those still trying to figure where they truly belong in the world.’

And finally, the flavour that took the crown, the Bubbles of the hot cross bun world—the Woolworths Cadbury Caramilk Hot Cross Buns 4 Pack ($5).

‘Our team described it as "divine", saying they could easily eat the whole pack if they were presented the opportunity,’ the team said.

‘Even those who aren't a huge fan of Caramilk said that they loved it, describing it as having more of a caramel taste than white chocolate.’



So, there you have it, our comprehensive guide to Woolworths' hot cross bun flavours.

Whether you're a traditionalist or an adventurer, there's a bun out there that's sure to tickle your fancy.

It's time to embrace the spirit of Easter and find the hot cross bun that speaks to your soul.
Key Takeaways

  • 9Honey conducted a taste test to rank the various flavours of Woolworths' hot cross buns from their favourite to least favourite.
  • The team sampled seven different flavours, with chocolate, Apple & Cinnamon, Caramilk, Biscoff, and fairy bread identified as more adventurous options, while traditional and fruit-free were seen as more conventional.
  • The Caramilk hot cross bun took the top spot for its rich and delightful chocolate caramel flavour, while fruit-free buns came in last for being bland.
  • The rankings guide customers, suggesting whether they prefer traditional or more adventurous choices in their hot cross bun preferences.
Have you tried all hot cross buns flavours? Which one is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below!
 
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I like the Cole’s Easter Arnott s VoVo iced (no longer available unfortunate)and the Cole’s chocolate ones. Will have to try the Woolworth ones
 
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Hot cross buns,hot cross buns,one a penny,two a penny,hot cross buns,give them to your daughters,give them to your sons,one a penny two a penny hot cross buns.anyone remember this song.😊
 
Only ever traditional. The others are never going to be "Hot Cross Buns". Maybe just call the others Easter Buns.
 
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Am I too old? I remember when Easter Buns were sold as "Hot Cross(ed) Buns" at the bakery and yes, they were HOT. Straight from the oven. That's what 'hot" meant. What does it mean today? Nothing! Imagine if you bought a "Hot pie" or "Hot chips" and they were handed to you cold.
 
I like the Cole’s Easter Arnott s VoVo iced (no longer available unfortunate)and the Cole’s chocolate ones. Will have to try the Woolworth ones
Not sure what is meant by Coles Easter Vo Vo iced. If you are referring to Iced Vo Vo biscuits (without Easter), l have eaten these in the past week, purchased by a lady of our mosaic group. Every person commented on the fact they were yummy.
 
I'm sorry but a Hot Cross Bun is and only should be the original and what it symbolises, anything else is merely a yeast bun with whatever you want in or on it but should have the cross removed. By doing this you can have it 365 days of the year without offending he religious connotations.
 
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