Aussie food critic gives scathing review of Coles' Vegemite and Cheese Hot Cross Bun – do you agree?
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It's almost Easter again, and you know what that means - time to get ready for Coles' unique new flavours in their famous hot cross buns, one of which has been causing quite a stir lately!
Last year, Coles introduced their Vegemite and cheese hot cross buns, made in collaboration with Bega Cheese.
It's an Easter treat quite unlike any other - these buns are infused with Vegemite and parmesan cheese filling, then finished with a topping of indulgent cheese for an afternoon snack that's sure to satisfy the taste buds.
Not content to leave it there, Coles also recommends having these hot cross buns with a good coating of butter and toasted to perfection for the best flavour experience ever.
Coles' general manager of bakery, deli and seafood, Andy Mossop, explained that this recipe was the result of a lot of hard work by the store's bakery team.
'We know our customers love hot cross buns at Easter, and we know they also love Vegemite, so we decided to combine those two icons and create a delicious, savoury spin on our hot cross buns,' he said.
'Our people wanted to have some fun with the flavours, plus give our customers something they had never tried before - but, of course, it still had to taste great.'
However, the unusual combination of flavours for a hot cross bun had the public divided. While some supported the original idea, there were also some vocal dissenters on social media.
TikTok food critic Russ, known for his sarcastic reviews of fast food, saw it as his duty to try the new snack out and give his verdict. Russ gave the Vegemite and cheese-filled buns an initial score of 1 out of 10, saying he doesn't really have 'high hopes' for it.
If you're interested in watching his video review of the snack, we've embedded it here below, but be warned that it does contain some fairly strong language!
But what of the taste? Russ pulls the buns out of their packaging and takes a bite. He comments on the soft texture and finds that they don't hold the distinctive flavour of Vegemite, describing them as 'just like a typical bread roll, but with a yeasty Vegemite taste'.
He is surprisingly generous with his score, though, raising it up to a 10 out of 10! But where has this sudden change of heart come from?
'It's perfect,' says Russ. 'For camping.'
He explains that the quintessential camping snack is cheese and Vegemite on toast. The only thing you'd need to provide a camping-style experience with the bun is some butter and a campfire to toast it over.
During the review, Russ also compares the buns to Coles' other classic cheese and bacon roll, explaining that it is the cheaper 'equivalent of the cheesy-mite scroll'.
The health benefits of Vegemite
The salty spread that is Vegemite has gained worldwide recognition as a delicacy and taken Australia by storm when it comes to breakfast foods. Along with the great taste and nutritional value of the product, Vegemite also offers a variety of health benefits.
Vegemite is high in B vitamins, folic acid and iron - all necessary elements for maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.
According to the Centre for Human Nutrition, the B vitamins found in Vegemite are essential in the production of energy in the body. Folic acid even assists in the formation of your DNA. Vegemite also contains iron which the body needs in order to sustain good health and prevent fatigue.
Vegemite is also a good source of dietary fibre. Fibre is important for digestive health as it helps to bulk up and soften stools, and it can even help regulate your blood sugar levels. By consuming Vegemite, people can get a good source of dietary fibre in their daily diet without having to take additional supplements or health products.
Combined with a balanced diet, Vegemite is an excellent option for those looking to maintain healthy nutritional standards.
However, it is important to be aware of quantity - consuming too much Vegemite can put pressure on the kidneys and lead to excessive salt intake.
Despite the potentially damaging blow to the Coles treat, the retail giant reported that the Vegemite and cheese buns had been a huge hit since their introduction in December 2021.
Coles' Vegemite and cheese hot cross buns are surely one of the most innovative Easter treats to hit the shelves, but whether you like the flavour or not is up to you!
Either way, it's always best to know what you're getting into (especially when it comes to food) before purchasing.
We hope you find the perfect Easter treat that suits your taste buds, regardless of the score of a food critic - and we wish you a very Happy Easter in advance!
Have you tried Coles' new Vegemite and cheese hot cross buns? What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments below!
But if you’re not keen on trying this flavour combination, don’t fret - you can try this alternative take on hot cross buns for Easter.
Triple-chocolate hot cross buns
Ingredients:
Method:
Last year, Coles introduced their Vegemite and cheese hot cross buns, made in collaboration with Bega Cheese.
It's an Easter treat quite unlike any other - these buns are infused with Vegemite and parmesan cheese filling, then finished with a topping of indulgent cheese for an afternoon snack that's sure to satisfy the taste buds.
Not content to leave it there, Coles also recommends having these hot cross buns with a good coating of butter and toasted to perfection for the best flavour experience ever.
Coles' Vegemite and Cheese hot cross buns have customers divided. Credit: Coles.
Coles' general manager of bakery, deli and seafood, Andy Mossop, explained that this recipe was the result of a lot of hard work by the store's bakery team.
'We know our customers love hot cross buns at Easter, and we know they also love Vegemite, so we decided to combine those two icons and create a delicious, savoury spin on our hot cross buns,' he said.
'Our people wanted to have some fun with the flavours, plus give our customers something they had never tried before - but, of course, it still had to taste great.'
However, the unusual combination of flavours for a hot cross bun had the public divided. While some supported the original idea, there were also some vocal dissenters on social media.
TikTok food critic Russ, known for his sarcastic reviews of fast food, saw it as his duty to try the new snack out and give his verdict. Russ gave the Vegemite and cheese-filled buns an initial score of 1 out of 10, saying he doesn't really have 'high hopes' for it.
If you're interested in watching his video review of the snack, we've embedded it here below, but be warned that it does contain some fairly strong language!
But what of the taste? Russ pulls the buns out of their packaging and takes a bite. He comments on the soft texture and finds that they don't hold the distinctive flavour of Vegemite, describing them as 'just like a typical bread roll, but with a yeasty Vegemite taste'.
He is surprisingly generous with his score, though, raising it up to a 10 out of 10! But where has this sudden change of heart come from?
'It's perfect,' says Russ. 'For camping.'
He explains that the quintessential camping snack is cheese and Vegemite on toast. The only thing you'd need to provide a camping-style experience with the bun is some butter and a campfire to toast it over.
During the review, Russ also compares the buns to Coles' other classic cheese and bacon roll, explaining that it is the cheaper 'equivalent of the cheesy-mite scroll'.
The salty spread that is Vegemite has gained worldwide recognition as a delicacy and taken Australia by storm when it comes to breakfast foods. Along with the great taste and nutritional value of the product, Vegemite also offers a variety of health benefits.
Vegemite is high in B vitamins, folic acid and iron - all necessary elements for maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle.
According to the Centre for Human Nutrition, the B vitamins found in Vegemite are essential in the production of energy in the body. Folic acid even assists in the formation of your DNA. Vegemite also contains iron which the body needs in order to sustain good health and prevent fatigue.
Vegemite is also a good source of dietary fibre. Fibre is important for digestive health as it helps to bulk up and soften stools, and it can even help regulate your blood sugar levels. By consuming Vegemite, people can get a good source of dietary fibre in their daily diet without having to take additional supplements or health products.
Combined with a balanced diet, Vegemite is an excellent option for those looking to maintain healthy nutritional standards.
However, it is important to be aware of quantity - consuming too much Vegemite can put pressure on the kidneys and lead to excessive salt intake.
Most people love vegemite, especially when it's served with toast for breakfast. Credit: Facebook/VEGEMITE.
Despite the potentially damaging blow to the Coles treat, the retail giant reported that the Vegemite and cheese buns had been a huge hit since their introduction in December 2021.
Coles' Vegemite and cheese hot cross buns are surely one of the most innovative Easter treats to hit the shelves, but whether you like the flavour or not is up to you!
Either way, it's always best to know what you're getting into (especially when it comes to food) before purchasing.
We hope you find the perfect Easter treat that suits your taste buds, regardless of the score of a food critic - and we wish you a very Happy Easter in advance!
Have you tried Coles' new Vegemite and cheese hot cross buns? What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments below!
But if you’re not keen on trying this flavour combination, don’t fret - you can try this alternative take on hot cross buns for Easter.
Chocolate is also popularly used in hot cross buns. Credit: Pexels/Vie Studio.
Triple-chocolate hot cross buns
Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- 100ml milk, warmed
- 400g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
- 50g cocoa powder
- 50g white chocolate chunks
- 50g milk chocolate chunks
- 7g sachet of fast-action dried yeast
- 50g golden caster sugar
- 100g unsalted butter, cut into cubes and softened
- 40g plain flour
- 1 tbsp caster sugar
- 2 tbsp apricot jam
Method:
- Prepare the dough the day before baking. Whisk the eggs and milk together in a jug. Put the flour, cocoa powder, white and milk chocolate chunks, yeast, sugar and a pinch of salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
- With the motor running on a medium speed, slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until everything is incorporated and comes together into a soft dough, about 2-3 mins. Gradually add the butter, and slowly increase the speed, kneading for 8-10 mins until the dough comes away from the side of the bowl and clings to the hook. Scrape the dough off the hook (it will be very sticky at this point), cover and chill overnight.
- Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide into nine equal pieces, about 100g each. Knead each piece slightly and pull the dough in on itself to create a ball. Arrange the dough balls on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, leaving some room between each. Cover and leave to prove in a warm place for 2 hrs, or until almost doubled in size.
- Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. For the topping, combine the flour, sugar and 3 tbsp water, adding the water 1 tbsp at a time until you have a thick paste. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small nozzle, and pipe crosses onto the buns. Bake for 20 mins until risen. Meanwhile, heat the apricot jam in a small pan over low heat to loosen it, then brush over the warm buns. Leave to cool before serving.
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