The Great Hot Cross Bun Experiment: Testing 25 Novelty Flavors
Hot cross buns, the traditional Easter treat historically consumed on Good Friday, now appear on supermarket shelves as early as January. What began as spiced yeast buns packed with dried fruit has evolved into an explosion of novelty flavors, from red velvet to tiramisu, with only the flour cross remaining as a common denominator.
The Chocolate Category: From Decadent to Disastrous
Every major UK supermarket now offers chocolate-based hot cross buns, responding to consumer demand. Charles Banks, managing director of food trends agency thefoodpeople, explains this phenomenon: "Chocolate hot cross buns are designed for people who don't like dried fruit. From a retailer's perspective, offering both traditional and novelty varieties increases purchase weight."
Waitrose No 1 Belgian chocolate hot cross buns (£2 for two) earned praise for their sophisticated dark-chocolate flavor, though they essentially tasted like toasted chocolate muffins. Waitrose milk chocolate & fudge hot cross buns (£2 for four) emerged as the chocolate category winner with proper chocolatey flavor and delicate milky sweetness.
However, Tesco Finest triple chocolate hot cross buns (£2 for four) created a sticky mess when toasted, while Iceland Luxury extremely chocolatey hot cross buns (£1.80 for four) earned the description "disgusting" for their dry texture and synthetic cocoa flavor.
Beyond Chocolate: Citrus, Cheese, and Berry Experiments
The novelty bun revolution extends far beyond chocolate. M&S red velvet filled hot cross buns (£3.50 for four), while clearly designed for social media appeal, surprised with subtle chocolate flavor despite their garish appearance. Food reviewer Becca Stock notes: "Every year they come out with bigger and wackier flavors. Shops want to create items that might get talked about online."
Citrus-forward varieties like Waitrose white chocolate & lemon hot cross buns (£2 for four) and Asda Exceptional lemon & white chocolate hot cross buns (£1.77 for four) offered mixed results, with the latter providing better white chocolate integration.
The cheese category presented interesting savory options. M&S extremely cheesy cheddar and red leicester hot cross buns (£2.90 for four) resembled cheese scones more than traditional buns but proved pleasantly edible. Meanwhile, Aldi Mighty cheesy hot cross buns (85p for four) disappointed with artificial-cheese flavor dominating the small, dry buns.
Surprising Winners and Absolute Failures
Two products tied for the highest score in the entire taste test. M&S granny smith apple hot cross buns (£2.90 for four) combined traditional spices and sultanas with generous chunks of tangy green apple, earning a 9/10 rating for being "absolutely delicious."
Equally impressive, Tesco Finest brown butter and chai tea hot cross buns (£2.25 for two) successfully riffed on traditional flavors by incorporating masala chai spices and black tea infusion, creating a more bitter but sophisticated alternative to classic buns.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, M&S tiramisu hot cross buns (£2.90 for four) earned the lowest possible score for their dry, bitter flavor reminiscent of cheap instant coffee. Banks identifies this as part of the "dessertification" trend in food and drink, where traditional items are transformed into dessert-like creations.
The Verdict on Novelty Buns
After testing 25 non-traditional hot cross buns alongside a control traditional bun, several patterns emerged. Most novelty buns suffer from excessive sweetness, often sacrificing the warm spices that define traditional hot cross buns. Price doesn't necessarily correlate with quality, with some budget options outperforming premium products.
Stock's advice for enjoying novelty buns proves crucial: "For me, they sit in different categories. You have to view them as separate products rather than variations on traditional hot cross buns."
The experiment revealed that while some novelty creations succeed brilliantly, others fail spectacularly. The best innovations respect the spirit of traditional hot cross buns while adding thoughtful flavor combinations, while the worst seem designed purely for social media appeal without regard for actual taste.
