Hot cross buns are an Easter essential, but which supermarket hot cross buns are worth buying? From classic and alternative flavours, to gluten-free buns, we’ve got you covered. Plus, this year we wanted to find the best shop-bought Easter cake for you to celebrate with, as well as classic simnel cake for traditionalists and marzipan fans.
How did we test the Easter Awards?
For our Easter Supermarket Awards, 10 supermarkets submitted their best Easter treats across 13 categories. Packaging was completely removed and judges tasted all items blind. Comments and a score out of 10 were submitted for each product in the category via anonymous online judging forms. The entire judging process was overseen by an independent adjudicator.
This year, the team tested more than 100 different products to find favourites in each category. As well as the winners, the Good Food judging panel also awarded ‘highly commended’ status to high-scoring favourites that deserve recognition.
Read on to find out which traditional, flavoured and gluten-free hot cross buns came out on top, as well as our favourite simnel cake for Easter 2025.
Find out the results of our hot cross bun categories below, and visit our Easter Taste Awards page for the rest of our winning categories, including the best supermarket Easter egg categories.
Please note that some of these products are only available to buy in-store and not online.
Best classic hot cross buns
Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Hot Cross Buns
These attractive hot cross buns have a shiny glaze and generous amount of fruit dispersed throughout. The raisins are plump and the dough has good squishy texture.
Available from:
Aldi (£1.49)
Highly commended: ASDA Exceptional 4 Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
These have a great dark look with contrasting cross on top. Slightly less spiced than some we tried, these are light and moist with buttery flavour and packed with fruit.
Available from:
Asda (£1.80)
Best alternative hot cross buns
Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Raspberry White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
One for those with a sweet tooth, these had a pretty pale pink colour, generous size and super soft texture. There was subtle creamy white chocolate and lots of sweetness from the raspberry, too.
Available from:
Aldi (£1.49)
Best chocolate hot cross buns
Winner: Waitrose No.1 Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns
These have an attractive appearance from a glossy top and the generous studding of chocolate chips, giving good chocolate flavour throughout while remaining nicely balanced and not too sweet.
Available from:
Waitrose (£3)
Best free-from hot cross buns
Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Free From Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns
These extremely light buns have a spongy texture with juicy fruit. They would be great toasted.
Available from:
Sainsbury’s (£3)
Best simnel cake
Winner: Waitrose Easter simnel cake
This classic simnel cake has a pretty design and lovely texture. The cake is generously spiced and the marzipan gives good depth of almond flavour.
Available from:
Waitrose (£13)
Best alternative Easter cake
Joint winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Columba Cake
This generously sized cake has an impressive traditional appearance. It has a light sponge with good amount of citrus flavour from large, juicy chunks of candied peel.
Available from:
Sainsbury’s (£10.50)
Joint winner: M&S Easter Colin and Flossy the Highland Cow Cake
For kids (or adults!) who don’t like the dried fruit flavours of a traditional simnel or colomba cake, these chocolate cakes make a crowd-pleasing alternative. The seasonal decoration is a cute design that would be fun for an Easter party and we enjoy the creamy milk chocolate coating.
Available from:
M&S, in-store
For more 2025 winners, including the best supermarket Easter eggs, visit our Easter Taste Awards.
What’s your favourite shop-bought hot cross bun? Let us know in the comments below.
source https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/our-top-hot-cross-bun-picks
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