Easter hot cross buns 2024: Tried and tested supermarket treats, from Aldi to Lidl

Anyway, these days, you’ll pay slightly more for supermarket buns. These are a few of our favourite novelty twists on the genre to try this Easter.

Extremely Caramely Hot Cross Buns £1.85 Marks & Spencer www.marksandspencer.com

M&S sell 11.1 million packs of hot cross buns every year. These plump and shiny raisin-free buns are their newest invention, and they’re really decent, mainly because the little pockets of salted caramel fudge melt when they’re toasted. Our faves.

9/10

St Clement’s Hot Cross Buns £1.60 for four Tesco www.tesco.com

Orange and lemons, said the bells of St Clement’s. Indeed, they’ve really ramped up the peel in these small-ish buns from Tesco. They smell really citrussy, and have plenty of raisins in the mix too. Second place.

8/10

Deluxe Very Berry Hot Cross Buns £1.25 for four Lidl www.lidl.co.uk

These have quite a bready and roll-like texture, which at least means they don’t fall apart in the toaster. There are raisins and orange peel in there, as well as a few blueberries and cranberries, for a fruitier taste and scent. Won't scare the horses.

7/10

Specially Selected Banoffee Hot Cross Buns £1.25 for four Aldi www.aldi.co.uk

Perhaps these are an invention too far. Still, the banana is relatively subtle, and the toffee fudge pieces add a certain je ne sais quoi.

7/10