Every year at this time…

[AtomicBlondeRose]

…I buy a packet of hot cross buns and am reminded anew that I LOVE hot cross buns. They’re honestly one of the nicest foods in the world.

And I know you can buy them all year round but I really like to just have them at the right season. It makes the rediscovery so much nicer.

I’ve never had a hot cross bun, but as a coeliac I just discovered the marks and Spencer iced spiced buns, which are like hot cross buns with icing on. Yum!! I can’t wait to get some more!

Friggin love hot cross buns 😋 I never toast them though. I always have them soft out the packet.

Iced buns are also absolutely amazing, but I feel like they’re more occasional indulgences. The advantage of a hot cross bun is that you can legitimately eat them for breakfast, as a snack or even a pudding. Truly versatile.

I promise I’m not sponsored by the hot cross marketing board, but I happily would be.

Couldn’t agree with you more. I’m a pretty good baker and have tried several recipes with no success. Paul Hollywood’s recipe was particularly awful. So I buy them and I adore them. Squidgy, fruity, splendid. But just the regular fruit ones, none of this chocolate or cheese and marmite nonsense.

I like the traditional ones too. Nothing fancy. Try to limit them, but they are so delicious, it's hard. 🐷

@AnneLovesGilbert yes, why are they so hard to bake? I’ve baked plenty of cakes and bread but hot cross buns are always like leaden little lumps. Luckily every year there’s new varieties to try. I like any fruity sort but I’ve never tried the chocolate/salted caramel styles. That’s not a hot cross bun to me. The apple ones are good though.

I’ve made hot cross buns a few times. They’re easy to burn, as far as I recall, but home made are definitely much nicer than shop bought. I think I generally base mine on Felicity Cloake’s version but adapt fruit content, spicing etc to our taste. I think I usually do the overnight prove in the fridge thing unless I can’t fit the bowl in or have left it too late.

Love them. They have to be soft and chewy and almost feel like they were taken out of the oven just a bit too soon. Spiced fruit only, have tried other flavors but original is best. I have them cold with butter. Yum.

Only original ones here, can't wait for April, still holding out.

I tried so many times to bake them, I can do lots of yeast based products but these, I gave up on making right.

It's not the right season! Not until Good Friday!

I can confirm that Asda GF hot cross buns are delicious!