What has happened to Hot Cross Buns?

[PistachioTiramisu]

I remember when they used to be spicy, fluffy inside and toasted to perfection - you spread with butter and allowed it to melt - the result was a delicious thing! Now all the supermarkets seem to compete with each other for the most outlandish 'flavour' (most of which are horrible), and they are nasty, doughy, stretchy abominations which don't even toast properly! It seems only independent bakeries still make a traditional bun and these are hard to find.

Agree, I read the op and was coming to post about these!

Seconded!

Also Asda “extra special” are very nice. Anything with ‘extra fruit’ or top of the range are generally very good.
M&S used to be divine, but haven’t got a store near me anymore😢

Quite nice, not as doughy as mentioned above.more traditional

Don't like all the random weird flavours either!
Always make my own as they are sooooo much nicer.
(Also use the recipe as toasted teacakes through the year)

I fully expect they’ll bring out a pistachio version soon, this seems to compete with salted caramel which has taken over everything. There might be salted caramel flavoured pasta somewhere!
I agree OP. The only ones I find to be absolutely truly perfect come from a local baker and they only sell them for about 3 weeks of the year around Easter time.

I have just learnt it’s hot cross buns because Jesus died on a cross! How did this not occur to me.

Didn't you learn that at school? I was going to ask up thread what proportion of people actually know what HCBs signify.

My mum will be jealous! Went to Gail’s last wee and saw they do HCBs, she asked for a toasted one but they said the kitchen was already closed (it was around 3pm) so they couldn’t toast it for her. She said she’s going back this week first thing in the morning 🤣

I do not like the bubblegum texture of modern mass produced bakery goods : (
......means I eat less though <shrug>

I love the chocolate ones.... I am the reason for this bun fiasco!!

On the back of this I went and had a Gail’s HCB for lunch. Didn’t know it could be toasted but it was warm and fresh so very nice.

I was shocked at the list of ingredients in Morrisons hot cross buns. Total crap! Husband loves them, will try to make my own.

Hopefully not a very high one then I can feel slightly less stupid.

Are they really bad this year? We usually get the luxury/finest ones from Tesco or CO-OP and have always liked them. I don’t toast mine though, prefer them cold.
I tried making my own and they looked good but were too tough. Must have went wrong somewhere. I might try again this year.

They’re all just claggy dough. If you squeeze one, it condenses into a tiny, damp ball.

And they don’t use real spices, they use flavourings.

Plus so many people don’t like peel, they leave that out, too.

Truly we have become a nation of milksops.

I agree who is buying those disgusting flavours. Certainly know one in my large family. Why do they keep meddling with something that delicious just as it is. I get mine from the local bakers, but only in the run up to Easter.

Probably hot honey flavour too, that seems to be everywhere

I’ve been googling for wholemeal ones and Sainsbury’s always comes up: I wondered why I can’t track them down.

Hot honey bloody Jaffa Cakes. I don't know what the world is coming to.

White chocolate,white chocolate doesn't belong in anything🤮

Another abomination...

@pinesofrome hmmmm. I think I could probably handle those.
Marks and Spencer used to make carrot cake cookies and they were marvellous and then they stopped, the bastards.

The co op is doing a giant brioche HCB and its delicious 😋

Absolutely agree, OP.

Ok but smaller and more expensive than the local Italian deli near me which makes it's own