They may not be one a penny or two a penny – but budget hot cross buns have come out top in a blind Easter taste test, tying with last year’s winner M&S.
ASDA‘s Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns, costing 35p per bun, triumphed for its appetising appearance and ‘deliciously sweet’ flavour, according to Which?.
The consumer champion recruited 75 hot cross bun enthusiasts to rate 10 supermarket packs with scores ranging from a chart-topping 77 per cent to a disappointing 68 per cent.
While M&S’ Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Bun (costing 63p) remained the top choice, ASDA scooped a rare double crown for Best Buy and Great Value.
Which? said: ‘The majority of testers thought the amount of fruit, texture and flavour were spot on. At £1.40 a pack, they’re the cheapest buns Which? tested this year.’
M&S’ offering also scored 77 per cent, with tasters praising the amount of fruit – however, these were the priciest on the list at £2.50 for a pack of four.
Other high scorers included Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£2 for a pack of four), which scored 75 per cent.
The offering had a soft texture and just the right amount of sweetness, according to tasters. However just under half (45 per cent) of the panel said they would prefer a touch more spice.
Which? recruited 75 hot cross bun enthusiasts to rate 10 supermarket packs (pictured) with scores ranging from a chart-topping 77 per cent to a disappointing 68 per cent
Elsewhere, Tesco’s Finest Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (priced at £2) came in fourth position with a score of 73 per cent.
Which? said tasters commented on the soft texture and good amount of fruit – but wanted it a bit spicier and sweeter.
Iceland Luxury Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.80), Lidl Deluxe Hot Cross Buns (£1.49) and Morrisons The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.80) all scored 71 per cent.
Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns (£1.49) and Co-op Irresistible Richly Fruited Luxury Hot Cross Buns (£2) both scored 70 per cent and were noted to be less sweet than many of the other offerings, according to the Which? panel.
Waitrose’s Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns, priced at £2 per pack, came bottom of the table with a score of just 68 per cent.
The majority of Which?’s tasters said the spices were too weak and nearly half (49 per cent) said the buns were dry. Some also said the buns needed more fruit and weren’t sweet enough.
