The best supermarket hot cross bun of 2026 has been crowned
Australia's best hot cross bun of 2026 has been crowned, and a fun flavour collaboration has taken out the top spot.
Woolworths' Bakery Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Made With Cadbury Milk Chocolate Chips has been named as the best hot cross bun of the year, scoring a 95 per cent rating by an expert panel hosted by consumer group Choice.
The panel tasted hot cross buns from Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Aldi and Bakers Delight, including traditional fruit, chocolate and gluten-free.
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Woolies Bakery's Chocolate Hot Cross Buns have been named the best supermarket option for 2026. Nine/Woolworths
Each bun was taste-tested both fresh and toasted.
The judges not only gave the Woolies/Cadbury collaboration a top score, but named it most improved after Woolworths was beaten by Coles' chocolate hot cross bun in 2025.
"Woolworths chocolate buns have shown a significant improvement compared to last year's result, when they scored just 68 per cent," a Choice spokesperson said.
"Last year our judges said that although the Woolworths bun looked the part with a good chocolate aroma, the flavour was lacking."
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The judges not only gave the Woolies/Cadbury collab a top score, they also named it most improved. Nine/Woolworths
One judge praised the hot cross bun for its balance of flavours, saying it "looks like it'll be super sweet and decadent but it isn't".
Another said, "Visually it looks great, the expectation is big chocolate flavour but you don't get it".
Clearly, the subtlety works.
The judges also mentioned a "great chocolate aroma with a good glaze" and when toasted "melted chocolate was evident".
"The texture was light and the flavour was excellent. Wow, a great product," another added.
Woolworths' Bakery Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Made With Cadbury Milk Chocolate Chips cost $4.40 for a pack of six.
The second best hot cross bun on the list is the Coles Finest Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns, which scored an 85 per cent expert rating.
This hot cross bun has scored top ratings consistently over the years, with judges loving the even distribution of fruit and the fact the "mixed peel is evident".
The second best hot cross bun on the list is the Coles Finest Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns. Nine/Coles
"Appearance is typical of a hot cross bun. When cut there's a good amount of fruit including peel," one judge commented.
"The texture is firm yet it has good eating quality, another said.
One judge loved the "fruit and glaze" and "lots of spice you can taste".
"This is a great hot cross bun. Would get this for my home," added another.
The third best hot cross bun of 2026 is Woolworths' Free From Gluten Hot Cross Buns. Nine/Woolworths
Coles Finest Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns cost $5.50 for a pack of four.
The third best hot cross bun of 2026 is Woolworths' Free From Gluten Hot Cross Buns which scored 77 per cent.
One judge described them as having a "good texture that holds together well" but added that it was "a little crumbly on eating".
"Aroma is typical of a gluten free product but toasting gets rid of it," another said.
Coles Bakery Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns came in at fourth. Nine/Coles
"Good fruit quantity and evenly distributed," one judge said. Another added that it is a "very good gluten-free product".
Coles Bakery Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns made it to fourth on the list with a 75 per cent expert rating.
Bakers Delight made it to fifth on the list with their Bakers Delight Handmade Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns.
Sixth on the list are Woolworths Bakery Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Buns with a 73 per cent rating.
Bakers Delight made it to fifth on the list with their Handmade Choc Chip Hot Cross Buns. Bakers Delight
In seventh position is Woolworths Free From Gluten Choc Hot Cross Buns with a rating of 70 per cent.
Eighth on the list is Coles Bakery Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Buns, rating at 68 per cent.
Aldi makes an appearance at ninth with their Aldi Bakers Life Chocolate Hot Cross Buns with Milk Chocolate Chips, with a 67 per cent rating.
Coles I'm Free From Gluten Fruit Hot Cross Buns are 10th on the list with, also with a 67 per cent rating.
Aldi Bakers Life Spiced Fruit Buns have come in at 11th in the ranking. Nine/Coles
Aldi returns in 11th place with the Aldi Bakers Life Spiced Fruit Buns, which earned a 63 per cent rating from the judges, and Aldi Bakers Life Gluten Free Fruit Hot Cross Buns took out 12th spot, also with 63 per cent.
IGA's Community Co Traditional Easter Buns placed 13th with a 62 per cent judges rating.
Aldi Bakers Life Gluten Free Chocolate Hot Cross Buns landed at 14th with a 58 per cent rating, and in 15th spot was Bakers Delight Handmade Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Buns
The Choice judges shared their advice for choosing a good hot cross bun, saying Aussie shoppers should look out for an even distribution of fruit or chocolate pieces.
IGA's Community Co Traditional Easter Buns placed 13th with a 62 per cent judges rating. Getty
Buns should be of a decent shape and size, feel light and fluffy to touch, and have a lovely aroma.
Coles and Woolworths are expected to sell approximately 70 million hot cross buns each this Easter season, and Bakers Delight is expected to sell 18 million hot cross buns from January and April.
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