Two million of these Easter treats will be sold in the next three weeks

It's that time of the year again, the time when hot cross bun lovers can indulge in the delicious treats to their heart's content.

IGA alone will sell more than two million hot cross buns ahead of the Easter long weekend, which runs from April 18 to 21.

Actually, let's be honest. Many of us have been eating them since just after Christmas, when they first appeared on the shelves of major supermarkets.

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What can we say? They are just the most perfect and delicious breakfast or snack and these days they come in so many incredible flavours so customers need plenty of time to sample them all.

Estella Young from IGA has spoken to 9honey Kitchen about what goes on behind the scenes of the independent retailer's hot cross bun range, saying she expects they may even exceed two million hot cross buns being sold this year.

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This may be due to their new Reese's hot cross bun, which are already a fan-favourite. Although it's the classic hot cross bun that continues to be the most popular.

"We don't have that data on hand this year, but anecdotally we're hearing it's our Traditional flavour because it's a classic taste sensation with fruit and spices at Easter," she said.

"Plus we've heard that our exclusive collaboration with Reese's have been flying off the shelves because of its perfect combination of the chocolate bun and peanut butter pieces."

This year, customers can also find Apple & Cinnamon, Mini Traditional buns, Fruitless buns as well as the Reese's chocolate and peanut butter variety.

She confirmed IGA's hot cross buns arrive at the stores frozen and are defrosted before they are placed on shelves.

"This is the case at most major supermarkets," she said, adding that some IGA stores have bakery facilities and bake them fresh in stores.

Making the most of all the different varieties this year is Cronulla run club StravaSharks.

The group has collaborated with IGA for a special running event this Friday, which will see runners eat three varieties of hot cross buns during their usual six kilometre run.

Jarryd Biviano, founder of StravaSharks, started the running club after he finished playing cricket and was looking to stay active. He outlined what participants can expect this Friday.

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"We will be starting at Peryman Square in Cronulla which is right next to the Esplanade," he said. At the starting point, runners will eat a Reese's hot cross bun.

They'll then head to Oak Park where they'll be offered an Apple & Cinnamon hot cross bun and then finally to Next Door Cafe for a traditional hot cross bun.

"Everyone will get a chance to sample those flavours and sort of burn the calories as they're eating them anyway," he added.

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