With Easter on the horizon, Britons are racing to supermarkets to snap up this year's hot cross bun offerings.
In a blind taste test, GB News tried the seasonal snack from several major retailers, with a team of passionate hot cross bun fans declaring 2025's best bun.
Tasting offerings from Tesco, M&S, Waitrose, Lidl, Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Morrisons and Sainsbury's, hot cross bun enthusiasts confirmed Waitrose Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns as the tastiest treat.
While all the buns were enjoyable, Waitrose, M&S, and Asda came out on top. The team toasted each hot cross bun and melted a generous slathering of butter onto the seasonal snack.
Waitrose Easter Four Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns ranked in first place
Waitrose
Waitrose Easter Four Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns (£1.95) - 4.5/5
Scoring a whopping 4.5/5, Waitrose's Easter Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns were a delight to the team. The treats had a "fruity and juicy taste" and were the largest buns tried by the hot cross bun lovers.
The GB News team felt the buns were very filling and could not find many faults with the Easter treat.
M&S Four Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns (£2) - 4.3/5
M&S's Four Luxury Fruited Hot Cross Buns secured second place, with a score of 4.3/5. The butter melted beautifully into the buns, making for a "nice texture".
M&S's hot cross buns narrowly missed the top spot but should still be a "go-to" option for Britons this spring.
Asda Exceptional Four Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.43) - 4/5
Scoring a well-respected 4/5, Asda's Exceptional Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns were described by the team as a "delight", with lots of "flavour".
One reviewer said: "The buns are not as fruity but very delicate. The butter melted beautifully into them."
Tesco's Finest Four Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£1.80) - 3.7/5
Just missing out on the top three were Tesco's Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns, which scored 3.7/5.
The "tasty" buns had a generous ratio of raisins to bun and left a "fruity aftertaste" for one GB News taster.
Lidl Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns (£1.25) - 3.5/5
Lidl's Deluxe Luxury Hot Cross Buns scored a solid 3.5/5, with the team agreeing that they were best served with butter.
The Easter treat was very thick and boasted a generous amount of raisins - perfect for Britons who are after a filling treat. At just £1.25, the buns were one of the cheapest options from the selection.
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The buns were toasted with a spread of butter
GB News
Sainsbury's Free From Gluten Four Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns (£3) - 3.5/5
Sainsbury's Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns were awarded a score of 3.5/5. The "very fruity" buns will not disappoint raisin fans, although GB News reviewers admitted they did leave "a bit of an aftertaste", explaining their middle ranking.
The Extra Fruity Buns are available for £3, while the supermarket's standard fruity option is available for £2.
Aldi Specially Selected Four Luxury Hot Cross Buns (£1.09) - 3.3/5
Aldi's buns scored very highly with some of the team but fell short for others, meaning an overall rating of 3.3/5.
GB News reviewers were split on Aldi's buns. While one hot cross bun enthusiast described them as "lovely", another claimed they were slightly too chewy.
The buns - which were the cheapest in GB News' taste test - are available for £1.09 on Aldi's website. However, the supermarket noted that "prices online may vary from prices in store".
Morrisons The Best Rich and Buttery Four Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns - (£1.80) - 2.7/5
While GB News reviewers added their own generous lashings of butter, Morrisons' hot cross buns (which received a score of 2.7/5) already boasted a lovely buttery taste.
One reviewer noted that they could have been more substantial, though, with one explaining that the buns "fell apart", which stopped it from securing a higher score.
Co-op Irresistible Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns (£1.50) - 2.5/5
Upon trying Co-op's Irresistible Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns, reviewers wished they had been more flavourful and fruity, explaining their 2.5/5 score.
However, Co-op's seasonal snack offering was praised for its "consistency".