Credit: Courtesy of restaurant
2 min read
From bagels to vegan hot cross bun doughnuts, take your pick of exciting Easter treats inspired by this springtime classic.
Easter is just around the corner, and we can’t get enough of the humble hot cross bun. Whether you prefer a traditional recipe, filled with spice and dried fruits, or you’re brave enough to tackle Heinz’s internet-dividing hot cross bun-flavoured mayonnaise, this year there truly is something to suit all tastes.
What’s more, some of London’s best eateries have now unveiled their own delicious iterations, taking the classic hot cross bun flavours and reimagining them in a whole new form.
From a ‘bunettone’ to vegan HCB doughnuts, these are some of our favourites. Start planning your Easter snacking now…
Gelupo hot cross bun ice cream sandwiches
This Easter, Soho gelateria Gelupo will be filling Bocca di Lupo’s seasonal hot cross buns with artisan gelato for the ultimate seasonal treat. Go for a classics flavour like milky fior di latte or pistachio to complement the spices and candied fruits in the buns perfectly.
Available from 7 to 21 April 2025
Waitrose Easter hot cross bunettone
Head to your local Waitrose supermarket for this panettone meets hot cross bun invention. Your spiced Italian cake with butter, sultanas and candied orange peel is best enjoyed in the sunshine with a cup of tea.
Pophams croissant hot cross bun
You’ve heard of the cruffin and the cronut: now Pophams’ executive chef Phil King has dreamt up a cross between a croissant and a hot cross bun, available in each of the artisan bakery’s outposts across London (you’ll find them in Islington, London Fields and Victoria Park). Each flavoursome Easter creation is packed with raisins, currants, sultanas, candied peel, apple, spice, King’s ginger and cinnamon, and finished with a citrus, maple and cardamom glaze.
Din Tai Fung hot cross bun dumplings
Bored of Easter eggs? Taiwanese dumpling specialists Din Tai Fung have dreamed up a special take on the hot cross bun, and it’s one for those with a seriously sweet tooth. Its Easter hot cross buns are a fresh spin on traditional sweet buns, filled with delicious molten chocolate. They’re available until 10 April at all three of Din Tai Fung’s London venues.
Crosstown hot cross bun doughnut
Crosstown’s limited edition vegan hot cross bun doughnut is always a springtime highlight. Made from spiced dough, it’s filled with creamy cinnamon custard, topped with Seville orange glaze and finished with a spiced cross and a smattering of candied peel. You can pick one up at any Crosstown branch or order them across England, Wales and lowland Scotland until 11 April.
B Bagel hot cross bun bagels
Embrace all things dough this Easter with hot cross bun bagels. They’ll be available at all four B Bagel stores – Camden, Tottenham Court Road, Soho and Fulham – until 8 April.
Ottolenghi black pepper and rooibos tea hot cross buns
Ottolenghi’s Easter offering may look like a traditional HCB, but the famed test kitchen has developed a recipe that packs a lot more fruit, zest and spice (including black pepper and rooibos tea) into the buns than your average bakes.
The Laundry bacon hot cross buns
Brixton bistro The Laundry will be serving up New Zealand inspired hot cross bun with feijoa (an alternative to guava), stem ginger and honeycomb butter, and for those who want it, bacon.
Images: courtesy of brands
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