The Best Hot Cross Buns in Sydney
It’s hard to believe hot cross buns are on the shelves as early as January. And while the supermarket HCB is a fine choice, we love it when the city’s top bakeries start putting their own spin on the genre. From ube- and pistachio-filled buns to a bun-cruffin lovechild, these are the hottest takes around. Cross a few off the list before they’re gone.
Cafe
AP House
The AP team toast and mill cardamom, cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg in-house, before marrying them with classic vine fruits in a bun brushed with a cardamom-brown-sugar glaze. Order in-store or online to grab six for $29.
Cafe
Fabbrica Bread Shop
Head baker Aniruddha Bhosekar’s chai-spiced buns are packed with currants and raisins, then glazed in a chai syrup. Plus, they come with a roll of chai butter. Order half a dozen for $30 online or head in-store.
Cafe
Shadow Baking
Shadow’s scroll-bun hybrid sees classic HCB dough filled with vanilla custard and candied fruit. Or go for a decadent chocolate option – both sold in packs of six for $35.
Cafe
Rollers Bakehouse
Rollers’ pink cross buns, jam-packed with spices, are on again. Head to the leafy, Palm Springs-inspired courtyard to settle on one or go for a pack.
Cafe
Baker Bleu
Pick between a traditional cinnamon-spiced sourdough HCB with raisins or go for a sour cherry and dark chocolate number finished with a cocoa-spiked cross. Order a six-pack priced at $25.20 online or in-store.
Cafe
Tokyo Lamington
The tiny Newtown bakery’s zesty hot cross bun is studded with sultanas macerated in yuzu (Japanese citrus) juice for three months. But if sweet is more your style, the chocolate-y lamington HCB is where it’s at. Or get them both in a mixed pack of Easter treats. Order in-store and online.
Shop
Tuga Pastries
Tuga is going big this Easter – literally. Its B.I.G. Bun has whipped honey butter through the centre and is topped with a white-choc nest filled with Easter eggs. It’s $40 and will easily feed six (or eight if you’re slicing thin). You can also get classic fruit or chocolate buns in packs of six, 12 or 24 to order in-store and online.
Cafe
Humble Bakery
Humble is serving spiced and fruity hot cross buns filled with house-made salted butter ice cream, available only at its Surry Hills store. Or go for a classic HCB packed with traditional spices and fruits, available in packs of six ($28) and nine ($40) both in-store and online.
Cafe
Messy Spoon
Messy Spoon’s coeliac- and vegan-friendly buns are sultana-stuffed and dripping with a maple glaze. They’re also completely nut-free. Get six for $25 in-store and online.
Cafe
Sonoma Bakery
Sonoma’s Not Cross Buns have returned for another year. The bakery’s signature “S” is piped on top before they’re brushed with a sugar glaze steeped in coffee and spices. Try one for $4 each or six for $20. Order in-store and online.
Shop
Black Star Pastry Newtown
Black Star is back with three HCB renditions: a traditional bun glazed with frankincense syrup, a dark chocolate number and a blueberry take topped with biscuit crumble. Grab six for $27 or a dozen for $50. Order in-store and online.
Shop
Sweet Belem
Sweet Belem is famous for its pastel de nata – but it also makes one hell of a HCB. Picture fluffy brioche buns filled with port-soaked raisins, and topped with a vanilla or a chocolate custard cross you won’t see anywhere else. Try a single bun for $5.50. Order in-store and online.
Restaurant
Norma’s Deli
To celebrate Easter family style, Norma is bringing back its HCB bread wheel made of 30 spiced mini buns infused with dried fruits and zesty orange peel ($68). Pick between traditional or chocolate, pre-order online, tear and share.
Shop
Wholegreen Bakery
They’re free from gluten, dairy and nuts. But somehow Wholegreen’s buns are certifiably delicious. Options this year include traditional fruit with cinnamon, and chocolate . Both are accredited by Coeliac Australia. Settle on one for $3.70. Order in-store, online and at Harris Farm.
Bar
Bar Mammoni
Hot cross bun or cruffin? Get both at this Italian all-rounder. The cruffin comes piped with milk chocolate and spiced hazelnut praline ($12). Classic buns are loaded with overnight-soaked raisins, sultanas and candied orange peel, while chocolate versions features 58 per cent dark chocolate.
Cafe
Berkelo
Berkelo’s sourdough bun is packed with fruit, myrtle tea and a house spice blend. Order in-store and online..
Cafe
Bourke Street Bakery
The powerhouse bakery’s buns come in traditional fruit and chunky chocolate-cranberry varieties. Or get a family-size hot cross loaf for $13.50. Order in-store and online.
Cafe
Flour and Stone Annexe
The team at Flour and Stone is adding its own twist to the Tuscan pan di ramerino this Easter. Get a rosemary and cardamom-spiced brioche hot cross bun available in-store and online ($36 for half a dozen).
Cafe
Madame & Yves
Master pastry chef Yves Scherrer is amping it up with a crosskie, a hybrid of a crookie and an HCB ($10.50). We also need to talk about the crème brûlée bun ($8), topped with crunchy caramel toffee. Classic fruit (single for $5 or six for $28) or chocolate buns (single for $5.50 or six for $30) are also available. Order in-store and online.
Cafe
Brickfields
Brickfields is baking classic HCBs packed with all the usual good stuff: cardamon, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, sultanas, currants, cranberries, dried apricot and orange peels. Get a box of six for $20 in-store or pre-order online .
Cafe
Tita Carinderia
The loved Filipino cafe and bakery is adding an ube twist to HCBs this year, filled with ube cream. Dunk the fluffy buns into your coffee and enjoy street-side.
Cafe
Pasticceria Papa
Come for inventive HCB flavours each week from matcha and strawberry renditions to lemon numbers. Or choose between four staples: classic fruit, Belgian chocolate chip with salted caramel, pistachio and an HCB cake inspired by Dubai's viral chocolate bars.
Find them in-store or order online.
Cafe
Lode Pies and Pastries
Lode has teamed up with Coppertree Farms to create a pull-apart HCB loaf, made with three fluffy buns. Order in store.
-b56051d6cd.webp&w=3840&q=75)
-7aa6dcfe90.webp&w=3840&q=75)
