Sizzling cross bun season is effectively and really right here, and I in contrast the most affordable ones I might discover in 7 native supermarkets. An affordable pack was the winner.

An affordable pack was the winner in comparison with 6 different supermarkets (Picture: Brian Dillon)
I attempted sizzling cross buns from seven UK supermarkets, and the winner was higher than M&S and Waitrose. Oftentimes in style assessments like this, we discover that low-cost choices can outperform dearer ones. That was actually the case in our current pork sausage style take a look at.
On the subject of this Easter delight, the standard and easy sizzling cross bun, an affordable choice got here out on high. On the subject of good sizzling cross buns, a variety of elements have to be thought-about. A tasty sizzling cross bun has a pleasant glaze, is barely fluffy, has a beautiful sweetness and a wealthy flavour. With this in thoughts, I ranked sizzling cross buns primarily based on flavour, scored out of 10, in addition to look and texture, scored out of 5 every.
This allowed me to attain every one out of 20. I purchased the most affordable sizzling cross buns I might discover in Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Waitrose, M&S, Iceland, Co-op and Tesco.
Most of them have been own-brand merchandise, aside from Tesco, the place I might solely get the Tesco Most interesting model of sizzling cross buns after visiting 4 completely different shops looking for a budget choice. Listed below are the outcomes.
7. Lidl Rowan Hill 6 Sizzling Cross Buns
Worth: 99p
Lidl has been my go-to grocery store for a few years, and I most likely would have lazily picked up these sizzling cross buns with out contemplating my different choices if it weren’t for this style take a look at. They’re actually low-cost, however they weren’t near being the most effective in my style take a look at. These sizzling cross buns might use much more fruit and sweetness, however the fruit has a beautiful texture once you do discover it within the sizzling cross bun. It toasted effectively, however the bread felt a bit flaky in comparison with the others.
Worth: £1.80
Being loads pricier than some others on the checklist, I might have hoped the new cross buns from Co-op would have been a bit tastier. Nonetheless, they take the fifth/sixth place spot on my checklist with the identical rating as one different grocery store. General, these sizzling cross buns, even after being toasted, have been a bit dense and doughy. In my view, having tried others on my checklist, these buns might use much more fruit and different issues to make them a bit sweeter.
- Look: 4/5
- Texture: 3/5
- Flavour: 5/10
- Remaining rating: 12/20

Co-op’s sizzling cross buns might have tasted a bit richer (Picture: Brian Dillon)
5. Iceland The Each day Bakery 6 Sizzling Cross Buns
Worth: £1.35
Iceland’s entry on the checklist additionally scored 12/20 in complete, however they rank one spot larger than Co-op as a result of it was significantly cheaper and in addition contained six buns within the pack. These sizzling cross buns may very well be sweeter, and the feel was a bit dense. Though I might have favored only a tiny bit extra fruit, I did benefit from the flavour of the bread. For the worth, they are not too unhealthy, however there are positively higher ones on the market, a few of that are cheaper.
- Look: 3/5
- Texture: 2/5
- Flavour 7/10
- Remaining rating: 12/20

Iceland’s weren’t the worst, however not overly spectacular (Picture: Brian Dillon)
4. Waitrose Easter 4 Richly Fruited Sizzling Cross Buns
Worth: £2
We bounce up within the scoring right here, however we additionally bounce up within the value whereas falling within the variety of buns per pack. Waitrose’s sizzling cross buns have been fairly spectacular, they usually have been a pleasure to eat. There was a pleasant texture, but it surely might have been fluffier. Barely dense, which is predicted for warm cross buns, however would have appreciated rather less density. I used to be anticipating a stronger presence of a fruity flavour, regardless that the fruit is scrumptious and feels contemporary.
- Look: 5/5
- Texture: 3.5/5
- Flavour: 8/10
- Remaining rating: 16.5/20

Waitrose’s sizzling cross buns are fairly scrumptious, however one of the vital costly (Picture: Brian Dillon)
3. M&S 4 Luxurious Sizzling Cross Buns
Worth: £2.65
M&S got here out with the identical last rating as one of many different supermarkets, however its significantly excessive value makes it a much less enticing choice. These tasted fairly contemporary, however they did not fairly make the highest two in my rating. The flavour was gorgeously fruity, however the sweetness was a bit overpowering, and there was an aftertaste. The feel was solely barely doughy, which was truly fairly pleasant. Each the bread and the fruit tasted scrumptious.
- Look: 5/5.
- Texture: 4/5
- Flavour: 8/10
- Remaining rating: 17/20

M&S simply missed out on a high two spot (Picture: Brian Dillon)
2. Tesco Most interesting Further Fruity Sizzling Cross Buns 4 pack
Worth: £2
Earlier than we get into it, I have to remind you that these will not be the most affordable sizzling cross buns obtainable from Tesco this 12 months. Nonetheless, shares appeared low after I visited 4 shops in in the future, and the Tesco Most interesting ones have been the one ones I might get. So, I included them in my rating, even when it provides Tesco an unfair benefit. The style was good, however not as wealthy as I used to be anticipating, primarily based on the looks. The feel was additionally fairly good, beautiful and spongy with out being too gentle.
- Look: 5/5
- Texture: 4/5
- Flavour: 8/10
- Remaining rating: 17/20

Tesco got here near the primary spot (Picture: Brian Dillon)
1. Sainsbury’s Sizzling Cross Buns x6
Worth: 95p
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I used to be fairly shocked to find that the most affordable pack I purchased contained the tastiest sizzling cross buns. Our winner is Sainsbury’s, and it is the place I can be going again for extra within the lead-up to Easter. I used to be impressed by the beautiful bready flavour that is not overpowered by the fruit. The fruit is a robust function, but it surely would not overpower and permits for a pleasant, balanced expertise when consuming these buns. There was a pleasant stability between candy and savoury, giving it a near-perfect style rating. My solely word is that the fruit might have been barely extra pungent, however that’s splitting hairs.
- Look 4/5
- Texture: 5/5
- Flavour: 9/10
- Remaining rating: 18/20

Sainsbury’s is our winner, and the pack prices lower than £1 (Picture: Brian Dillon)
















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