Easter is coming—and that means hot cross bun season is upon us. From the doughy to the sticky, the spicy and the sweet, bakeries around Sydney/Eora are fronting up with the chewy stuff for your long weekend. In this case, that means buttery, fruity goodness with everything from the staple classic to new creations like hot cross bun cinnamon scrolls and chocolatey morsels.
Here are Urban List's picks for the best hot cross buns in Sydney this Easter.
Madame And Yves
343-345 Clovelly Road, Clovelly
Image credit: Madame and Yves | Supplied
Clovelly bakery, gelateria and patisserie Madame And Yves has an Easter lineup of six hot cross bun-inspired treats, including a spiced custard-filled crossover between a hot cross bun and crème brûlée available from 9 March.
There's also a hot cross-ant filled with spiced almond frangipane, sultanas, raisins, currants, candied orange peel and a teeny splash of rum (available from 1 March), and classic hot cross buns glazed with spiced espresso syrup, choc cross buns with Valrhona dark chocolate chips—both of which you can get toasted and filled with a scoop of house-made gelato.
The final treat of Madame and Yves' Easter lineup is their hot cross pudding, which sees hot cross buns soaked in custard overnight, baked up with a caramelised crust and topped with a quenelle of mascarpone whipped cream, available from 2 March. You can head in store, or order online.
Sonoma Artisanal Bakers
Various locations
Image credit: Sonoma Bakery | Instagram
Sonoma marks its Not Cross Buns with an "S" and strives to keep the magic alive by giving them a super-limited release. Made with raisins, cranberries, apricots and candied orange, glazed in a sticky sugar syrup steeped in spices and Sonoma coffee, these hot cross buns also have a sweetly spiced dough, and are best served loaded up with cultured butter.
This year, Sonoma has also collab'd with Whittaker's to craft Choc Cross Buns infused with the beloved chocolate brand's Choc Cross Bun block. You can be conservative and buy just one for $3.50 in store, or get six for $20 either in store or online.
Tuga Pastries
Shop 6, 231 Clovelly Road, Clovelly and 10/112 McEvoy Street, Alexandria
Image credit: Tuga Pastries | Website
Tuga Pastries does seasonal treats that are up to crust, trust us. Going big this Easter? Check out The B.I.G Bun: a seven-inch hot cross bun filled with whipped honey butter and topped with spiced glaze, white chocolate nest and speckled eggs. If you're after standard-sized HCBs, they're serving up two flavours: traditional (with dried fruits, mixed spice and cinnamon, lemon and orange peel, finished with a rich spiced glaze) and hot choc buns packed with mixed spice, cinnamon, and Callebaut dark chocolate.
Mixing up your Easter treats? Check out Tuga's Nutella babka, half-kilo Easter croissant filled with dark chocolate mousse, topped with easter glaze, white chocolate nest and speckled eggs. You can pre-order online, or head in store from 1 March.
Humble Bakery
50 Holt Street, Surry Hills and 16 Loftus Street, Sydney
Image credit: Humble Bakery | Website
If you're down to try something different for Easter 2024, Humble has you covered with their curiosity-inducing savoury hot cross bun, christened the Reu-Bun. This fruit-free bun is filled with Porteño's house-made pastrami, horseradish cream, sauerkraut, pickles and Dijon mustard for a savoury treat—but Humble also does a traditional HCB plus an indulgent dulce de leche-filled version. You can pre-order or shop in store until Monday 1 April.
Sweet Belem
35B New Canterbury Road, Petersham
Image credit: Sweet Belem | Instagram
You know them for their best-in-town pastel de nata (Portuguese tarts), so wait till you hear about what Sweet Belem does with the hot cross buns: expect the classic format, with fluffy dough dotted with port-soaked raisins, but topped with a custard cross. These bad boys are available now, through till Easter.
You might also like
A.P. Bakery
Various locations
Image credit: A.P Bakery | Instagram
A.P. Bakery is once again whipping up delightfully fluffy traditional hot cross buns for Easter. For their HXB, the team toasts and mills spices in-house, and mixes them with orange peel, apricot, currants, and sultanas.
Then, they pop them in the oven and brush them with a brown sugar and cardamom glaze. You'll find them from Saturday 9 March at A.P. House atop Paramount's rooftop, at their tiny shopfront in Newtown, at A.P Place in the CBD and on Saturdays at the Carriageworks Farmers Market.
Tokyo Lamington
277 Australia Street, Newtown
Image credit: Tokyo Lamington | Supplied
A favourite of Sydney's dessert scene, Tokyo Lamington is jumping on the Easter bandwagon again—and we're here for it. The Inner West store may be known for its lamingtons, but this year they're doing hot cross lamingtons plus two hot cross buns: a yuzu and raisin HCB finished with a yuzu glaze, and a lamington hot cross bun with a spiced dough infused with cocoa, coated in chocolate and coconut.
Tokyo Lamington's Easter specials are available individually or in six-packs of two of each ($35), $27 for six hot cross buns, or $50 for a full dozen. You can head in store or order online.
The Grumpy Baker
Various Locations
The Grumpy Baker’s much-loved hot cross buns pay homage to founder Michael Cthurmer’s Israeli heritage, using Jewish challah dough—a braided bread traditionally served on the Jewish Shabbat, which has a rich and spongy flavour.
Baked on-site every morning, the secret to this perfect hot cross bun is an abundance of raisins, choc chips and butter swirled with spice for an extremely moist, fluffy and sticky bun. There's also a choc-chip version, for all you cocoa fiends.
Bar Mammoni
Shop 3, Loftus Lane, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Bar Mammoni | Trent van der Jagt
It wouldn't be a list of treats without a cruffin making an appearance. This year, Bar Mammoni is doing hot cross cruffins for $9.50, pairing buttery croissant dough with tangy goji berries and a filling of rich chocolate namelaka cream infused with cinnamon, star anise, cardamom and nutmeg.
They're also doing a take on hot cross buns with house-roasted speculoos spices (basically Biscoff vibes), goji berries and candied orange zest, glazed with an orange and saffron syrup for $5 per bun, or four for $16. You can find Bar Mammoni's hot cross buns at their cafe/bakery in Loftus Lane, or at sister venues This Way Canteen (CBD), Promenade Kiosk (Bondi Beach) and Martinez Kiosk (CBD).
Infinity Bakery
Various locations
Image credit: Infinity Bakery | Instagram
Fave Sydney flour masters Infinity Bakery have added hot cross buns to their lineup for the season—and they're your textbook traditional treat with all the usual dried fruits and spices. Pick them up from a bakery in Darlinghurst or Homebush, or from Harris Farm Markets in Broadway, Cammeray, Lindfield, Manly or Randwick until Easter Monday.
Banksia Bakehouse
225 George Street, Sydney CBD
Image credit: Banksia Bakehouse | Instagram
Banksia Bakehouse is making Good Friday good indeed—they're bringing back the Hot Cross Cube: a cube-shaped croissant with a creamy centre of cinnamon-spiced crème patissiere and Aussie sultanas. This year they're rolling them out Monday–Friday with a first bake at 10.30 am and a second and 12.3opm, and on Saturdays at 9.30am.
Black Star Pastry
Various locations
Image credit: Black Star Pastry | Instagram
Everyone knows Easter is all about the chocolate, so Black Star Pastry has again collaborated with chocolatiers Koko Black to create a decadent chocolate hot cross bun. They're loaded with 60% dark chocolate (made from sustainably sourced cocoa) in a dense, cushiony dough before being brushed with a lightly spiced glaze and marked with a cocoa cross—and they happen to be vegan, too.
If you're a purist, Black Star Pastry's famed frankincense-glazed buns will also be on offer. You can pick up Black Star's hot cross buns in every store now for $27 for six, or $50 for 12—boxes can also be pre-ordered online.
Shadow Baking
243 Victoria St, Darlinghurst
Image credit: Shadow Baking | Instagram
Brought to you by the team that runs Gelato Messina, Shadow Baking is your one-stop shop for baked goodies this Easter. Whether you're into spiced fruit or not, they have options for everyone.
Shadow Baking's Hot X Scrolls are a twist on traditional Easter buns, filled with vanilla custard and candied fruit. For choccy lovers, dig into their Choc X Scrolls, filled with dark chocolate chips instead. Get in quick because they are only open Friday to Sunday from 8am until sold out.
One More Chocolates
Shop 1/63 New Canterbury Road, Petersham
The master Portuguese chocolatiers are One More Chocolates aren't confining themselves to chocolate eggs and bunnies this Easter—they also do incredible hot cross buns.
Available as traditional (with port wine-soaked fruit and a Tahitian vanilla creme patissiere cross) or triple chocolate (with chunks of couverture chocolate), their buns go for $26 for six—you can order online for pick-up over the Easter period between 25 March and 31 March, or try your luck in store.
Wholegreen Bakery
25 McCauley Street, Alexandria, 257 Clarence Street, Sydney CBD and 24 Arden Street, Waverley
Instagram: Wholegreen Bakery | Leigh Griffiths
Coeliacs and gluten-intolerant humans, rejoice: Wholegreen Bakery is here to save the day with its super tasty 100% gluten-free, dairy-free AND vegan hot cross buns. This year, Wholegreen has created two flavours: a traditional dried fruit number and a dark chocolate and sour cherry bun that will absolutely hit that Easter chocolate spot.
You can head to any of its locations and grab a single hot cross bun ($3.50) or pick up a four-pack for $11, or order online for delivery if you live anywhere between Canberra and Newcastle.
Berkelo
Various locations
Image credit: Berkelo | Website
Berkelo's take on hot cross buns are full of fruit, anise myrtle tea and their “secret” blend of spices—and are perfect for toasting and slathering in butter. You can order them for pick-up ($24 for six) or grab some in store in Brookvale, Mosman, Manly or Terrey Hills.
The Grounds
7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria and Shop RG 12/500 George St, Sydney
The Grounds have teamed up with Benriach Single Malt Scotch Whisky this Easter to launch Australia's first Scotch Cross Buns. This innovative limited-edition treat puts a delightful whisky-infused spin on a beloved Easter favourite, blending the orchard fruit undertones of Benriach The Original 10 with the tantalising taste of traditional hot cross buns.
Available exclusively at The Grounds of Alexandria and The Grounds of the City, these Scotch Cross Buns can be savoured from 18 March to 31 March.
Mrs Jones The Baker
Various locations
Image credit: Mrs Jones The Baker | Supplied
A Northern Sydney favourite, Mrs Jones The Baker is once again slinging its traditional Easter buns. The hot cross buns in question come with all the good stuff—chewy spiced dough, dried fruit, and sticky glaze. While it does have your standard buns marked with a cross, its more popular ones have grumpy faces, taking on a more imaginative spin. Grab them from bakeries in Freshwater, St Ives, Warringah Mall, Frenchs Forest or Mona Vale.
Editor's note: The following spots haven't confirmed that they're doing hot cross buns for 2024... yet.
Din Tai Fung
Various locations
Image credit: Din Tai Fung | Supplied
They're not technically buns, but you're going to want to try these HCB... Din Tai Fung's hot cross baos are back, this time made with a cocoa dough filled with molten chocolate. They're available from every location from 1 April for $8.90 for two, or you can grab frozen packs ($12 for three) to steam at home over the long weekend.
Lode Pies And Pastries
487 Crown Street, Surry Hills and Rugby Place, Sydney CBD
You might know Lode for its intricate pithiviers and stunning sculptural croissants, but the pastry legends are trying their hand and hot cross buns for Easter this year. You can pick up four-packs in store.
Brickfields
206 Cleveland Street, Chippendale and 2 Sydney Street, Marrickville
Image credit: Brickfields | Instagram
Go-to bakery for many Sydneysiders, Brickfields is once again offering up its top-notch hot cross buns for Easter. These bready delights come packed with currants, candied orange, apricots and cranberries, plus a whole heap of aromatics like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom.
You can drop by the bakery's Chippendale and Marrickville locations to pick one up, or pre-order for pick-up via the website until 12 April for $20 for six.
Organic Bread Bar
Darlinghurst, Paddington, and various markets
Image credit: Organic Bread Bar | Instagram
If slow-fermented, organic sourdough is your speed, then the hot cross buns from Organic Bread Bar are for you. You can stay traditional with apricot and sultana-laden buns, or opt for indulgent double chocolate hot cross buns.
Flour And Stone
53 Riley Street, Woolloomooloo
Everything Nadine Ingram makes is downright delicious—and her hot cross buns are no exception. This Easter, Flour and Stone is peddling Florentine Easter Buns, made with brioche infused with rosemary and cardamom and studded with sherry-soaked currants and rosemary sprigs.
They're then glazed with an egg wash and dusted with a sugar mix of orange zest, rosemary, and cinnamon before baked in the oven.
Now, check out
- The Best Cheesecakes In Sydney
- Sydney's Best Frozen Yoghurt Shops
- Where To Find Sydney's Best Portuguese Tarts
Main image credit: Blackstar Pastry | Instagram
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.