It’s that time of the year again – time to recommence my annual quest for the Holy Grail Hot Cross Bun. (Although according to Coles, I am three months late, as they seem to think Easter starts just after New Year.)
My idea of the perfect hot cross bun is one that has a bit of weight to it. I like ‘em dense, chock full of fruit, with a rich scent of spice and a nice sticky top.
So far this year I’m letting the side down a bit; I’ve only tried Dench and Loafer Bread. In the interests of community service, however, I propose to conduct a more in-depth review of the city’s hot cross bun inventory.
So tell me, gentle readers:
Where do you think the best buns are to be had?
And what in your opinion constitutes a truly heavenly hot-crossie?
More specifically: mixed peel, yay or nay??
UPDATE: The results of the epic bun tasting are in! Read Best Hot Cross Buns in Melbourne: The Tasting.
KATE
Peel? Fo shizzle!! Completely agree with you. Weight, dense, fruity, sticky. I like mine a bit doughy too.
for those of us who are wheat intolerant (wait, scrap that, this applies to ANYONE), i swear by ALEX'S WUPPERTALER rye hot cross buns. admittedly each batch is not always the same, but often you will find you have purchased a complete WINNER of a batch – dense, slightly doughy in the right places (largely the edges) and BURSTING with sultanas ever so plump and juicy thanks to the baking process. there are raisins, currants, apricot, apple and occasional bits of pear thrown in for good, fruity measure too (apparently 10 fruits in total… still trying to get to the bottom of that). brilliant fresh with butter, sliced and toasted, and naturally, for the ULTIMATE easter treat – hot and oven-baked. oh amazing.
Peel, hell yes. Order some from Sydney: Brasserie Bread…
Peel, fruit, spice and just barely enough dough and shiny sticky top to hold it all together! And butter, only butter.
For ne the best hot-x-buns are easily those from Natural Tucker – great bite from their sourdough heritage but sweet with plenty of fruit and nicely spiced. The sourdough ones from Crumbs (sold at CERES) are also excellent. Daylight is third, though I look forward to trying Brasserie Bread's version in Sydney next week.
Craig
Nice to see we are a bunch of peel-lovers! I used to pick it out when I was a kid but I dig it now.
Reemski – dammit, I should have gone to Brasserie Bread when I was in Sydney!
Craig, will have to hear what you think of them. I will have to go try Crumbs and Natural Tucker.
Alex's Wuppertaler is in Bayswater right? Anywhere else they sell them?
The last couple of years, Babka got a pretty good reputation. They were always sold out when I went there.. I ordered some from Baker D. Chirico in St Kilda and it was a bit of a wasted trip. Peel yes, gentle spice yes, not too sweet.. fat sultanas.
I'm in Brisbane and missing the Melb Uni food co-op and their amazing rolls with bread from Crumbs. Can anyone email me some hot cross buns from CERES?
I think Babka is where it's at. Have had a few Dench ones this year, but they're a bit heavy. Order in advance! They always sell out, people queue up the street for them
OK everyone, the tasting list so far:
Dench
Loafer Bread
Babka
Baker D Chirico
Natural Tucker
Crumbs
Convent Bakery
Cavallini
Sugardough
La Madre
Planning to conduct the tasting on Saturday. PREPARE FOR CARB OVERLOAD.
What a great idea and would love to join you in your hot cross bun tasting (carb overload is my middle name), but I may be one of the few who don't like hot cross buns! Choc chip buns are more my thing, but even then, I'm not a fan of the 'spice'.
Look forward to your post!
YES! i believe the alex's wuppertaler factory IS in bayswater… so no doubt buns can be bought by the plenty there! in fact, it would be excellent to go to the source itself (factory) for maximum picking-and-choosing power. it's quite easy to see from outside the packet whether it's a SUPREME batch or not! the nice doughy ones have a very moist look (almost a slightly grey tinge… i do not mean for that to be off-putting… in this case, grey = yum!).
i'm in the outer east, and know that the buns are stocked at HEALTH FOOD THYME in croydon, and EASTFIELD ORGANIC NATURAL FOOD MARKET in south croydon. i'd be interested to know where they are stocked closer in. unfortunately our friend alex has neither a website nor an email address!
factory address and phone number (if you're interested):
18 ramage st, bayswater, VIC 3153
9729 3959
Based on Craig's comment above, I took a detour via Natural Tucker this morning. They were just bringing out a new tray of freshly-baked buns. $2.40 each. Quite a substantial size and heft to them. I was starving, so I ripped off half as I was walking out and, even untoasted and without a slab of butter on top, they were excellent. Slightly doughy, nicely spiced (perhaps could use even more spice, but I am very pro-spice) and fat, juicy fruit. As a kid I would have pulled every sultana out, but I've clearly matured since then.
I am also pro-peel. And butter – only butter. Perhaps my very favourite HCBs, though, are the ones the little old lady from church baked on Good Friday morning, and serves to the choir – still warm and slathered in melting butter – after our 2 hour marathon of penitential singing. Best recovery treat ever.
Babka
Babka
Babka
I had Browns hot cross buns yesterday..massively overpriced at $13 per 6 pack but sooooooooooo yummy!