The bun fight is on, people. These Melbourne bakeries have the very best hot cross buns in the oven, so if you want to know exactly where to hop on down to, check out this list and get ready to stock up on a dozen (or more) of the fluffiest, spiciest, stickiest buns in town. Without further a-dough, here are our picks of Melbourne’s best hot cross buns. 

Bread Club, North Melbourne and Albert Park

Credit: Simon Shiff

From two French ex-pat bakers, Bread Club was born. Now a Melbourne carb institution, this year, the bakery’s classic spiced fruit (aka ‘Trad’) and chocolate hot cross buns are back. Grab a box of either variety, or go for a mixed box. Order online, or brave the queues. It’ll be worth it.
cookaborough.com/bread-club

To Be Frank, various locations

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To Be Frank’s traditional hot cross buns are now on sale, made with organic sultanas, currants and orange that’s been candied in-house, along with classic spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. There’s also an ultra-luxe saffron and lemon version. Oh yeah. According to Frank’s Insta, other special HCB flavours are yet to be revealed, so keep an eye on their socials for updates.
tobefrankbakery.com.au

Madeleine de Proust, Carlton

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Think outside the HCB box by ordering something special in a box from Madeleine de Proust. The masterful patisserie April collection features both a hot cross madeleine and a golden bunny madeleine. These come with a mojito madeleine, the s’more/Oreo mash-up ‘s’moreo’ madeleine, a strawberry and yogurt madeleine and a pistachio and raspberry financier. And no, you don’t have to share if you don’t want to.
253 Lygon Street, Carlton; madeleinedeproust.com.au

Baker Bleu, Caulfield North and Prahran

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Slather the best cultured butter you can find on Baker Bleu’s hot cross buns – amping up the traditional flavours with cinnamon-spiced oranges and the finest raisins. Or go for the more adventurous sour cherry and dark chocolate. They’re churning out both fresh every day. And they are heavenly.
bakerbleu.com.au

Phillippa’s Bakery, various locations

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Go fruity with the apple-glazed offering at Phillippa’s. The generously sized buns are filled with organic vine fruit and house-made candied orange peel (sourced at the local farmers’ market). Slow fermentation, minimal yeast and shiny glaze make them a chewy and aromatic joy. They also offer a range of other cute Easter-themed baked treats, too.
phillippas.com.au

Falco Bakery, various locations

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You’ve got to be fast to get your mitts on one of these beauties. Soft, spicy and delectably sticky, the hot cross buns from this small-batch bakery have been touted as some of the best in town in recent years. So get in early if you can, because these babies sell out quickly.
falcobakery.com

Cobb Lane Bakery, various locations

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Another contender for the choc/cherry HCB crown, Cobb Lane is baking up the popular hot cross bun combo, as well as the traditional sultana/currant/orange peel bun. Their recommendation? Eat with lashings of Pepe Saya cultured butter. If you buy a six-pack, they’ll throw some in for you.
cobblane.com.au

Rustica Sourdough, various locations

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Renowned for its artisan breads and pastries, Rustica’s beloved buns are what’s coming out of the oven right now. Choose from a traditional bun with sultanas, currants, raisins, pureed orange and secret spices; a dark chocolate and orange spiced bun; or the hot cross bun doughnut – fried dough filled with sultanas, currants and a vanilla, cardamom and brandy creme patissier, all rolled in cardamom sugar and topped with a white chocolate cross.
rusticasourdough.com.au

Frank & Harri, Kew

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An Easter-spiced fruit focaccia, while not technically a hot cross bun, still makes the list here, because Frank & Harri really know their stuff when it comes to hot cross buns. They also offer traditional and triple-chocolate hot cross buns, as well as a hot cross bun pull-apart.  Ooh, and a chocolate Easter Basque cheesecake. Yuh-huh.
259 High St, Kew; frankandharri.com.au

Penny For Pound, various locations

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With pre-orders at capacity in no time at all, you’ll have to head in-store for these buns, filled with Earl Grey-soaked raisins, currants and sultanas and subtle zing of orange zest and cinnamon. Or if fruit’s not your bag, go full chocolate – these cakey buns have a generous helping of dark choc chunks folded throughout. Which makes toasting a foregone conclusion. April also brings new pastry items for Easter – a Hot Cross Cinnamon Scroll and a Twice Baked Hot Cross-ant.
pennyforpound.com.au

Wild Life Bakery, Brunswick East

Credit: @wildlifebakery

The perfect balance of sweet and spiced, this bakery is going a little wild, adding a splash of rye whiskey from Brunswick distillery The Gospel Whiskey. The dough – which is made using Gippsland Jersey cultured butter and Woodstock organic, stoneground rye flour – is also treated to a 24-hour ferment, as Wild Life loaves are known for.
90 Albert St, Brunswick East; shop.wildlifebakery.com

Dench Bakers

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Dench’s sourdough hot cross buns are a revelation – rich with flavours from pureed whole oranges, vine fruits, fresh ginger and a ‘secret’ spice mix. You can also get them in chocolate orange. While Fitzroy fave Dench Cafe is no longer affiliated with father-and-son baking team John and Tony Dench, the pair having sold the cafe in 2021 to focus on their wholesale bakery business in Abbotsford, you can still find Dench hot cross buns there, as well as at Richmond Market, Ceres Fair Food and other stockists.
denchbakers.com.au