Do we really need hot cross buns on Boxing Day? - News + Articles

Dec 29, 2025

It’s barely Boxing Day, and the buns are back.

Right now, we’re in that strange, nebulous time of year – those lazy, hazy days between Christmas and New Year’s when time seems to slow down, pants become optional and everyone forgets what day it is.

So it can only add to the general sense of confusion when you pop down to the shops to grab more limes for those mid-arvo margaritas (day drinking, it seems, has also become entirely acceptable), and discover hot cross buns have taken up residence on shelves which so proudly held Christmas puddings and mince pies only a few days earlier.

Woolworths hot cross buns — Still drunk on Christmas? Here, have an Easter bun.

‘Is it Easter already?’ you wonder, as a sudden sense of panic grips you. Did you forget to go back to work for three whole months? What are you going to tell the boss?

You can breathe easy on that count. (Although you might want to remember to put on pants the next time you leave the house.) Boxing Day hot cross buns are now a common sight, as major supermarkets seek to fill the void left behind by the Christmas rush. And it works, with millions of buns expected to be sold before New Year’s alone.

Woolworths mudcake hot cross buns — Woolies’ new mudcake hot cross buns.

Now is also a good time for supermarkets to trial new bun flavours, with Woolies planning to unveil brand-new limited-edition mudcake hot cross buns – inspired by the iconic Woolies mudcake – in early January. Already back on shelves for a limited time are the fan-favourite Cinnabon hot cross bun, a caramelised biscuit spread hot cross bun, and hot cross buns filled with caramel, inspired by Caramello.

These are joined by the regular traditional bun favourites, from traditional fruit to apple and cinnamon, which will be available throughout bun season. Which will probably last until Halloween this year.

So enjoy your post-Christmas Easter buns, people. Who cares if it’s preposterously early? In a world where Christmas foods start to appear on shelves in September, eating April food in December seems entirely logical. After all, if these lazy days have taught us anything, time is but a construct.