Remember the days when hot cross buns were just hot cross buns? Spiked with fruit and spice, you’d get them at Easter, be grateful for the opportunity, and then move on with your life. Fast-forward to 2026, and the simple, honest hot cross bun has been reimagined in so many different ways, the poor pet must be having some kind of identity crisis by this point. And it has to get to work right after Christmas, with no break in sight until after the Easter Bunny has hopped off into the sunset. But while we all roll our eyes and make tsk-tsk noises about such monstrosities as Doritos-flavoured hot cross buns (the exact moment when we, as a society, strayed too far from the light), in truth, we all love a bit of a frolic through this marvellously abundant new world of buns. So, what have they dreamt up for us this year? Here’s a rundown of all the hot cross bun flavours you can get at Woolworths this year.
You can never go wrong with a traditional hot cross bun. Fruit, spice and everything nice. Epic served toasted with lashings of salted butter. Available full-size in a six-pack or in a nine-pack of minis, at this time of year, it’s hard not to grab one of these on every shop. So save the fresh ones for eating now, and use the leftover ones in these sweet and easy recipes.
For those who like to keep it traditional, but want something a little ‘extra’, these offer a more pillowy soft, buttery bun experience. Although lashings of butter are still highly recommended. Available in a four-pack.
Gluten-intolerant folk have the choice between Free From Gluten Fruit Hot Cross Buns, Free From Gluten Choc Hot Cross Buns and Free From Gluten Apple & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns, which all come in a four-pack.
A sweetly different spin on the traditional that still keeps within the official hot cross bun boundary area, these feature Pink Lady apple and cinnamon chips. Available in a four-pack.
These rich chocolate buns have been causing quite the stir in Bun Land, ever since they scored one of the highest-ever ratings in a recent taste test. Traditionalists, it may be time to rethink your HCB strategy. Grab a six-pack and crank up that toaster.
Choc chips instead of fruit, brioche instead of a standard bun dough. These are just luxe enough for two to pass muster as a ‘sensible breakfast’. Available in a four-pack.
Returning for a limited time after a highly successful debut where they sold out all over the place, these cinnamon-infused buns come in a four-pack, and are filled with an oozy cream-cheese style filling.
Inspired by Biscoff, these gently spiced caramelly wonders come with a deliciously moreish speculoos-style centre. Best enjoyed warm. Available in a four-pack.
Think chocolate buns with a gooey caramel filling and Cadbury milk chocolate chips. Available in a four-pack, you’ll struggle to eat more than one. But it’s worth trying anyway.
These buns swap out the traditional spices and fruit for a sweet, pillowy dough studded with generous chunks of Cadbury’s iconic Caramilk chocolate. Toasting is highly recommended, as the Caramilk chips melt through the bun in a delectably oozy way. Available in a four-pack.
Inspired by the iconic Woolworths mudcake, these fudgy wonders come with a delicious chocolate filling. Released for a limited time only in a four-pack, these may already have flown the coop. Check your local store.
There’s a six-pack of Fruitless Hot Cross Buns with your name on it. Why even bother with butter? Just eat them plain, with a glass of tepid water.
