It’s almost Easter, which means eating way too many buttery, toasted hot cross buns is mandatory.
Bakeries and supermarkets across the nation have no sooner filed away their recipes for Christmas mince pies and fruit cakes before rolling out dozens and dozens of hot cross buns in the three to four month lead up to Easter (not that we’re complaining!).
Whether you take yours with or without fruit, chocolate chips, lashings of butter or dollops of jam – hot cross buns mark the start of the comfort-eating season, the falling of the leaves and the whipping out of scarves, knitwear and autumnal layers.
So, who makes the best hot cross buns in Auckland?
Scroll below to discover the top five hot cross bun destinations in Auckland according to Metro magazine:
Ima Cuisine
53 Fort St, central city
In the run-up to Easter, Ima’s charismatic owner Yael Shochat can be seen rolling dough in the restaurant’s window, apron covered in flour, as she works to meet the insatiable demand for her cult hot cross buns. Honey-sweet buns fragrant with freshly ground spices are topped with a moreish vanilla custard cross.
With year-on-year demand seeing Ima’s hot cross buns fly out the door, the Middle Eastern restaurant has developed an online ordering system to avoid the disappointment of missing out.
Book your order here. | Visit their website here.
Bread & Butter Bakery
Ponsonby, Milford and Grey Lynn
There’s no chemical after-taste in these organic buns, thanks to the un-sulphurised organic fruit mix. Buttermilk gives extra depth of flavour, as does a burnt butter and spice syrup glaze.
La Voie Francaise
875 Dominion Rd, Balmoral
With a fine cross and handmade asymmetry, La Voie’s buns have an understated finish. They’re individually rounded for an even bake, resulting in chewy edges when toasted.
Visit their Facebook page here.
Miann
Britomart and Fort St
Follow chef Brian and Roselle Campbell’s dessert bars on Instagram and say goodbye, hips! Their chocolate hot cross bun recipe features freshly ground spices and Valrhona chocolate.
Little & Friday
Ponsonby, Newmarket and Belmont
In signature L&F fashion, these square buns are almost as big as a side plate, the optimum excuse for extra butter. The scent of orange will fill the house after toasting.
Visit their website here. | To beat the rush, order ahead by emailing [email protected]
For vegan hot cross buns…
Tart Bakery
555 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
Tart Bakery serves up legendary vegan hot cross buns, glazed with cinnamon schnapps “butter”.
This article originally appeared on Noted.co.nz
