Hop to it – here’s where to find Brisbane’s best hot cross buns

Sprout Artisan Bakery, Fortitude Valley:  If you can tear your eyes away from the cardamom scrolls and custard tarts, you’ll see Sprout’s range of lightly spiced hot cross buns beckoning. These bad boys are larger than most, but that won’t stop us from ordering a whole box. They say there’s nothing better than a classic – Sprout’s hot cross bun is a classic, just remastered.

Idle, New Farm: Superstar baked-goods supplier Idle is getting in on the Easter action with its sourdough hot cross buns. These fluffy buns are made with cinnamon, nutmeg, a secret hot cross bun spice mix and a sourdough starter, which rounds out the sweetness of the raisins and currants with a subtle tang that is so addictive. Available for pre-orders by the half dozen via Idle website. For those who can’t wait until Easter, Idle is currently selling chocolate hot cross buns in-store with rumours of more Easter treats to be announced soon.

Doughcraft, Brisbane City: Though known by many for its jaw-dropping range of European-style baked goods, cheese and charcuterie, when Easter time rolls around Doughcraft bangs out some dynamite hot cross buns, and this year is no exception. The multi-faceted bakery is offering its golden, moist and simply delicious hot cross buns freshly baked daily, available in three flavours – traditional, chocolate and Kinder Bueno. Available for website pre-orders, in single buns or six packs. You know you want to. 

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Rise Bakery, Hamilton, Portside and Sanctuary Cove: French-inspired artisan boulangerie and salon de thé (tea room) Rise Bakery will be dishing out hot cross buns this Easter across all three stores in Hamilton, Portside and Sanctuary Cove. The Rise Bakery team will be creating its HCBs with Belgian chocolate – and according to head pastry chef Nathan – there will be a lot of it. Rise Bakery will also be incorporating cocoa powder to deepen the colour and intensify the chocolate flavour. Indulgent? We think so.

Oh My Bread, Grange: Artisan bakery Oh My Bread will be putting its French baking techniques to the test whipping up trays of delectable HBCs. While the team at Oh My Bread prefers to keep its hot cross bun recipes a closely guarded secret, they have confirmed two buns will be available – one filled with flavoursome fruit (dates, sultanas, currants, ginger and orange peel) and another laced with moreish chocolate.

Baker D. Chirico, Newstead: This Easter, Baker D. Chirico continues to impress Brisbane punters with its hot cross bun offerings. Specialising in traditional bread-making techniques, Baker D. Chirico strives to celebrate the traditional flavours of a HCB with mixed spices, orange puree, butter, currants, sultanas and a touch of sugar, all elevated with its signature sourdough. For a fluffy and comforting treat there’s also the speciality chocolate hazelnut hot cross bun, with dark chocolate choffies and chopped hazelnuts adding the perfect subtle crunch to an otherwise perfectly soft bun. Both varieties are available in store only, with orders closing Tuesday March 31. 

Flour & Chocolate, Morningside and Northgate: Hop on over to Flour & Chocolate for straight-shooting HCBs of the highest-quality. Flour & Chocolate opt for a traditional take on the HBC. Their Easter menu is jam-packed with three types of hot cross buns (traditional fruit, chocolate and fruitless), decadent Easter brownies and hot cross choux pastry filled with spiced custard. Preorders are currently available for pick-up from March 31 to April 2.

Darvella Patisserie, Bulimba: The Darvella crew are blessing us this Easter, with three kinds of hot cross bun to try. Available daily until Friday April 3 (Good Friday) will be the traditional hot cross bun, made using brandy-soaked fruit the team started preparing six months ago. Also back by popular demand, two special flavours will also be available – including a Kinder Bueno bun (with Kinder Bueno filling and chocolate chips) and a Kit Kat number (with Kit Kat cream and chocolate pieces). 

Jocelyn’s Provisions, various locations: This Brisbane icon is infamous for its salivation-worthy snacks and it’s rolling out the Easter treats with chocolate-egg-adorned cookies, shortbread bunnies, carrot cupcakes and, of course, handcrafted hot cross buns. Jocelyn’s world-class team of bakers have perfected the classic chewy bun balanced by the sweet and spice of plump raisins and fruit or studded with dark and white chocolate buttons. Also on offer is Jocelyn’s Easter rocky road, milk chocolate layered with its signature shortbread, glace cherries and marshmallows topped with a speckled chocolate egg, 100’s and 1000’s and freeze dried raspberries. One word – delicious. 

Time & Temp, Albion: Celebrating its first Easter, the team behind a small artisanal bakery and coffee spot in Albion are serving the fluffiest hot cross buns that’ll have you sad they’re not available all year long. Offering the classic hot cross bun with raisins, currants, house-candied peel and plenty of spice, these HCBs are made with 100 percent plant-based butter by Bu Deli and the top design paying homage to the team’s favourite bakery in Melbourne – Loafer Bread. These tasty treats are available now til Easter with preorders opening soon.

Banjo’s Bakery, various locations: Banjo’s knows the way to our heart with its selection of pies and savoury pastries, but now it’s secured our love forever with its hot cross bun offering. This year, the bakery is serving traditional buns (loaded with sultanas, currants and spices) as well as some chocolate-infused options that’ll have the Easter Bunny jealous. To take things up a notch, Banjo’s is offering pre-ordered hot cross bun platters in three flavours – traditional, gourmet and chocolate.