We’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to.
Easter isn’t complete without a proper hot cross bun, best enjoyed lightly toasted and loaded with butter. This year, Holly and I tracked down the top indie bakeries, cafés and market stalls across Oxford serving up the very best, so you know exactly where to go to stock up on one of the season’s finest treats.
Unbeatable
Bakery name: Blakes, Bampton
Taste: Holly did a 40-minute round trip for these and would do it again in a heartbeat, the best hot cross bun she’s ever eaten. Utter perfection. More of a teacake shape and size, with a great fruit-to-dough ratio, but the standout was just how moist they were, squidgy and soft, even the next day.
Price: £2.80 each
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bakery name: Hamblin Bread, Iffley Road
Taste: This was genuinely the best hot cross bun I’ve ever had. It was sticky, fluffy, full of fruity flavour and a generous size, very good fruit to bun ratio. Perfectly baked, and honestly didn’t need to be toasted or buttered. She was perfect as she came. Deffo on the spenny side, but my god I’m still thinking about her days later.
Price: £3.50 each
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best for a bougie treat
Bakery name: Imma Bakery, Stoke Row
Taste: I mean, just look at them. Beautiful and perfectly celebratory, these feel like a proper centrepiece for an Easter spread. Immaculate to look at and a joy to eat. Firmer than the others Holly tried, but they smelt incredible and are perfectly balanced with spice. They taste like a high-end product, but at a surprisingly low price point.
Price: £1.80 each
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Food market find
Bakery name: Natural Bread Company
Taste: More akin to a classic shop-bought hot cross bun, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Best eaten on the day of purchase. Slightly sweeter than the others, with a sugary finish on top.
Price: £1.90
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Best cafe HCB
Bakery name: Lynwood and Co
Taste: It might not look the most appealing in the picture, but this was a very enjoyable hot cross bun. Bonus points for the generous dollop of butter on the side. Served warm, with a lovely structure and texture.
Price: £2.25
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bakery name: Mark’s
Supplied to various shops and cafes, Kitchen Food Company in Summertown are stocking them
Taste: Plump little things, we even had to trim them slightly to fit in the toaster. We loved how the flour paste cross crisped up, alongside a subtle orange peel flavour and a great aroma. Slightly smaller than some of the others, but uniform, square, and strong on both presentation and taste.
Price: £3.60 (wholesale for four)
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bakery name: Knead Bakery, central Oxford
Taste: Knead is home to some of my favourite pastries in Oxford, so I had high hopes for these that sadly weren’t quite met. They were a little on the dry side, and they didn’t have that gorgeous shine that a HCB should have. Still had good flavour, and a decent fruit: bun ratio, but not top of my list.
Price: £6 for a pack of 6
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bakery name: Proof Social, Kennington
Taste: These were very punchy and fruity (cranberry and orange), full of zest which was great. Really fluffy on the inside. Nothing Proof produce is bad, that place is heaven. Definitely best eaten on day of purchase though!
Price: £1.25 each
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bakery name: Heritage Bakery, Witney
Taste: Similar in size to Blakes, but without the same level of hydration, they were a touch on the crumbly side when toasted. Enjoyable enough, but not life-changing. That said, it still feels good to support a local small-batch bakery and they’re definitely worth picking up over shop-bought if you’re in Witney, and felt like great value for money too.
Price: £1.80 each of £5 for four
Overall score (out of 5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Fancy making them yourself? Check out these recipes.
Make your own Sourdough Hot Cross Buns
Jane Patisserie Hot Cross Bun Pudding
A savoury twist courtesy of Jamie Oliver
Savoury hot cross bun french toast from Toast with Hope
Wanna jazz up your HCB? Check out these twists on the classic…
- Hot Cross Buns with Bacon (and cheese or egg apparently?!)
- HCB with Lemon Curd
- HCB bread and butter pudding
- HCB with ice cream
- HCB flavour Krispy Kreme Doughnut
Holly and I hope this guide helps you out this Easter, it’s a serious quest finding the best hot cross buns and we gave it a good crack. Let us know if you’ve found any other delicious indie spots for a good old HCB, and have a good Easter when it arrives.
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