Nail your Easter feasting with a pack of Brisbane’s best gourmet hot cross buns
Easter is a season of indulgence, so when it comes to celebrating with a six-pack of buttery buns, we prefer to go gourmet. It’s that time of year when Brisbane’s best bakeries fiercely compete for our custom, dishing out fresh trays of hot cross buns loaded with fruit, spices and other delicious ingredients. We’re not going to say which bakery bun is the definitive choice – we’re more inclined to put together a list of the top picks and let you make the hard decision. Although picking may be difficult, at the end of the day there is no wrong choice when it comes to hot cross buns.
Agnes Bakery, Fortitude Valley: Superstar baked-goods supplier Agnes Bakery 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 spice mix and a sourdough starter, which rounds out the sweetness of the raisins and currants with a subtle tang that is so addictive.
Baker D. Chirico, Newstead: Opening October last year, this Easter is big-name Melbourne bakery Baker D. Chirico’s first chance to impress Brisbane punters with its hot cross bun offerings. Specialising in traditional bread-making techniques, Baker D. Chirico strives to celebrate the traditional spiced flavours of a HCB with buns made with mixed spices, orange peel, 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 crunch to an otherwise perfectly soft bun.
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, including a traditional take featuring cinnamon, raisins, oranges and currants and a classic chocolate-laden alternative.
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 and another laced with moreish chocolate.
Florence, Camp Hill: This magical cafe is getting in on the hot cross bun action in 2025. Here, the crew starts with a house milk bun recipe, mixing in sultanas, currants, candied citrus peel, cinnamon and star anise. Once the buns a baked, the Florence team glazed them with a cinnamon brown-sugar glaze. These beauties are made fresh daily and are dairy free!
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.
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 buns, available on Fridays and Saturdays for the time being, are jam-packed with raisins, sultanas, currants, cranberries, dates, dried figs and spices for a delicious hit of decadence in your day.
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Darvella Patisserie, Bulimba: The Darvella crew are blessing us this Easter, with three kinds of hot cross bun to try. Available daily from April 1 will be the traditional hot cross bun, made using brandy-soaked fruit the team started preparing six months ago. Two special flavours will be available on select weekends, including a Kinder Bueno bun (boasting dark and white chocolate chips) and a Raspberry Velvet number (with white chocolate chips) on offer on April 5–6, 18, 26–27.
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 are Jocelyn’s filled buns, a twisted take on the beloved bun – picture a traditional HCB filled with spiced cardamom cream, or a choc-chip HCB boasting chocolate cream inside.
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. The bakery is serving traditional buns (loaded with sultanas, currants and spice) as well as some chocolate-infused options that’ll have the Easter Bunny jealous.