Australian consumer advocacy group Choice has awarded one of its highest-ever scores to a chocolate hot cross bun in its annual taste test. The Woolworths Bakery Chocolate Hot Cross Buns Made With Cadbury Milk Chocolate Chips received an overall score of 95%, taking first place in the chocolate bun category. This is among the highest scores in Choice's 10-year history of testing hot cross buns.
The buns, costing 73 cents each, impressed the judges with their chocolate flavour, aroma, and texture. Culinary taste tester Brigid Treloar, who also judges chocolate at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, noted it was unusual to achieve the 'trifecta' of sensory qualities, with the strong chocolate taste carrying through both toasted and untoasted versions. Despite containing only 19% chocolate, less than the runner-up's 25%, Treloar believed the inclusion of cocoa powder boosted the flavour.
In the traditional fruit category, Coles Finest Luxurious Fruit Hot Cross Buns retained the top spot for the second consecutive year with a score of 85%. Judges praised their generous fruit offering and strong spice aroma. The runner-up, Woolworths Bakery Traditional Fruit Hot Cross Buns, scored 73% at nearly half the price, 73 cents per bun compared to Coles' $1.38.
For gluten-free options, Woolworths led both subcategories. The Woolworths Free From Gluten Fruit Hot Cross Buns scored 77%, and the chocolate version scored 70%, both priced at $1.38 per bun. Treloar noted that this year's gluten-free buns looked like 'normal hot cross buns' for the first time, though they had a slightly chemical aroma that toasting helped mitigate.
