Easter Food Review: Best & Worst Hot Cross Buns and Chocolate Eggs

Hot Cross Bun Reviews

• 🏆 Russell's M&S Collection Fruited Hot Cross Buns were the standout winner, praised for their brioche-like dough, rich fruit content, and delicate spicing, earning five stars.
• 💡 For preparation, Zanthy recommends grilling the cut side of the bun, easing it apart with fingers for a craggy texture, and adding butter.
• 🍫 Waitrose Belgian Chocolate Hot Cross Buns received four stars, noted for their chocolate chips that melt when toasted, making them a good option for a casual dessert with ice cream.
• 🫐 M&S Juicy Blueberry Hot Cross Buns were described as tasting like a blueberry muffin and were not considered true hot cross buns, receiving a mixed reception.
• ☕ Asda Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns surprisingly earned four stars, offering a coffee and chocolate flavor that cuts through sweetness, despite not tasting strongly of tiramisu.
• 🧀 Savory hot cross buns, particularly M&S and Morrisons' cheesy versions, were discussed as a potential trend for next year, suitable with tomato soup.
• 🍓 Waitrose No. 1 Apricot and Stem Ginger Hot Cross Buns received five stars, lauded for their tangy flavor and generous stem ginger pieces, though one host found the ginger association unpleasant.
• 🥚 A controversial M&S 'dippy egg' hot cross bun, containing a whole cream egg, was deemed excessively sweet and nauseating by some.

Easter Egg Reviews

• 🍫 The Waitrose Caramel Egg was rated four stars for its caramel flavor and crunchy inclusions, though one host found it too sickly.
• 🌟 The Dubai Chocolate Bar phenomenon, featuring pistachio filling and crispy pastry, was discussed, though not tasted due to unavailability.
• 🧐 The Neu House milk chocolate egg was critiqued for its dated packaging and vague 'inclusions' description, with a preference for simpler milk chocolate.
• 🇦🇺 The Aldi children's egg with popping candy was a hit for its fun texture and value at $3.99, outperforming the more expensive Dairy Milk equivalent.
• 🍦 The Aldi Ice Cream Egg was a favorite among children, resembling a Weeble toy and tasting distinctly of caramel and ice cream, priced at $5.99.
• 🍬 A standard Cadbury Cream Egg was revisited, with hosts discussing the nostalgic appeal and the intense sweetness of the fondant filling.

Economic & General Points

• 📉 Food inflation remains a concern, making Easter expensive, although discounters like Aldi and Lidl are offering deals on vegetables.
• 🍎 There's a call for fruit and vegetables to be cheaper, as they are currently more expensive than processed snacks for some families.
• 🇺🇸 A positive note on trade wars potentially reducing the amount of American chocolate available in the UK.