Melbourne’s top five spots for hot cross buns
It’s time to hop to it and get your mitts on some of Melbourne’s best hot cross buns ahead of Easter. Here’s our top five picks.
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It’s time to hop to it and get your mitts on some of Melbourne’s best hot cross buns ahead of Easter. Here’s our top five picks.
Madeleine de Proust, Carlton
Think outside the hot cross bun box by ordering something special in a box from Madeleine de Proust. The patisserie’s April collection by pastry superstar HyoJu Park features both a hot cross bun-spiced madeleine with Grand Marnier, rum-soaked raisins and zesty orange peel; and an adorable golden bunny madeleine filled with vanilla ganache and popping candy, and coated in Valrhona Hukambi chocolate. These come all wrapped up with a mojito madeleine, the s’more/Oreo mash-up ‘s’moreo’ madeleine, a strawberry and yoghurt madeleine and a pistachio and raspberry financier. And no, you don’t have to share if you don’t want to.
253 Lygon St, Carlton; madeleinedeproust.com.au
Baker Bleu, various locations
Slather the best cultured butter you can find on Baker Bleu’s delectably more-ish hot cross buns – amping up those traditional flavours with cinnamon-spiced oranges and the finest raisins. Or go for the bakery’s more adventurous sour cherry and dark chocolate-flavoured bun. They’re churning out both fresh every day for pre-order or pick-up over Easter. And they are heavenly. But it gets even better. This weekend at their Cremorne store, the Baker Bleu team is also slinging hot cross bun ice cream sandwiches, featuring Piccolina gelato in your choice of fior di latte, pistachio or Nutella flavour. They’re available from 10am.
To Be Frank, various locations
To Be Frank’s traditional hot cross buns make magical with organic sultanas, currants and orange that’s been candied in-house, along with classic spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. The team also adds a splash of apple cider to their dough, which makes their buns extra soft. To step things up a little, there’s also a luxe saffron, candied lemon and currant version – gently spiced, irresistibly fragrant, with just the right amount of zing. Or skip the buns and head for the “Cross-ant” – a laminated pastry made using a spiced croissant dough that’s filled with a spiced custard and fruit.
Penny For Pound, various locations
With pre-orders at capacity in no time, you should head in-store for these buns, filled with Earl Grey-soaked raisins, currants and sultanas, orange zest and cinnamon. Or go full chocolate – these cakey buns have a generous helping of dark choc chunks folded throughout. April also brings some new Easter-themed pastry items – a Hot Cross Cinnamon Scroll, swirled with spiced brown sugar and cinnamon, filled with orange zest, plump sultanas and currants and topped with a cinnamon sour cream glaze; and a Twice Baked Hot Cross-ant – croissant pastry filled with Easter-spiced frangipane, plump dried fruit and a spiced sugar syrup.
Falco Bakery, various locations
You’ve got to be fast to get your mitts on one of these beauties. The traditional hot cross buns from this small-batch bakery have been touted as some of the best in town in recent years. Even Lune’s Kate Reid gave them a shout-out. They’re soft but chewy, with just the right amount of spice. They’re also packed with sultanas, currants and citrus in perfect distribution, all topped off with a delectably sticky glaze. But they’re only available until Easter Sunday. So don’t waste any time – head out and grab yours now, or you’ll have to wait until next year.
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Originally published as Melbourne’s top five spots for hot cross buns
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