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The best gluten-free hot cross buns
The winner is so good you won't know it's free-from!
Whether you're coeliac or have a gluten allergy or intolerance, you'll still want to enjoy the tasty treats Easter has to offer. And the good news is: you can! We asked our expert tasters to try five gluten-free hot cross buns from supermarket 'free-from' ranges to find which ones had all the flavour and texture of a traditional hot cross bun.
We were looking for an enjoyably doughy texture, well-balanced spice, and a generous amount of mixed citrus peel, juicy raisins and sultanas in every bite. Here's how they compared.
All prices are subject to change.
WINNER: M&S Made Without Wheat Gluten Free 4 Hot Cross Buns
Overall Score: 76/100
Topped with a perfectly piped cross, these buns have a pleasant scent, with notes of warming ground coriander and orange peel. Our panel loved the sweetness of the juicy vine fruits, and the bready texture of the cinnamon-flavoured dough.
In-store only, M&S, £2.00 for 4
Tesco Free From Milk, Wheat & Gluten 4 Hot Cross Buns
Overall Score: 72/100
These beautifully golden buns have a springy texture and a strong, cinnamon aroma. Raisins add a sweetness to the flavour of the dough, while cinnamon adds a gentle warmth. Some testers commented that they would have liked a stronger, spiced flavour.
BUY NOW Tesco, £2 for 4
Co-op Free-From Hot Cross Buns
Overall Score: 70/100
Lightly golden with a citrus and cinnamon aroma that some testers found a little sharp, these buns contain an abundance of juicy vine fruits and have a gentle cinnamon flavour. Some testers said they'd have preferred a stronger taste and found the texture slightly dry.
In-store only, Co-op, £2 for 4
Morrisons Free-From Hot Cross Buns
Overall Score: 62/100
A flatter bun with a pleasant citrus and cinnamon aroma and a mildly fruity taste. Most testers enjoyed the pleasantly spiced flavour, but some found it overpowering and detected a slight sourness. Some of our panel would have preferred a lighter texture with more moisture.
BUY NOW Morrisons, £1.50 for 4
Sainsbury’s Deliciously Free from Hot Cross Buns
Overall Score: 55/100
Standing rather tall, some testers thought these were more muffin-like than bun-like in appearance. Our panel enjoyed the aroma and taste of the sweet raisins but craved a better balance of spices. Some found these buns too doughy, with a texture that stuck to their teeth.
BUY NOW Sainsbury's, £2 for 4
Mel is the Senior Food & Drink Writer for Good Housekeeping UK, covering all the delicious new product launches that come her way, writing about food and drink topics, and curating gift guides for the best foodie products to buy. Alongside that, she can be found developing and creating cocktails for GH and holds her WSET Level 2 in Wine and Spirits. She was part of the Good Housekeeping Institute food testing team for over four years before moving over to the digital side, so knows a thing or two about great food products. You'll find her scouring the supermarket shelves in her spare time for new and exciting ingredients to experiment with in her kitchen.
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