Hot cross buns 2026: Easter snack on grocery store cabinets earlier than Christmas packed up | USAEMALL.com

Christmas isn’t packed up yet and we haven’t even seen in the new year, but already hot cross buns are hitting the supermarket shelves.

Coles’ and Woolworths brought everyone’s Easter schedules forward by putting its regular range of buns back on its shelves from Boxing Day.

The last of its four limited editions ranges, a mudcake hot cross bun, will be released on January 7.

While West Australians might groan at the thought of Easter intruding into their festive plans, Coles general manager Brad Gorman said the early return of the tasty treat was a chance to turn a customer favourite into something far more meaningful.

Coles will donate 20 cents from every six or nine-pack of buns sold to the children’s cancer charity, Redkite.

Redkite provides practical resources, such as its Red Bag of essentials, financial relief for everyday costs and counselling, to support children and their families from the time they receive a cancer diagnosis.

Woolworths hot cross bun expert and bakery merchandise manager Donald Keith said traditional fruit buns, and its gluten-free and fruit-free ranges, remain the popular pick throughout the season.

But the company and customers also like dipping into trending flavours.

Woolworths’s newest speciality is mixing a classic chocolate mud cake into a hot cross bun, which will hit the shelved on January 7.

The new mudcake flavor will add to an already impressive line-up of returning favourites, including the cinnabon hot cross bun, which made a successful debut earlier this year and earned the the title, Product of the Year.

Woolies will also be offering caramelised biscuit and Cadbury Caramello-filled hot cross buns to its regular range.

“The mudcake hot cross buns are a rich, chocolatey treat that are the perfect example of taking a customer favourite and turning it into a seasonal smash,” Mr Keith said.

As well as chocolate and apple and cinnamon buns, Coles’ bakers are switching up the beloved 12th century treat by including an Arnott’s Iced VoVo bicsuit-inspired flavour. A pack of the buns will cost $5.50.

Both supermarkets will also offer gluten-free traditional buns, which Woolworths will augment with a more expansive range, including apple and cinnamon. as well as chocolate.

“Hot cross bun season is all about fun and innovation, and our team enjoys bringing these exciting, limited-edition flavours to our customers each year,” Mr Keith said.

“We genuinely have something delicious for every single customer.”