Image by: Taryn Elliott
There’s something about Easter that brings out everyone’s opinions — especially when it comes to hot cross buns
Vanessa Baxter from The Fearless Kitchen and St Bart’s shared with Doug, her love of the traditional bun, her thoughts on the increasingly wild flavour combinations, and her favourite ways to enjoy leftovers.
A Seasonal Debate
When Doug asked the classic Easter question — hot cross buns or Easter eggs? — Vanessa joked that it’s hard to choose because one belongs to Good Friday and the other to Easter Sunday. But if you forced her to pick, she leaned firmly toward tradition, saying hot cross buns have a place, especially when they’re made with the familiar mix of fruit, spice, and a proper flour-and-water cross.
And while the shelves are now packed with everything from choc chip to mocha, Earl Grey, matcha raspberry, and even savoury versions, Vanessa admitted she’s not convinced the bun needs all the extra additions. For her, the best hot cross buns still keep things simple and classic.
Keeping It Traditional
The conversation celebrated the simple pleasures: buns warmed in the oven, spread generously with real butter, and served fresh for Easter breakfast. Vanessa suggested a light glaze of sugar and water, or even honey, maple syrup, or golden syrup, to give store-bought buns that fresh-from-the-bakery feel.
One listener also shared a favourite combination: traditional fruit hot cross buns, lightly toasted, with real butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Vanessa was quick to agree — that sounds like a perfect Good Friday breakfast.
Leftovers Done Right
If there’s one thing Easter guarantees, it’s leftovers. Vanessa’s go-to solution is to turn unused hot cross buns into bread and butter pudding. She recommended using the buns as the layers in a classic pudding recipe and adding homemade custard for an especially comforting finish.
It’s the kind of recipe that makes the most of what’s on hand and brings a warm, autumn feel to the table as the weather starts to shift.
A Thoughtful Easter at St Bart’s
The discussion also touched on Easter at St Bart’s, where Vanessa said residents were being treated to a special Easter breakfast, hot cross buns, coffee, and moments of shared celebration with chaplains and staff across Perth Metro locations. Alongside the buns, there were Easter eggs being enjoyed too, adding to the sense of community and care.
That spirit of togetherness echoed throughout the conversation: Easter is about more than food, but food has a way of making the season feel even more meaningful
Article supplied with thanks to Sonshine.
Feature image: Canva