Flavourless Hot Cross Buns

I bought the M&S blueberry flavour ones. Had one this afternoon and I agree with OP no flavour or spices whatsoever - very disappointing. Next year will go with traditional.

We love Lidl's hot cross buns. Full of fruit and spice. 70p for 4 (from memory).

Just eaten one from M&S. it was gorgeous. Nice plump fruit, well spiced. Very tasty and top marks from me.

Lidl, may be the same as the sainsbury's ones mentioned above.
but bound to be cheaper. have cinnamon, apple pieces and orange infused sultanas.
infused. not marinated. i imagine a very tiny syringe and a very precise confectioner...
and isn't a sultana the wife of a sultan; wonder if it's something to do with vaccinations, all these images flying around my head.
just as well i don't take hard liquor.

Tescos finest extra fruity are v nice. ? You could always sprinkle a little cinnamon on the melted butter for extra spice

Agree with * blue25 * Sainsbury’s taste the difference will take some beating.

I made a dozen yesterday and was pleased with the way they turned out. They could do with a bit more spice though so I shall amend the recipe. I write go-to recipes in a book rather than having to find a good one each time so I will change the amount of cinnamon and mixed spice. I don't put candied peel in as I don't like it. This year, for the first time, I got the mixture for the crosses correct and it stayed on in the right place, and a sticky glaze on the top.

I’m a one upper???

I made my own. Nicely spiced I might add?????

Made my own from a recipe by Dan Lepard which I found on Mumsnet last year. I had no strong bread flour only plain flour and his was the only recipe I could find. Everyone turned out well so I made again this year with strong white flour. All turned out well again. The best and easiest recipe in 40 years. The smell and taste were divine.

I always made my own when the children were at home but it's a real labour of love to do them for just two of us.
?

Another vote here for Sainsbury’s hot cross buns.

Husband's hot cross buns turned out very well, nice and spicy not too dense. Some friends came round unexpectedly so we had a pleasant afternoon with G & Ts and hot cross buns,.
Happy Easter every one.

Poor you MerylStreep my DD is the same, parosmia since January 2020, no sign of it easing so far.

Maybe it's my taste buds, not had covid but tried Aldi rhubarb ones taste very very faint. Tesco and Morrisons stodgy and bland, will pick up some M and S tomorrow if possible.
I just remember lovely fruity ones smelling of cinnamon growing up, I must be getting old somethings were definitely better in the old days.

Bought some chocolate and orange ones from our local baker the other day, half price as previous day’s bake, bargain!

Put straight in freezer, not told DH yet, will bring out as a surprise sometime.

Might try my home made Simnel cake at tea time, my mouth is watering at the thought!

I have just taken mine out of the oven. I made Jamie Oliver's recipe, minus the ginger and citrus peel because DH doesn't like those.
They smell delicious.

Against my better judgement I bought strawberry and white chocolate ones from Tesco YUK! Horrible, I don’t know what I was thinking I might have to buy ‘real’ Hot Cross buns tomorrow.

I've tried Aldi's Rhubarb hot Cross Buns and their Apple and Cinnamon ones this year. Both had plenty of flavour, especially the apple ones.

M&S four cheese and Marmite ones are fantastic. Not sure that they should be called hot cross buns though. Split and toasted they are divine (if you like that sort of thing)

I always have my first Hot cross bun for breakfast on Good Friday. Mine are Sainsbury, just the right amount of spice and fruit for me. Delicious warm with butter. Had one at coffee time too. Happy Easter everyone.

B9exchange
I lost my taste and smell in Dec 2019 after being quite ill with something ? that my doctor couldn’t work out what it was.

M n S ones are lovely, especialy with butter.

My husband is just making some as we can't buy them here. I will let you know what they are like. The ones he made last year could be politely described as dense, solid may be a better description

I could never fancy chocolate ones!
Bought a pack of small M&S classic ones the other day and they were yummy, certainly spicy enough. Dh and I made
?? of ourselves.

Had a Waitrose one yesterday, I could smell it before I ate it, yum.