If Christmas starts in November when can you eat a hot cross bun?

Oh, I used to be a stickler about only eating them from Good Friday, but I’ve succumbed. We finished our first pack this morning and I’ve just ordered some more in my grocery shop. Again I used to be a purist about only eating the traditional ones. They’re still my favourite, but some spiced apple seem to have fallen into my trolley….

Interesting to see that when several of you were children you always had them on Good Friday as I did too. It always seemed slightly odd to me that my parents who always gave up something enjoyably edible for Lent would happily have Hot Cross buns. I certainly didn’t know about bakers opening specially to sell them. June.

My Mum told me once that was why she never had sugar in tea. She’d given it up for Lent years before and never wanted it again.

I really fancy one now

My son came home with a pack of four spiced apple and four blueberry hot cross buns from M&S.

Oooh V3ra those are faves...

Ooooh blueberry, they sound nice, I must look out for them.
I only started eating hot cross buns after I left home. My mother didn’t like them, so that was that, nobody in our house got them!

Saw some lovely ones in M&S today - will probably buy them next time. Easter eggs been in shops since 27th December. I do buy them early but not that early.

Personally, I like to eat fruit and veg in season. And same goes for other foods for special festivals. So hot cross buns are for Easter only- that makes them feel special and so much more enjoyable, Same for mince pies over Christmas, etc.

I still have one in my freezer. I froze four and eat one when I feel like a treat. I will try and hold off buying any more until Holy Week.

I seem to eat them most of the year, I love them. I found some delicious vegan ones in M&S last week (though wouldn’t most sorts be vegan anyway?)

You can eat them any time you like. Made in my kitchen sometimes with crosses sometimes not. Delicious straight from the oven and cooled a little.

On a similar theme, I love this card - I’m saving it for an April birthday:

Love that Witzend . I hadn't heard of cheese and marmite hot cross buns. I shall have to investigate. Are they M&S? I shall have to do more research and trials before Easter of course.

Yes, trisher, the cheese and Marmite ones are from M&S. I am a Marmite addict, so I love them.

My neighbour volunteers at the food bank and we have been getting deliveries of hot cross buns off her for weeks so maybe people aren't buying them until Easter?

Good Friday.

Hmm... good question. I made the best hot cross buns ever last year (they contained dates). Must do a recipe rummage.

I never eat Hot Cross Buns before Good Friday. Always have one with a cup of coffee for breakfast on GF. In the days when my family were at home I used to make my own.

Definitely a taste and quality survey needs to be done, so I’ll join you in that trisher.

Good Friday but DH would eat them all year round if I let him

EkwaNimitee

I seem to eat them most of the year, I love them. I found some delicious vegan ones in M&S last week (though wouldn’t most sorts be vegan anyway?)

Some might have butter in them.

As a child we only ever had them on Good Friday. Usually for breakfast. I remember going very early with my father to the bakery to fetch them.
A major treat then - like the very occasional jam doughnut.

For most of the year we eat toasted tea cakes and then start eating hot cross buns around this time of year.

Oh, I could just eat a toasted tea cake!
But I'm not going out in this storm

TBH nowadays I prefer a toasted tea cake (good old Warburton’s, I don’t care for fancier ones) to a hot cross bun. Lighter and not so sweet.

Never permitted in our family until Good Friday, thinking of them got me through the sadness of the Good Friday service, and as soon as it was over we raced back to put the grill on and ate up to 5 each! They came out again on Easter Saturday, and Easter Sunday tea, with the Simnel cake. I love them, and would really enjoy one right now, but my upbringing doesn't let me!

BTW St Albans Abbey has the recipe for the original hot cross bun, served to the poor and pilgrims by the monks. They have reintroduced it, you can buy them in the cafe for about £1 each, much bigger than the shop ones. But I don't like them, they put spices like cardamom in, and when Mary Berry came to try one, she pulled an awful face!