Hot cross buns are a customary offering at Easter time. Traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the UK, the commercialisation of the Christian holiday means we can also eat them many weeks before the Easter weekend.
This year, most supermarkets have released a series of hot cross buns that could be considered a crime against humanity. Waitrose offers a sticky toffee pudding flavour, M&S a Bramley apple version and Sainsbury's had some with lemon and white chocolate.
But the one I'd heard most about was from Tesco. Its red velvet version is clearly a popular choice this year considering I had to go to at least four stores to find them. In Tesco Extra on Callington Road, there were stacks of them alongside all the other abominations - triple chocolate, salted caramel and chocolate, even cheese and caramelised onion - are among the new additions to the supermarket shelves this year.
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Shoppers around the country are completely divided over this particular flavour. Some people who seemingly hate raisins and currants awarded them five stars, praising the supermarket's broad range. Several others, however, were appalled by them, with two people who reviewed them online saying they threw them straight in the bin.
I'd enjoy a red velvet cake if it was in front of me - a crimson-coloured cocoa layer cake with cream cheese icing - but struggled to see how it could transpire in hot cross bun form. Tesco has in fact reproduced the recipe, although the dough in this particular batch was more of a pinkish-brown colour.
My batch was a little dry although it softened once toasted, melting the dark and white chocolate chips just the right amount. The bun itself managed to be both overly sweet and bland at the same time, and I couldn't taste any cocoa powder as promised in the recipe.
When you didn't have a mouth full of chocolate, the dominant flavour was the sourness of the cream cheese that had been worked into the enriched dough. I hated this - it confused its taste massively, flitting between overly sweet and almost savoury with each bite.
Another issue I had was what to top it with. I like a hot cross bun warm with a slab of butter, like many normal people, but it seemed wrong in this instance. I did it anyway, probably to my detriment, but what else are you supposed to put on a hot cross bun?
The humble hot cross bun - as it is, in its original form - is flawless and doesn't require dozens of different versions. Why try and fix something that isn't broken? Admittedly, if you have a sweet tooth and you're not a fan of dried fruit, this could be for you - but be warned - it's incredibly sweet even for those who like sugar.
This particular flavour proved to be contentious among Tesco shoppers so I'll be curious to see if they make a return next year. Tesco's red velvet hot cross buns, alongside its extensive Easter range, will be available to purchase in store or for delivery until April 10, 2023.
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