In Australia, you don’t have to look far to find hot cross buns at Easter, or at any time of the year if we’re honest. But as an expat you might wonder where to find hot cross buns in New York. We’ve worked hard to update this guide for 2024, so let’s hop to it!
In the lead up to Easter Sunday (Sunday, March 31st), you’ll be stoked to learn several bakeries in New York–and further afield–are offering delicious hot cross buns (also known as “Easter buns”).
Our handy AWNY guide to find hot cross buns in New York has all the details for you. It’s broken down by borough as well as online and chain stores. And, of course, we’ve highlighted Aussie-owned bakeries in NYC. Plus we’ve added a list of bakeries where you can find hot cross buns outside of New York because we know many Aussies in the USA have become digital nomads or else enjoyed life outside NYC to begin with.
Jump ahead to the hot cross bun bakery of your choice:
- Aussie-owned Bakeries
- New York City – Multiple Locations
- New York City – Manhattan
- New York City – Bronx, Queens, Staten Island
- Outside NYC – East Coast
- Outside NYC – Mid West, South, West Coast
- Online Ordering
- Chain Stores
- Your Kitchen aka Make Your Own
Once you’ve secured a supply of these sweet, soft, spicy delights (you’re welcome), settle back and learn about the origins of the humble hot cross bun and why Aussies queue for hours for the perfect bun.
Wishing you a safe and Happy Easter, filled with peace, joy. Which hopefully will be even better, now that you know where to find hot cross buns in New York City and beyond. And a special thanks to all the hard-working bakeries in NYC as they continue trading during this season.
Aussie-owned Bakeries
There are plenty of amazing Australian owned bakeries and coffee shops in NYC, and we found hot cross buns at the following bakeries:
Australian Bakery Cafe
Fresh, delicious, five-star-rated hot cross buns are available to order online now. These are the real thing just like your Granny used to make: yeasty, with golden raisins, raisins, currants and lots of mixed spices. There are traditional buns and a chocolate variation. Available ALL YEAR! (online)
Of course, the cross is baked right in, NOT painted on with icing!
Australian bakery cafe
Aussie Pies and Sausages
Home to a lot of goodies including these hot crossed buns, these delicious buns can be shipped to anywhere in the US (online)
Bourke Street Bakery NYC
Their yeasted handmade, silky sweet buns are filled with spices, currants, and a touch of orange zest. Glazed and topped with housemade icing. They smell incredible and will be inhaled without abandon. Serve warm with lashings of butter or rip apart straight from the bag. Available to pre-order online for local NYC pickup. They are also available in 6-packs shipped nationwide on Goldbelly. Individual buns are sold in-store only. (NoMad and online, NYC)
Bourke Street Bakery Hot Cross Buns are so good that honestly, I’d steal one from a baby if I had the chance. It was also mysteriously dense yet soft. Like a $200 memory foam pillow that I slept on one time when I stayed with my friend’s rich family. ”
Alana Young, SydNey reviewer
Places that have stocked hot crossed buns in the past include Miss Melbourne Coffee, The Thirsty Koala, Bushwick Hot Bread, Gertrude, Supermoon Bakehouse and Marble Bar Bakery but we couldn’t find any sign of them this year but it might be worth checking them out in store or reaching out over their socials.
Multiple Locations
These bakeries have multiple locations across Manhattan and/or Brooklyn:
Amy’s Bread
Amy’s Bread Hot Cross Buns are slightly sweet, mildly spicy, and light and tender, filled with plump currants, and crossed with white frosting. They are available on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Buy in-store or call ahead to place an order:
– Hell’s Kitchen, ph: 212-977-2670,
– Chelsea Market, ph: 212-462-4338
(Manhattan )
Bien Cuit/Borough Provisions
Bien Cuit are selling Cherry Purple Potato Hot Cross Buns for Easter from 18th March to Easter Sunday. You can place a bakery order for day-of pick-up or delivery from either of the Smith Street or Franklin Avenue locations in Brooklyn. You can do so by visiting the local online ordering website here. (Brooklyn)
Fairway Market
Fairway Market is offering hot cross buns through their website. Check out more information here. (Manhattan, Brooklyn)
Wegmans
Wegmans (which offers delivery via InstaCart) sells hot cross buns for $6 a pack, which seems almost too good to be true. We can’t vet them for flavor though, so if you try, please share and tag us on Instagram @auwomennyc.
Manhattan
Bourke Street Bakery NYC
For more details about their delicious offerings, see their listing above, under “Aussie-owned Bakeries“. (NoMad)
Known for their delicious French bread, Balthazar Bakery now feature hot crossed buns for a limited time only.
William Greenberg Desserts
You can find hot cross buns, online and in-store, now until Easter. $18 for half dozen. (Hudson Yards, Midtown, Upper East Side)
Our hot cross buns feature a fluffy, spiced yeast bun studded with juicy raisins and pieces of citrus fruit baked to golden perfection, and topped with the signature white criss-cross.
William Greenberg Desserts
Silver Moon Bakery
Lent wouldn’t be lent without hot cross buns from Silver Moon Bakery. In the lead up to Lent, keep an eye out for Kings Cake (the New Orleans version of Galette des Rois, but more fun), and Mardi Gras Cake, a delicious chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream, decorated in all the fun colors of Mardi Gras. Place your order by calling 212-866-4717 or directly from their website. (Upper West Side)
Our hot cross buns are made with lots of sinful butter and eggs, currants and many spices.
Silver moon bakery
Tea and Sympathy
Hot cross buns are available now until Easter. You can order for delivery or pick up. (West Village)
We have perfected our recipe this year! They taste just like home and are not to be missed!
tea and sympathy
Worthwhile popping into Breads to see if they have hot cross buns as they have in the past years and they have multiple locations across the city.
Brooklyn
Radio Bakery
Greenpoint’s star bakery (owned by Rolo’s Pastry Chef Kelly Mencin) will be selling Hot Cross Buns starting Friday—Sunday (Easter Weekend) at $5 a piece. According to Kelly, “We use our milk bread base that is spiced with lots of cardamon and filled with homemade candied orange peel, sour cherries, and sultanas. It gets an orange glaze when it’s hot out of the oven, then a spiced frosting on top for the traditional X. It’s super moist, citrusy, and a staff fav!”
Bronx
Zeppieri Bakery
Again, not yet confirmed for 2024 but family owned bakery, Zeppieri and Sons, have often served their traditional hot cross buns through to Easter so we’re hopeful for a last minute announcement saying they’ll be back for another year! (Bronx)
Queens
La Boulangerie de Francois
In previous year’s this French bakery in Forest Hills, Queens have sold their “home style” cross buns. There’s spices such as allspice and cinnamon, European style butter, fresh eggs and milk. Plus currants and golden raisins as well as orange and lemon zest. Check out their store today and see if this year is no exception! (Forest Hills)
Our regular clients ask us every year when we will start baking the Hot Cross Buns. It became a tradition for us.
la boulangerie de francois
Staten Island
Bruno’s Bakery
Family owned Bruno’s have been known to sell their traditional hot cross buns at both locations. (Forest Ave or Hylan Ave)
Outside NYC
New York State
The Meltaway Bakery
According to their FB page, they keep making batches of hot cross buns but are sold out quickly. (Upstate, New York)
Collegetown Bagels
A pack of 12 hot cross buns containing candied cherries & oranges is available from Collegetown Bagels via Goldbelly, or pop in store to see their offering in person. (Ithaca, New York)
East Coast
Cobs Bread
Filled with raisins, currants and mixed spices, you’ll feel the magic in every bite with hot cross buns from popular Connecticut bakery chain. There are apple cinnamon, chocolate chip, and cranberry orange variations as well as the traditional style. Available now in-store. (Various locations)
The Gingered Peach
These hand-crafted hot cross buns are “buttery with a hint of orange, raisins, and sweetness from the icing. No cinnamon, no allspice. We let the dough be the star of the show.” Available for pick-up. (Lawrence Township, New Jersey)
Flour Bakery + Cafe
A bake your own variety from Boston’s iconic Flour Bakery + Cafe. You can order from Goldbelly or check out one of their nine locations around Boston and Cambridge to see if they have any fresh out the oven instead of baking your own. (Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts)
La Farm Bakery
My husband’s rellies live in and around Cary, NC (shout out to Aunt Berta and co!) so I was chuffed to receive a recommendation for this authentic hot cross bun-making French bakery from Aussie Mum, Jen. (Cary, North Carolina)
Miller’s Bakery
Available in-store and online through Goldbelly. (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
Westhampton Pastry Shop
Alongside various seasonal treats and Easter-decorated cakes, the Westhampton Pastry Shop has been making hot cross buns a tradition. Available in store. (Richmond, Virginia)
Mid-West
Hickory Lane Baked Goods
If you live anywhere near Eastern Ohio, and have a hankering for hot cross buns, drop a line to Misty Warden of this small batch, licensed home baker. (Ohio)
Sehnert’s Bakery
For a hot cross bun with a colorful twist try Sehnert’s Bakery. They opt for a flavored vanilla icing cross for a sweet burst of flavor. The Sehnert family has been baking since the 1500s, and since 1897 in the US. (McCook, Nebraska)
Marble Bar Bakery
An Aussie-owned bakery which no longer seems to do hot cross buns (but it might be worth asking if you’re close) but does do lamingtons and caramel slice for those in need of a taste from home. (Saint Joseph, Missouri)
South
The Queen’s Pantry
Alongside an extensive collection of Easter treats you can find The Queen’s Pantry in Georgia stocking their hot cross buns. (Marietta, Georgia)
Proper Baking Company
This Dallas handcrafted bakery creates authentic British baked goodies, delivering to the DFW area. (Online local Dallas Fort Worth deliveries)
West Coast
The British Pantry Ltd
A good chance a place called the British Pantry will have hot cross buns in their bakery again but it’s been unconfirmed for 2024. (Seattle, Washington)
Maggie & Molly’s Sweet LIfe
Here’s a pack of six freshly made hot cross buns with currants and topped with the traditional cross made with icing. Delivery and pick up. (Denver, Colorado)
Online Ordering
Ackroyd’s Scottish Bakery
Michigan-based, Ackroyd’s spiced fruit buns (aka hot cross buns sans cross) are spiced sweet buns made with raisins and candied fruit. You can buy a -6pack for $18 plus shipping. (Online)
Aussie Pies and Sausages
For details about their hot cross buns and links for ordering online, see their listing above, under “Aussie-owned Bakeries“. (Online)
Australian Bakery Cafe
For details about their hot cross buns and links for ordering online, see their listing above, under “Aussie-owned Bakeries“. (Online)
Goldbelly
To date we’ve found six sources of hot cross buns from this online ordering site, more could pop up in the days before Easter Sunday. (Online)
Wolferman’s Bakery
This Missouri-based bakery has hot cross buns ready to ship now for $29.99 for a dozen (plus shipping). Hot Cross Buns arrive ready to heat, along with icing to drizzle a cross on top of each sweet roll. (Online)
Chain Stores
Entenmann’s
Anyone who has browsed the aisles of a typical New York grocery store, will be familiar with boxed baked goods from Entenmann’s. As Easter approaches, Entenmann’s releases boxed hot cross buns. Check their store locator for a supplier near you.
Thomas Cranberry English Muffins
So they’re not actually hot cross buns. But with real cranberries and a sweet and slightly tart taste, these seasonally made English muffins have been endorsed by an Aussie as a worthy addition to your Easter time baked goodies. After all, variety is the spice of life! Generally found in larger chain supermarkets, check their store locator for a supplier near you.
Wegmans
Found! An eight-pack in Wegmans. Check your local store for more details or order online.
Whole Foods Market
Aficionados (thanks, Aussie Mum Clare!) have long flagged Whole Foods as a source of hot cross buns. Check your local store and see what you can find.
And if you’d like to make your own?
With so many recipes online to choose, from where do you start if you want to tackle hot cross buns yourself? Shout out to our mate (and Kiwi in New York) Erin Clarkson of food blog Cloudy Kitchen who has four different hot cross bun recipes for you to choose from:
- Roasted apple, crystallised ginger, and sultana hot cross buns with salted caramel crosses (AWNY volunteer, Tarley made these in 2020 and confirms they are to die for)
- ‘Traditional style’ fruit hot cross buns with vanilla bean pastry cream cross
- Dark chocolate and cardamom hot cross buns with chocolate pastry cream cross (pictured below)
- Hot cross bun morning buns
And if you’re a newbie hot cross bun baker? Find out what happened when Aussie in New York blogger, America Josh aka Josh Pugh, baked hot cross buns for the first time.
Recipe and Image by Erin Clarkson of Cloudy Kitchen, and can be found online here.
Happy Easter
Now that you know where to find hot cross buns in New York, which ones are your favorite? Do you know of any other New York bakeries selling hot cross buns that aren’t listed in our guide? Let us know in the comments and we’ll add them in.
Special Thanks
Sincere thanks and appreciation goes out to all the bakeries featured in our guide. The dedication and enthusiasm of your hard-working founders, bakers and staff “gives rise” to delicious hot cross buns for the community to enjoy during the Easter season.
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If you notice an error or would like to suggest an update or inclusion, please email us at awny@aanyc.org.
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