Hot cross buns served up with myth and mystical pricing
Every year at Easter I think about which hot cross buns to get - and how much they might cost.
You might have heard that they were once “one-a-penny”. I mean at that price who would have left the bakery after just one?
Early on hot cross buns were given away
The story is that Christian monks first made hot cross buns in the 1300s and distributed them to feed the poor.
Among the generous bakers were the brothers at St Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire in England. Brother Thomas Rocliffe is said to have developed an original recipe and from 1361, he would hand out the buns to the needy on Good Friday.
A couple of centuries later, England went bun mad with many people believing the sweet little snacks had magical powers. But the initial mystique of the hot cross bun is hard to pinpoint because some sources even date them back to the ancient Egyptians who used small round breads topped with crosses to celebrate the gods.
Don’t forget the Greeks and Romans, never ones to skip a good origin story, who were said to offer similar sweetened rolls in tribute to the heavens.
Baked in - high cost of inflation
For our purposes here, better money habits, hot cross buns might just be an excellent marker of household costs in a high-cost world. Consider that fairly affordable buns can be found in supermarkets, middle of the road prices are often served at your local cafe or corner shop, while for those with bagfuls of pennies, high-end buns can be found at fancy boutique bakeries.
The price variation is important here because we’re essentially talking about the same ingredients with only slight tweaks - it's usually flour, sugar, yeast, milk, eggs - bread! And as we know, bread is one of the most inflated of food items on the Aussie consumer price index - up 8.3% as of January, as per the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
If you think sugar and spice can be magical, nothing is really quite as potent as the spell of inflation.
How much for six buns at Easter?
A little Googling reminds us that just a few years ago a supermarket six-pack of hot cross buns was around $3.50.
And yet a standard supermarket six-pack might now set you back $4, while some more ‘luxurious’ supermarket versions can even go for $5.
Bakers Delight used to do a sixer for around $7 but that’s now $9, and a cafe-level pack appears to have jumped from around $8.50 to $10 or $12 in many cases.
In light of these 2024 price points, $20 for six at highly regarded gourmet shops like Bourke Street Bakery or Sonoma Bakery seem reasonable.
Don't get cross - it's about the flavour
Indeed cost alone isn’t everything - the best buns are about bang for buck. The price of your Easter buns won’t matter so much if they deliver on flavour and according to leading taste buds - the judges for the Victoria Baking Show among them - North End Bakehouse in Shepparton crosses all the boxes (and buns).
These hungry aficionados sampled entries from 130 bakeries across NSW, Victoria and South Australia before hitting on a winner, so we’ll take it on good faith that they know what they’re doing.
Like many bakeries, North End cooks up a number of bun varieties and perhaps in the interest of a more egalitarian Easter, offer a range of price points, too. Last I checked, their packs were $8 without fruit, $8.50 with Vegemite, $9.50 for a traditional pack and $16 for vanilla hot cross buns.
Failing that you could simply nab some more Easter eggs. After all, the CPI on dairy and related products only climbed 6.1% in January. Bargain.
At Mozo we want to help you find the best deals and save money. Being better with your budget starts with a good savings account. Below our experts have handpicked some of the best savers for you to compare. Happy Easter and happy saving!
Compare top savings accounts - last updated 15 May 2024
-
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Kick Start Savings - 2024
High Interest Savings Account
5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
4.40% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account . Receive the maximum rate when you grow your balance by at least $200 each month. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance.
CompareCompareHigh Interest Savings Account
Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account . Receive the maximum rate when you grow your balance by at least $200 each month. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance.
- Maximum rate
- 5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)
- standard interest rate
- 4.40% p.a.(for $0 to $250,001)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening, reverting to standard variable rate. Rate shown is for Personal customers and is subject to change. Different rates apply to Business/SMSF customers.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the High Interest Savings Account
-
Savings Account
5.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Bonus variable rate is available for the first four months.
Competitive introductory variable rate for first 4 months (on deposits up to $250,000). No account keeping fees to pay. Multiple 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
CompareCompareSavings Account
Competitive introductory variable rate for first 4 months (on deposits up to $250,000). No account keeping fees to pay. Multiple 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
- Maximum rate
- 5.35% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus variable rate is available for the first four months.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must have a Macquarie Transaction Account to link with.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Savings Account
-
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- High Interest Savings - 2024
AMP Saver Account
5.40% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
1.20% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)
Yes up to $250,000
Enjoy a bonus rate when you deposit at least $1000 per month with the AMP Saver Account.
No account fees. Unlimited transactions when linked to an AMP Bank transaction account. Easy online access to your money. Option to link your savings account to an everyday transaction account. 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
CompareCompareAMP Saver Account
No account fees. Unlimited transactions when linked to an AMP Bank transaction account. Easy online access to your money. Option to link your savings account to an everyday transaction account. 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.
- Maximum rate
- 5.40% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 1.20% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Ongoing total variable bonus rate of up to 5.40% per annum applies if customers deposit $1,000 in the previous month. Available only on balances up to $250,000.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Ongoing total variable bonus rate up to 5.40% p.a. is earned on the balance the month after you deposit $1,000 and is paid the following month, on balances up to $250k. Max balance per customer name is $5 million.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the AMP Saver Account
-
High Interest Save Account
5.10% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Deposit at least $200 to either Spend, Bills or Save account from an external source each month.
No monthly fees on any of your save accounts. Split your money with up to 10 Save accounts. Set savings targets and track the progress of all your Save accounts. Deposits guaranteed up to $250K per customer.
CompareCompareHigh Interest Save Account
No monthly fees on any of your save accounts. Split your money with up to 10 Save accounts. Set savings targets and track the progress of all your Save accounts. Deposits guaranteed up to $250K per customer.
- Maximum rate
- 5.10% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Deposit at least $200 to either Spend, Bills or Save account from an external source each month.
- Access
- Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Account can only be opened through iOS or Android app, but may be accessed through internet banking.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the High Interest Save Account
-
Reward Saver Account
5.25% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
0% p.a.(for $0 and over)
Yes up to $250,000
Intro bonus rate of 5.25% for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months, reverting to 3.25%. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals.
Introductory bonus rate for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals. Start your account online in under 10 minutes and earn interest on balances up to $1,000,000 (T&Cs apply). No monthly account fees, helping you save smarter and faster.
CompareCompareReward Saver Account
Introductory bonus rate for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals. Start your account online in under 10 minutes and earn interest on balances up to $1,000,000 (T&Cs apply). No monthly account fees, helping you save smarter and faster.
- Maximum rate
- 5.25% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Intro bonus rate of 5.25% for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months, reverting to 3.25%. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals.
- Access
- ATM, EFTPOS, Visa Debit, Cheque book, BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking, Bank@Post
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Reward Saver Account
Your selected family finances
Your selected family finances
Your selected family finances
Your selected family finances
Your selected family finances