I’m a little late to the party on this one given that Easter is over and bakeries are probably already clearing out space for the next holiday’s baked good of choice. Still, I noticed this year a lot of heated debate about the hot cross bun. Who knew that it was such a contentious topic? Apparently hot cross buns are either dearly loved or bitterly loathed. Our national news publication even wrote a whole article about it (which, brief side note, come on CBC, you can do better with ‘news’).
When I pause to think about it, I suppose we have the candied fruit to blame. It seems to have a divisive power wherever it shows up (fruit cake, I’m looking at you). Personally, I’m candied fruit agnostic. It shows up in a number of baked goods that I like and an equal number of baked goods that I do not like. Therefore, I can only assume that the candied fruit itself is not a problem for me. However, I won’t take away the candied fruit haters’ opportunity to vehemently oppose that which they hate. Food aversions are real.
Where am I going with this? Today, I am entering myself into the hot cross bun debate as staunchly pro-hot cross bun. I am not here to convince the hot cross bun haters that they should hop on board the hot cross bun train. I support your need to hate them, even if your hatred has nothing to do with candied fruit. However, I also reserve the right to share my reasons for loving the hot cross bun, which are few and simple:
1. They are a sweet(ish) bread product eaten for breakfast. Any opportunity to eat sweets at breakfast is welcome in my books.
2. They are occasionally glazed. See above point.
3. My mother bakes them from scratch and they are not only infinitely more delicious than any store-bought hot cross bun I’ve ever had (even without glaze…which she inexplicably stopped making years ago…hmph), but also twice the size of a standard hot cross bun. Go big or go home, particularly with anything remotely sweet. If you don’t believe me, read my post on my beloved apple fritter.
4. You can add copious amounts of butter to them when toasted. Butter on hot toasted bread products is pretty much at the pinnacle of my personal food pyramid.
So there you have it, one more vote cast in the hot cross bun debate. You can agree or disagree, but my voice shall be heard! And now, yours can too! What do you say? Hot cross bun, yay or nay?
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