BBC Good Food has revealed its best supermarket Easter products of 2023, after its panel of expert judges blind-tasted more than 120 products across 17 categories to find the top hot cross buns, Easter eggs, Simnel cakes, Easter main courses and desserts. The judges tested products, with all packaging removed, from 10 supermarkets to decide on the winners, including their picks for gluten-free hot cross buns, vegan Easter eggs, and vegetarian or vegan mains for a special Easter lunch.
The judges scores were submitted anonymously and the process overseen by an independent adjudicator. Winner of the coveted Milk Chocolate Egg in the BBC Good Food Easter Taste Awards was ASDA’s Extra Special Extra Thick Honeycomb, Pretzel & Caramel Milk Chocolate Egg.
Co-op's Irresistible Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns took first place in the Traditional Hot Cross Bun category, and Aldi’s Specially Selected Hot Cross Bun Pudding and Aldi’s Wagyu Tomahawk won Best dessert and Best Meat and Best Meat/Fish lunch centrepiece. M&S won Best Vegetarian/Vegan centrepiece with its Roast Butternut Squash & Spinach Pie. Waitrose scooped Best White Chocolate Egg and Best Children’s Egg.
Christine Hayes, BBC Good Food editor-in-chief, said: ”Our panel of BBC Good Food experts put hundreds of supermarket products through rigorous testing to arrive at the final list of Easter Taste Award winners. The results highlight the range and quality of Easter products on offer at supermarkets this year, and the innovative new ranges that are on the shelves, like savoury hot cross buns. The list of winners shows you don’t need to spend a huge amount of money to spoil yourself or your family with Easter treats, whether traditional Easter eggs, or a show-stopping lunch centrepiece.”
The list of winners is below. The full list, which includes supermarket Easter products awarded as Highly Commended, is here.
Hot cross buns
Classic buns
Co-op Irresistible Richly Fruited Hot Cross Buns £1.60
With a smart glazed topping, soft bread and good balance of fruit, these buns almost tasted homemade. The spicing is light and well-balanced.
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Alternative buns
Lidl Deluxe Luxury Apple Hot Cross Buns £1.39
A subtle twist on the classic hot cross bun, these had juicy chunks of apple and dialled-up levels of cinnamon. One for hot cross bun purists who fancy something new.
Savoury buns
M&S Extremely Cheesy Hot Cross Buns £2
The cheese flavour of these buns appealed to all judges, with good texture to the bread. One of these buns would make an extremely decadent grilled cheese sandwich...
Gluten-free buns
M&S Made Without Fruited Hot Cross Buns £2
These had an appealing, relatively squidgy texture for a gluten-free product, plus an attractive golden appearance. Expect a good cinnamon flavour and a generous proportion of fruit (including juicy raisins).
Easter Eggs
Milk egg
ASDA Extra Special Extra Thick Honeycomb, Pretzel & Caramel Milk Chocolate Egg £7
This generously sized egg was an all-round winner. Thick chocolate is studded with honeycomb, pretzel pieces and caramel for perfectly balanced sweet and salt levels. We kept going back for more.
Dark egg
M&S Extremely Chocolatey Dark Chocolate Pretzel & Peanut Crunch Egg £7
Glossy chocolate with a good thickness and snap, decorated with pretzels and chunky peanut pieces for extra crunch.
White egg
Waitrose Raspberry Ribbon Easter Egg £7
This fun, colourful egg looks impressive and tastes premium. It's packed with freeze-dried raspberries for tang and a tiny bit of crunch without being overpowering. The fruit cuts through sweet white chocolate perfectly.
Vegan egg
Asda Extra Special Free From Dark Chocolate Egg with Vanilla Flavour Truffles £5
The complex dark chocolate is smooth and silky with impressive creaminess for a vegan option.
Children’s egg
Waitrose Take it Slow Boe £6
The adorable turtle design and intricate detail of this unusual ‘egg’ won over judges, but the chocolate was equally standout – smooth, creamy and a great thickness £6
Miniature eggs
Aldi Moser Roth Belgian Chocolate Mini Eggs £3.99
This smart box of chocolates holds a variety of gourmet flavours inside each mini egg, including salted caramel, speculoos and chocolate orange. The chocolate was good quality with generous levels of ganache and fillings hidden inside.
Bunny joint winners
Aldi Moser Roth milk chocolate hazelnut bunny £1.49
Easter bunnies aren't just for kids. This hazelnut bunny has a more grown-up flavour, with lots of crunchy nuts throughout and smooth chocolate on a simplistic design.
Waitrose Hip Hop Harri £6
The sweet design of this characterful bunny was impressive, but judges particularly loved the surprise of the chocolate carrot filled with caramel! Expect smooth and creamy chocolate that melts easily.
Cakes
Simnel cake
M&S Easter Simnel Cake £13
Judges loved the pretty floral marzipan design on top of this cake, and the generously sized marzipan balls – both had a great flavour. The cake had evenly distributed fruit with plenty of currants, and it held together well when sliced.
Desserts
Aldi Specially Selected Hot Cross Bun Pudding £3.99
Judges loved this comforting pud: crispy top, squidgy custardy centre with a hint of vanilla, and lots of fruit and spice from the hot cross buns.
Easter bakery
M&S Colomba di Pasqua £12
This comes beautifully packaged, making it a great gift option. It’s a traditional Italian Easter treat – one for people who like a panettone at Christmas! The bread is soft and sweet, with whole almonds on top for crunch.
Lunch mains
Veggie/vegan lunch centrepiece
M&S Roast Butternut Squash & Spinach Pie £7
This looks homemade with its impressive filo topping, contrasting to the pie crust round the base. It's not a huge pie, but it is hearty and filling with plenty of veg.
Meat/fish lunch centrepiece
Aldi Wagyu Tomahawk £24.99
This seriously impressive wagyu tomahawk stole the show – a great centrepiece. You’ll need to hunt down your biggest pan to cook it, but the tender, juicy and flavourful meat is worth the effort. We kept going back for more.
The April issue of BBC Good Food is on sale now.
