Hot Cross Buns Worth Travelling For - A Shortlist for South West Victoria
We love simple pleasures and toasting hot cross buns before slathering them with butter and devouring them outside in the soft autumn sun is something we look forward to every year. There’s also nothing like their delicious smell wafting across the kitchen to bring back memories of Easters spent with family where adventures, picnics and a pocketful of chocolate eggs were the order of the day.
If you enjoy reading about food and local produce as much as we do, you could be led to believe the best hot cross buns are only found at bakeries and cafe’s in the city. Anyone who lives along the Great Ocean Road or a little further inland knows we have ‘beautiful buns’ here too, so we thought we’d throw our Easter parade hat in the ring and raise the flag for the bakers in our patch who are making some very fine buns indeed.
Be warned though, there’s nothing objective about this list and if you love a hot cross bun with chocolate or flashy flavour pairings, you won’t find what you’re looking for here. This is a list for the traditionalists - for those who love the simplicity of a well-made bun with just the right amount of fruit and spice. And butter!
A beautiful Easter break spent at Port Cottage with the smell of Irrewarra Bakery’s sourdough hot cross buns wafting through the kitchen. Perfection!
Schulz Organic Dairy & Café
There is a lot to love about this cafe located on an organic dairy farm near Timboon, but our hearts beat a little faster in the lead up to Easter when their chef Hila announces hot cross buns are back. Freshly baked on site, they’re soft with the perfect amount of cinnamon, fruit and the loveliest glaze you ever did see. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy them warm with their house-made butter in the beautiful garden at the cafe or back at Port Farm where you can watch the world go by from the top of the hill.
🌐 schulzorganiccreamery.com.au
📍 23 Ford And Fells Rd, Timboon
Jane Dough
Jane Dough Bakery in Warrnambool is renowned for delicious pastries and sourdough bread, but boy oh boy, their hot cross buns might just take the cake. Excuse the pun, but these are the kind of buns you think of late at night and first thing in the morning…even before coffee. Trust us! Soft with depth of flavour, filled with juicy fruit and a beautiful glaze that catches the sunlight. These buns are a must try. Order ahead to avoid disappointment or if you’re lucky, you might them down at the Fresh Market Warrnambool down at Lake Pertobe.
🌐 janedough.com.au
📍 719 Raglan Parade, Warrnambool
Terang Country Bakery
Made each morning in the weeks before Easter, Terang Country Bakery serves up generously sized hot cross buns that are perfect all-rounders. A simple uncomplicated bun for those who like a bit of fruity goodness, but not too much. A great option for kids and also available at The Shed in Noorat if you need a little extra something to take with you up the Mount Noorat walking track. Views, volcanoes and hot cross buns. Now there’s a hearty mix!
🌐 terangcountrybakery.com.au
📍 70 High St, Terang
Ilma Cakes & Co
Unless you’ve preordered, don’t count on finding hot cross buns here. Made in small batches, these buns have a habit of disappearing soon after appearing on the counter. If you can get your hands on them, we think you’ll find the orange peel is what makes these buns stand out. It packs a wholesome punch, providing depth of flavour without the tang. And don’t worry, if they’re sold out when you get there, you’ll find more sweet treats than your heart could ever desire, wonderful coffee and our favourite Grounded Pleasures hot chocolate and marshmallows in this little shop in the centre of town.
🌐 ilmacakesandco.com.au
📍 115A Fairy Street, Warrnambool
The Loaf & Lounge
Made fresh every single day and perfectly spices, Camperdown’s Loaf & Lounge bake traditional and sourdough buns. Our tip? Get a mix of both…and a bag of house blend and locally roasted Piccolo Coffee beans.
🌐 loafandlounge.com.au
📍 179 Manifold St, Camperdown
Irrewarra Bakery
Irrewarra Bakery delivers gourmet hot cross buns with a signature texture that only a bakery famous for its sourdough could create. These hand-kneaded buns are dense in the best possible way (100% sourdough, no baker’s yeast, sugar or eggs) and if you enjoy sourdough bread, you will love these. They are beautifully spiced, full of fruit and are available across the region at specialty stores such as Greavsey’s in Terang.
🌐 irrewarra.com.au
📍Stockists – Irrewarra Sourdough Bakery
Zeally Bay Sourdough
A powerhouse of spiced fruit, these traditionally made sourdough hot cross buns are also made with certified organic ingredients. Unmistakenly unique, you will find these full of goodness buns at specialty stores across the region such as Excuse Me Katie’s in Camperdown or you can preorder them from the Zeally Bakery Door.
🌐 Zeally Bay Sourdough
📍10a Sawmills Way, Torquay
Notes of Buttery Goodness
South West Victoria and dairy products also go hand-in-hand and we firmly believe that if you’re going to the effort of finding the best hot cross buns, sourcing the best local butter you can is just as important. Here’s our top three:
Schulz Organic Dairy Butter - House-made cultured butter with a touch of sea sal . Need we say more? It’s local, fabulous, and you’d be mad not to buy a roll when you collect your hot cross buns at their cafe in Timboon.
Lard Ass Butter - Cultured butter made from single batch churned cream, you will find Lard Ass Butter at local farmer’s markets and specialty food stores such as Greavsey’s in Terang. For your hot cross buns, we recommend their salted or sweet vanilla butter. Delicious!
Western Star Salted Butter - Readily available at supermarkets, but did you know it’s made just down the road in Cobden from cream and salt? Local goodness that’s easy to find. We like it!
P.S. We love nothing more than connecting our wonderful guests with beautiful things and experiences in this region. Hot cross buns are just one of the things we love, so if you think there’s one we need to add to the list, please don’t hesitate to let us know by sending a message via our page on Instagram. We’d all be most grateful!
