Did you know we waste 10.5 million hot cross buns each year? Apparently 24% of that wastage occurs because the buns go stale. Put an end to the madness with these easy ideas.

Treacle tart

A spicy, seasonal twist on this time-honoured classic. Simply pick your favourite treacle tart recipe, and swap the breadcrumbs for hot cross bun crumbs.

Bread and butter pudding

Layers of fruity buns are smothered in custard and baked into this warm, comforting classic.

French toast

Imbued with fruit, spice, and/or chocolate (depending on your bun of choice), this recipe is a rare case of the more stale the bun, the better the outcome.

Bread sauce

Give your bread sauce a sweet-spicy twist by replacing regular breadcrumbs with those from a fruity hot cross bun.

Cookies

With the easy addition of egg, flour, sugar, butter and chocolate chips, stale hot cross buns find new life as warm, gooey cookies, perfect dunked in a cup of tea. 

Hot cross bacon-and-egg bun

A eyebrow-raising sweet-meets-savoury combination - here, you’ll sandwich English breakfast staples between a toasted hot cross bun for the perfect Easter Monday experiment that will become a new favourite tradition.

Hot cross granola

Slather torn chunks of bun in butter, syrup and spices, toss with oats and dried fruits, then bake, break, and serve with milk and fresh fruit.

Hot cross waffles

Those with a waffle iron will know that everything tastes slightly better when waffled. Waffle your buns, then top with ice cream, syrup and fresh berries.