Australian supermarket giant Coles has announced an unprecedented lineup of experimental hot cross bun flavors for the 2026 Easter season, featuring unconventional creations that challenge traditional holiday baking conventions. The limited-edition collection includes a Doritos-inspired cheesy jalapeño variety, a matcha and raspberry fusion, an Arnott’s mint slice interpretation, and a sticky date innovation.
The most avant-garde offering, the cheesy jalapeño hot cross bun, incorporates authentic cheese, specially crafted Doritos-style seasoning, jalapeño pieces, and tomato granules to create a savory nacho-inspired experience. Meanwhile, the matcha and raspberry variant combines earthy green tea powder with white chocolate chunks and raspberry-flavored fudge pieces for an East-meets-West flavor profile.
The Arnott’s mint slice recreation features rich chocolate dough embedded with chocolate chunks and peppermint-flavored fudge pieces, meticulously designed to capture the essence of the iconic Australian biscuit. The sticky date version offers a contemporary twist on the classic dessert, featuring chewy date pieces and caramel-flavored chips throughout the spiced dough.
These gourmet innovations will be available from February through the Easter period across all Coles physical stores and online platforms, priced at $5.50 for four-bun packages. According to Brad Gorman, Coles General Manager for Commercial, Bakery, Dairy & Frozen, the development team invested over twelve months perfecting these creations, describing them as a blend of traditional favorites with ‘daring new innovations.’
For consumers preferring conventional options, Coles will continue offering classic fruit, apple and cinnamon, fruit-free, and chocolate varieties. The supermarket chain emphasizes that this expanded range demonstrates their commitment to catering to diverse Australian tastes during the Easter celebration period.