Good Housekeeping reveals the best Easter treats to buy – from hot cross buns to chocolate eggs – after ‘biggest ever’ taste test
We’re just a month away from Easter and some serious springtime fun, and the menu includes seasonal favorites like Simnel cake, hot scones and chocolate eggs.
Good Housekeeping Institute 2026 Easter Taste Test It has revealed its verdict on the best Easter products on sale in UK stores, following its biggest ever blind taste test which saw 226 products pass the lips of expert testers – 34 more than last year.
The research tested 104 of the chocolate eggs to help shoppers.
Each Easter egg faced criteria that considered four factors: appearance, aroma, texture and taste; Each of the chocolate gifts examined received a score out of 100.
So which one should you not miss in 2026? Sainsbury’s topped the scoring with Taste the Difference ‘The Mint One’ Belgian Dark Chocolate Egg, which scored an impressive 89 points to win the ‘dark chocolate’ category.
The expert panel said it was a ‘beautifully polished’ version of the classic flavor pairing of eggs.
Approximately 104 chocolate Easter eggs were tried as part of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s taste test; Lindt (second from left) and Sainsbury’s (top far left) received the highest scores.
The best nursery egg went to Lindt and her famous gold-plated rabbits. The Swiss chocolate giant’s egg and mini rabbit combination received the highest score, receiving 86 points out of a hundred.
The panel said: ‘It wouldn’t feel like Easter without Lindt’s adorable golden bunnies’ and praised the silky-smooth milk chocolate.
As for another Easter favorite, the hot cross bun section was a donut fight as always, with 48 people tested.
Coffee giant Costa has beaten the supermarkets with its Classic Hot Cross Buns, available in stores (from tomorrow) for £2.40.
The aromatic donut scored 84 out of 100, while Waitrose and Iceland came second in the traditional category.
The Co-op’s Free From Hot Cross Buns received top marks in the gluten-free category, while Waitrose was the winner in the children’s section with its £8.50 Chocolate Whole Egg.
Elsewhere, other products that flew high in the taste test included Daylesford’s Organic Leg of Lamb, named Best in Best Meat, and Lidl’s Honey-Roasted Hot Smoked Salmon, which won the Best Seafood Main category.
The centerpieces of the Easter Sunday lunch were also served, including salmon and lamb dishes
Callum Black, Deputy Head of Testing at the Good Housekeeping Institute, said of the brand’s biggest ever taste test: ‘It’s been another big year for Easter at the Good Housekeeping Institute, with supermarkets performing strongly in our Easter egg taste test.
‘Our trusted grocers have held their own against the biggest heritage brands, even under tough blind testing conditions.
‘Beyond eggs, we rigorously tested everything from hot cross buns to Easter Sunday main course over the long weekend and introduced a new Easter cake category for 2026. No matter how you’re celebrating, our findings take the guesswork out of your shop and guarantee exceptional taste for every occasion.’
The overall winner across all categories was Waitrose, which was named Best Supermarket for Easter 2026 after a strong performance in Easter eggs, Meat Centerpieces, Hot Cross Buns and Easter Cakes & Bakes, with Aldi taking second place.
GOOD HOMEWORK’S EASTER TASTE TEST: RESULTS
Sainsbury’s The Mint One (pictured) was judged ‘beautifully polished’ by expert panel
Dark Chocolate Easter Egg
WINNING: Sainsbury’s Taste Difference The Mint One Belgian Dark Chocolate, £10 for 230g
Score: 89/100
SECOND: Aldi Moser Roth Dark Ultimate Egg, £8.99 for 200g (available from 8 March)
Score: 86/100
Milk Chocolate Easter Egg
WINNING: Lindt Gold Bunny Milk Chocolate Easter Egg, £16 for 250g
Score: 86/100
SECOND: Hotel Chocolat Milk to Caramel Extra Thick Easter Egg, £34.95 for 390g
Score: 85/100
Best Supermarket Milk Chocolate Egg
WINNING: £15 for Tesco Finest Double Layer Salted Pretzel Chocolate Egg 210g
Score: 81/100
Best Kids Easter Egg
WINNING: Waitrose & Partners Choc Whole Egg £8.50 for 215g
Score: 82/100
The Best Vegan Easter Egg
WINNING: Extraordinary Raspberry and Dark Belgian Chocolate Easter Egg Free from Asda, £9.97 for 200g
Score: 82/100
HOT CROSS BUNS
Hot cross buns, including traditional and gluten-free varieties, are also rated out of 100
Best Traditional Hot Cross Bun
WINNING: Costa Classic Hot Cross Buns, £2.40 each (available from 5 March)
Score: 84/100
Best value traditional hot cross bun
WINNING: £1.30 for 6 from Amazon Hot Cross Buns
Score: 73/100
Best Flavored Hot Cross Bun
WINNING: Lidl Deluxe Triple Chocolate Hot Scones, serves 4, £1.49
Score: 85/100
Best Gluten-Free Hot Bun
WINNER: Hot Hash Bunless Collaboration, £2.25 for 4 people
Score: 75/100
EASTER CAKES
Best Simnel Cake
WINNING: Meg Rivers Simnel Cake in Gift Tin, £38 for 900g
Score: 86/100
The Most Affordable Simnel cake
WINNING: Asda Simnel Cake, £3.98 for 400g
Score: 70/100
Best Colomba cake
WINNING: Waitrose No.1 Italian Colomba Cake, £13 for 750g
Score: 83/100
THE BEST MEAT CENTER
WINNING: Daylesford Organic Leg of Lamb, £36 for 1.5kg
Score: 86/100
Best Value meat center
WINNING: Lidl Deluxe Lamb Wellington, £5.99 for 600g
Score: 84/100
Full taste test results can be found on the Good Housekeeping UK website.
