14 April 2022

Who bakes Canberra's best hot cross bun?

| Evelyn Karatzas
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Danny's Bakery hot cross buns

Does Danny’s Bakery make the best hot cross buns in Canberra? Some of our readers think so. Photo: Evelyn Karatzas.

We asked the question: “who makes the best hot cross buns in Canberra?”

Our readers named many favourites, including Three Mills Bakery, Aldi, Coles and their mum’s homemade ones, but there was a clear winner this year – Danny’s Bakery.

Operating for 33 years, Danny’s Bakery in Narrabundah is well-known for its signature traditional sourdough hot cross buns that are like no other.

But why are they so popular?

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First up, they’re big, fluffy, filling and good value for money at just $2.50 per bun or $10.50 per half dozen.

Visiting their premises on Iluka Street, I was lucky enough to test them fresh out of the oven. What more could you want?

They were so warm and fluffy and their texture was just so filling, it reminded me of Easter time as a kid, where I was afraid if I ate too many hot cross buns and chocolate bunnies, I’d turn into one.

Hot cross buns

The hot cross buns at Danny’s Bakery are baked freshly several times daily. Photo: Danny’s Bakery.

It was honestly love at first bite. I could go for another one … or maybe three, you can never have too many carbs, right?

I’ll admit I’m not usually the type to like fruit cakes or fruit hot cross buns, but once I decided to put my tastebuds to the test and actually try them, I was quite impressed.

I can now see why our readers voted Danny’s Bakery for the best hot cross buns in Canberra, they’re definitely worth the hype.

Danny Collins

Danny Collins, from Danny’s Bakery, loves to serve fresh hot cross buns. Photo: Danny’s Bakery.

The man, the myth, the legend, Danny Collins, the 75-year-old behind Canberra’s oldest bakery, started baking from a young age and is known for his tasty bread, baked without additives or preservatives.

Danny was born in Nelligen and began his career in Batemans Bay. He was head baker and ovensman at Coggans Bakery in Braddon for many years before establishing his first bakery in Queanbeyan, and then moving to Narrabundah several years later.

Danny has personally trained his sons and grandsons in his art.

His motto “the bread will sell itself” is something he’s lived by. Clearly that extends to his hot cross buns as well.

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Co-owner and manager of Danny’s Bakery, Katie Collins said their hot cross buns were unique with Danny incorporating dried apricots instead of the traditional orange peel in the dough. He also mixes in finely crushed dates with the sultanas to give the Easter sweet an extra twist.

So why do people love them so much? Katie claims the bakery is the only one in Canberra who sells sourdough hot cross buns which are big, yet affordable, and baked freshly several times throughout the day.

To taste these delicious Easter treats for yourself, head to Danny’s Bakery, 6 Iluka Street Narrabundah.

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