I just love anything to do with salted caramel, I can’t get enough of it. I have no idea why that is but from the second I tried some salted caramel sauce I was hooked. I resisted trying it at first though because the thought of salt with caramel just didn’t appeal to me at all, I mean, salt with caramel – what will they think of next!

It is one of those combinations that shouldn’t work but does and oh my, it is truly delicious! It seems I am not the only one to think that as there is now a huge abundance of salted caramel and salted caramel flavoured products on the market today, with more and more coming out all the time. The latest of these are a twist on the classic Easter treat – the humble hot cross bun.

Marks & Spencers have launched a salted caramel and chocolate hot cross bun, with the description on the packet saying “with dark Belgian chocolate chips, salted caramel fudge and toffee pieces”. With ingredients like that you would think they would be jam packed full of calories and fat, but no – each bun is a mere 208 calories, which considering what is in it is not bad.

My Dad bought me a couple of packets of these hot cross buns from Marks & Spencers last week, as he knows how much I love anything salted caramel related. They were on offer for £1.00 a packet, and their normal price is £1.70. I opened the packet yesterday with anticipation and they didn’t disappoint at all.

The smell of the salted caramel hit me when I got two of out the packet and sliced them apart, and they were full of chocolate chips, salted caramel fudge and toffee pieces. I decided to lightly toast them and then add a small bit of butter, but this wasn’t the best idea as the chocolate melted and made them messy to eat, but oh boy were they delicious! I could have eaten the whole packet if I had the chance! This sounds mad but the answer to eating them after lightly toasting them would be to eat them using a knife and fork.

Today I had the other two buns out of the packet and this time I decided not to lightly toast them, add a small bit of butter to them and eat them as they were. They were just as delicious not toasted as they were toasted, and I would definitely say that Marks & Spencers have come up with a winning hot cross bun flavour here. There have been many twists on the classic hot cross bun but this one is the most delicious I have come across, and I still have another packet to eat of them, which I can’t wait for. I may, just may, also have to treat myself to some more once I’ve finished the ones I’ve got.

Marks & Spencers salted caramel and chocolate hot cross buns will make a gorgeous indulgent treat with some nutella and topped with strawberries or kiwi. They could also be used as an interesting base for a different twist on the classic bread pudding dessert.

These aren’t just any salted caramel hot cross buns, these are M&S salted caramel hot cross buns.

Taste – 10 out of 10.

Value – 9 out of 10.