The Times Australia
Google AI
The Times Food and Dining

.

How early is too early’ for Hot Cross Buns to hit supermarket and bakery shelves


Every year, Australians find themselves in the middle of the nation’s most delicious dilemmas - when is too early for hot cross buns? As soon as the first packs appear in supermarket aisles on Boxing Day, the country divides into two camps: the die-hards who’d happily enjoy them all year round, and the purists who believe they should stay firmly in their Easter lane.

Well fret no more, this year Amazon Australia is calling time on the hot cross bun debate - serving up a festive peace offering that’s set to please all. Introducing the Hot Chriss Pud - a bold new dessert mash-up giving this much-loved treat an official seat at the Christmas table, without the controversy.

Co-created with former Masterchef contestant Declan Cleary and lovingly handcrafted by Victorian small business Pud For All Seasons, the limited-edition pudding gives a cheeky nod to both celebrations, blending its sweet dried fruits, warm spices, and hint of citrus from a classic hot cross bun into a rich Christmas pudding, topped with the iconic cross.

Declan Cleary, MasterChef icon and co-creator of the Hot Chriss Pud, said: “Australians love to have a laugh, or a moan, about how early hot cross buns appear each year, so I thought why not embrace it? The Amazon Hot Chriss Pud is the ultimate holiday truce. As an avid hot cross connoisseur, I have always dreamt of finding a way to bring those rich flavours to our plates earlier. The Hot Chriss Pud delivers on this challenge. It's festive, it's fun, and it's an instant conversation starter at lunch.”

Now in its third year of reinventing the Christmas pudding - following the ‘Amazon Aussie Christmas Pudding’ and ‘Amazon Everything Pud’- Amazon is celebrating our nation’s festive quirks. The Hot Chriss Pud is a true all-rounder: it can be served as a main dessert with custard or brandy butter, or, thanks to its signature spiced fruit flavours, take center stage on a cheeseboard.

The Hot Chriss Pud will be available from 18 November on Amazon Australia with the launch of its Black Friday Sale event, which will run for 14 days from 00:01 AEDT, 18 November to 11:59 AEDT, 1 December. Shoppers can explore hundreds of thousands of discounted products across all categories, from electronics and toys to beauty, homewares, and everyday essentials, and of course, Christmas puddings.

Amit Mahto, Country Manager for Amazon Marketplace in Australia said: "Black Friday is the perfect time to grab everything you need for the holidays at a discount, from gifts and festive essentials to the perfect Christmas day lunch accompaniment with our limited-edition Pudding! We’re thrilled to team up again with Pud For All Seasons, one of thousands of Australian businesses that sell on Amazon.com.au, as well as Declan who is truly a culinary genius, to bring customers something that will get their tables talking this Christmas.”

Angus Walsh, Owner of Pud For All Seasons, added: "It’s been an incredible opportunity to bring Declan’s wild and wonderful idea to life. This pudding has all the hallmarks of a new Aussie classic - a little cheeky, a lot delicious, and a new potential staple for Aussie Christmas. We can’t wait to hear what people think!"

The limited-edition Amazon Hot Chriss Pud will be available exclusively on Amazon.com.au for $10 during the Black Friday Sale. Click here to add it to your Wish List, so you can snap it up before it sells out! Prime members enjoy free delivery, and new customers can unlock a 30-day free trial at amazon.com.au/prime for fast, free delivery and year-round perks.

Get ready to kick off holiday prep - and sneak a cheeky taste of Easter early.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

About Puds For All Seasons

Puds for All Seasons are a small Australian business based in Castlemaine, Victoria.. For over twenty years, the team has been delighting dessert lovers with their homestyle plum puddings made from time-honoured family recipes. Find out more about them, here: https://www.pudforallseasons.com.au/.


Food & Dining

Single and Ready to Mingle – the Coffee Trend Australians Can Expect in 2026

Single-origin coffee is expected to increase in popularity among coffee drinkers over the next 12 months, as the global trend makes its way to Australia. Australians’ love for coffee is well documented, with an estimated 16.3million cups consumed ...

Sweeten Next Year’s Australia Day with Pure Maple Syrup

Are you on the lookout for some delicious recipes to indulge in with your family and friends this upcoming Australia Day? Here we have rounded up a selection of our favourite recipes that we thought may be of interest to you – from refreshing drink...

Australia’s Coffee Culture Faces an Afternoon Rethink as New Research Reveals a Surprising Blind Spot

Australia’s celebrated coffee culture may be world‑class in the morning, but new research* suggests it’s falling short when it comes to the afternoon ritual — and Melbourne, long considered the nation’s café capital, may be the city best placed t...

98 Lygon St Melbourne’s New Mediterranean Hideaway

Brunswick East has just picked up a serious summer upgrade. Neighbourhood favourite 98 Lygon St Bar and Bistro has unveiled its refreshed courtyard and it already feels like the city’s newest Mediterranean escape. To welcome the warm weather, the...

Times Magazine

AI is failing ‘Humanity’s Last Exam’. So what does that mean for machine intelligence?

How do you translate ancient Palmyrene script from a Roman tombstone? How many paired tendons ...

Does Cloud Accounting Provide Adequate Security for Australian Businesses?

Today, many Australian businesses rely on cloud accounting platforms to manage their finances. Bec...

Freak Weather Spikes ‘Allergic Disease’ and Eczema As Temperatures Dip

“Allergic disease” and eczema cases are spiking due to the current freak weather as the Bureau o...

IPECS Phone System in 2026: The Future of Smart Business Communication

By 2026, business communication is no longer just about making and receiving calls. It’s about speed...

With Nvidia’s second-best AI chips headed for China, the US shifts priorities from security to trade

This week, US President Donald Trump approved previously banned exports[1] of Nvidia’s powerful ...

Navman MiVue™ True 4K PRO Surround honest review

If you drive a car, you should have a dashcam. Need convincing? All I ask that you do is search fo...

The Times Features

Evil Ray declares war on the sun

Australia's boldest sunscreen brand Australians love the sun. The sun doesn't love them back. Mela...

Resolutions for Renovations? What to do before renovating in 2026

Rolling into the New Year means many Aussies have fresh plans for their homes with renovat...

Designing an Eco Conscious Kitchen That Lasts

Sustainable kitchens are no longer a passing trend in Australia. They reflect a growing shift towa...

Why Sydney Entrepreneur Aleesha Naxakis is Trading the Boardroom for a Purpose-Driven Crown

Roselands local Aleesha Naxakis is on a mission to prove that life is a gift...

New Year, New Keys: 2026 Strategies for First Home Buyers

We are already over midway through January, and if 2025 was anything to go by, this year will be o...

How to get managers to say yes to flexible work arrangements, according to new research

In the modern workplace, flexible arrangements can be as important as salary[1] for some. For ma...

Coalition split is massive blow for Ley but the fault lies with Littleproud

Sussan Ley may pay the price for the implosion of the Coalition, but the blame rests squarely wi...

How to beat the post-holiday blues

As the summer holidays come to an end, many Aussies will be dreading their return to work and st...

One Nation surges above Coalition in Newspoll as Labor still well ahead, in contrast with other polls

The aftermath of the Bondi terror attacks has brought about a shift in polling for the Albanese ...