WHO knew that the best hot cross buns in Australia are made at Christies Beach!

CJ’s Bakery has claimed the top honour for its vegan buns in a national contest.

One happy cow! One happy cow!

media_camera Andrew Sutton with hot cross buns at CJ's Bakery in Christies Beach. Picture: Stephen Laffer

Owners Andrew and Kerrie Sutton made a snap decision to enter the Baking Association of Australia’s hot cross bun competition in Shepparton.

“We’ve actually talked about it for the past couple of years (but) it was bad timing,” Andrew says.

Kerrie Sutton flew to Victoria on Saturday morning to deliver CJ's vegan buns before returning home that afternoon.

They kept a close eye on social media all day in anticipation of any news, but it wasn’t until 10pm that the winner was announced at the competition’s gala dinner.

Andrew says the whole team was ecstatic to hear the news.

“It’s crazy to think that we have the best buns in Australia,” Andrew says. “We always have people coming in and telling us they’re great. It’s nice to hear it from someone in the industry as well.”

He says the secret to tasty hot cross buns is following the recipe carefully without forcing perfection, and using good-quality local products.

“Put the good stuff in and get the good stuff out,” Andrew says. “It’s a living organism ... so it needs to grow pleasantly.”

39C Beach Rd, Christies Beach, facebook.com/CJS.BAKERY

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