Where to hunt this Easter for the best deals on easter eggs and hot cross buns in South Africa

It is that time of year where our shops are filled with colourful easter eggs and the smell of freshly baked hot cross buns! This week we went hunting down our local supermarket isles to seek out the cheapest easter eggs and best deals on hot cross buns.

My mum was confronted by her granddaughter with the question "Where does the easter bunny 🐰 come from?". Since we had to ask AI to find us that answer, we gladly share it so you can be armed and ready to inform the grandchildren as they gear up for the easter egg hunt 😊

The history and origins of the chocolate easter egg, the easter bunny and hot cross buns

Chocolate eggs 🐣

Long before chocolate ever entered the picture, eggs were already the rock stars of springtime celebrations. Ancient cultures viewed the egg as the start of all life, often believed to have magical powers. Within the Christian Easter tradition, the egg came to symbolise new life, birth, and regeneration.  

It was the French and Germans who came up with the inspired idea to make eggs out of chocolate in the 19th century. These eggs were solid (my personal favourite — could only find it at Woolworths this year!) with the first hollow egg said to be produced in 1873.

As for the beloved egg hunt, the specific custom may have its origins in 16th-century Germany, where Protestant reformer Martin Luther is said to have organised hunts for his congregation.

The easter bunny 🐰

The easter bunny is one of those wonderfully peculiar traditions that makes perfect sense once you know the backstory — and almost no sense at all before then.

The hare's connection to Easter appears to stretch all the way back to the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, from whom the very word "Easter" derives, with recent archaeological research confirming her worship in parts of England and Germany — and the hare as her main symbol.

Spicy hot cross buns 🫓

The Saxons are said to have eaten buns marked with crosses in honour of Eostre, goddess of spring. When Christianity took hold, hot cross buns became commemorations of Good Friday, with the cross representing the crucifixion.

Best deals on easter eggs and hot cross buns in 2026

There are many different types of chocolate eggs out there to enjoy, from exotic and expensive treats to your good old chocolate covered marshmallow egg. It is the latter that we took to compare in price. I list them here in order from cheapest (per egg) to the most expensive:

• Pick and Pay - Box of 36 (R89.99 equals R2.47 per egg)

• Checkers - Box of 36 (R94.99 equals R2.64 per egg)

• Food Lovers - Box of 20 (R59.99 equals R2.99 per egg)

• Woolworths - Box of 24 (R89.99 equals R3.74 per egg)

Hot cross buns is a very personal choice as to spices and softness, but if you judge purely on price here is our list from cheapest to most expensive:

• Food Lovers - R40 for 12 buns (R3.30 per bun)

• Pick and Pay - R24.99 for 6 buns (R4.17 per bun)

• Checkers - R36.99 for 6 buns (R6.17 per bun)

• Woolworths - R42.99 for 6 buns (R7.17 per bun)

Indulge in some sweet delights this Easter and if it is all too sweet do not forget the pickled fish! If you celebrate Easter, may you have a blessed time with family and friends.

All the best

Lirette

Co-founder, PensionersPayLess!

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Lirette is a co-founder of PensionersPayLess! and the heart behind its mission to help South Africa's over-55s enjoy life to the fullest. Backed by a Doctorate of Law and two master’s degrees, she combines legal know-how with a passion for practical advice. Lirette writes about topics that she believes will appeal to a wide audience and which mostly relate back to her personal experiences, be it making plans for retirement with her parents, balancing a household budget or enjoying a good meal or holiday.