American hot cross buns are huge, and fluffy--think soft, slightly sweet dinner yeast rolls covered in glaze and with a cross made of lemon goo or icing on the top. They're generally baked in a pan all squished together like cinnamon rolls. They're...just not all that good, especially not when compared to their cousin, the cinnamon roll.

South African hot cross buns are sweet yeast rolls with currants and spices in them. (Like the picture here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cross_bun) They have a cross on the top made of a flour and water mixture and covered in glaze after baking. And they're good. (Okay, they're good if I'm not the baker. For whatever reason, I fail hot cross buns forever. I'm usually a very good baker.)