Choose a large baguette, sourdough loaf or tear-and-share loaf if you want the bread basket to take centre stage on your buffet. If you’d like to serve warm bread at different times, bake-at-home rolls are a better fit, provided you have enough oven space and time to prepare them. Whatever you choose, check the ingredients, allergens and pack size; Boxing Day ranges can vary from shop to shop.
A baguette, sourdough loaf or tear-and-share loaf can take pride of place alongside cheese, dips or soup. Check whether it’s easy to slice or share, and whether your chosen shop will have it on the day you need it.
Bake-at-home rolls work well for a buffet with several serving times. Bear in mind that you’ll need to make room in the oven or air fryer and follow the preparation instructions on each pack.
Check the ingredients and allergens for each type of bread, including products sold as sourdough, organic or artisan. If you need to know whether it contains iodised baker’s salt, check the ingredients or ask the baker. According to the Voedingscentrum, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not compulsory in bread.
First, decide whether you want a large loaf to share, bread to bake just before serving or small portions to go alongside the rest of the buffet. Then check the quantity and any information that matters to your guests for each product.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and presentation | Check the size and whether guests can slice, break or pick up the bread themselves. | If I’m putting bread out with dips and toppings, I want guests to be able to help themselves easily. Around 36% of consumers put bread shape and presentation first. |
| Serving warm | Read the preparation instructions and check that you have enough oven space for when you want to serve it. | I want to be able to top up the buffet with warm rolls, but I need to fit that in around the rest of the cooking. For around 29% of consumers, planning when to serve the bread is their main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label for relevant allergens, the type of bread listed and, if you wish, baker’s salt. | If guests need to watch what they eat, I want to choose bread with a label I can check. This information takes priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the number of pieces or the weight, and follow the storage instructions on the pack. | I want to offer my guests enough variety without opening more bread than we need. Around 14% of consumers make choosing the right quantity their main priority. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. So, the words on the front of a pack won’t tell you whether iodised baker’s salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list or ask the baker what salt they use if this matters to your choice.
According to the Voedingscentrum, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, these descriptions don’t replace information about ingredients, allergens or the type of bread. ‘Premium’ on its own doesn’t tell you which option will suit your buffet.
Compare the shape and the label, and check the preparation instructions for bread you need to bake at home.
If you’re serving food at different times, bake-at-home bread needs some planning for oven space, preparation and storage.
Decide in advance how much you’ll need for each serving. Follow the relevant storage instructions for unopened and opened packs.
Lidl says its fresh bread range can vary by branch. ALDI’s oven-fresh range is available in stores with a bakery section, and its festive ranges are seasonal too.
Check what your chosen shop has shortly before you visit, and think of another type of bread that would also work with your buffet.
These shops offer different options for fresh and bake-at-home bread. For Boxing Day, check the range at the branch where you plan to shop, rather than relying on a general category page.
Albert Heijn offers baguettes, ciabatta and sourdough options, as well as a Christmas breakfast and brunch category.
Jumbo offers bake-at-home options such as baguettes, ciabatta, pistolets and tear-and-share bread.
Lidl lists bread baked in store alongside pre-packed and bake-at-home options.
ALDI offers bread to bake at home and oven-fresh bread in stores with a bakery section.
PLUS describes a Christmas range that includes pistolets, croissants and tear-and-share bread.
Dirk offers bake-at-home baguettes, pistolets and ciabatta, among other types of bread.
These products include baguettes to bake at home, as well as smaller savoury and brunch-style bread options. Choose according to when you plan to serve them, and check the preparation instructions and allergens on each pack.
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These four multigrain baguettes are a good option if you want to put bread in different places or serve it at different times during your buffet.
The product information lists different baking times; follow the preparation instructions on the pack.
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These four baguettes are a good fit for a buffet where you want to serve individual loaves alongside soup, dips or toppings.
Check the pack for the baking time and allergen information; the baking times listed in the product information vary.
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These garlic and parsley buns make a savoury addition to serve with dips, but they aren’t a neutral table bread.
Check the pack before heating. If any of your guests have allergies, also look out for the listed wheat and possible traces of soya, milk, sesame and nuts.
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These brioche rolls decorated with sesame and flaxseed are an option for individual buffet portions; the product information says to defrost them, not bake them.
Check how many rolls are in the pack before deciding how much you need. The listed ingredients include wheat, milk, egg and sesame.
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These four butter croissants make a handy addition to a brunch-style buffet, alongside savoury bread.
If you want to serve them warm, follow the instructions on the pack. Check the full allergen information on the label for any guests with allergies.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, baker’s salt is not compulsory in bread. If it matters to your choice, check the ingredients list or ask the baker; don’t rely on descriptions such as ‘sourdough’ or ‘organic’.
Check the ingredients and any listed allergens on the label of each product. If needed, keep different types of bread separate and use separate serving utensils, so guests can match the information to the right product.
Yes, as long as the use-by date and storage instructions for the pack you choose fit your plans. Follow the product-specific instructions once opened; the Voedingscentrum says that bread can dry out if it’s frozen for a long time.
No, don’t count on a particular festive product without checking first. Christmas ranges are seasonal and availability can vary from shop to shop. Check what your chosen branch has shortly before you buy, and have another suitable type of bread in mind as a back-up.
