Hosting a Christmas breakfast
You want to serve the buns without having to make dough. The number of buns, their size and the balance of raisins and currants can help you decide what will work on your table.
Which option is right for you?
Home baker who wants to make their own
You want to choose the ingredients and the amount of dried fruit yourself, and can set aside time for kneading, proving and baking.
Comparing product labels
You check the ingredients and allergens before considering the flavour, or compare nutritional information such as fibre per 100 g and whether baker’s salt is listed.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with any ingredients you need to avoid. Then decide whether you’d rather create your own recipe or serve the buns without making dough. If you’re buying them ready-made, compare the size, filling and storage instructions.
Ready-made
A good fit if: you don’t want to make dough for Christmas breakfast and would like to plan the number of portions in advance.
The trade-off: the recipe is fixed. Standard buns, mini butter buns and larger buns vary in size and ingredients.
Bake your own
A good fit if: you want to choose the flour and the balance of raisins and currants yourself.
The trade-off: you’ll also need to allow time for proving. Allerhande’s currant bun recipe takes 2 hours and 30 minutes in total.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Compare the proportion of raisins and currants, the size and whether butter is used. | If the buns are the centrepiece of my Christmas table, I want to know how much fruit they contain and whether smaller or larger portions would work best. Around 29% of consumers prioritise flavour and presentation. |
| Convenience and portions | Check how many buns are in each pack and the storage instructions. If you’re baking them yourself, allow for the total preparation time too. | When I know how many guests are coming, I want to serve enough buns without having lots left over. Around 21% of consumers put this kind of planning first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g, and check whether baker’s salt has been used. | I want to choose a bun whose ingredients I can assess, even if I’m baking it myself. Around 21% of consumers focus on this nutritional information. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about traces. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the packaging before serving anything. For around 29% of consumers, this is their first consideration when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘premium’ means more filling
The products reviewed vary in size and in the proportion of raisins and currants. According to PLUS product information, the Korenlanders Reuze version contains 32% raisins but only 1.9% currants.
Compare the fruit percentages and the size separately. If you’re choosing a product for its butter content, check that it contains butter too.
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Assuming every currant bun is made with baker’s salt
The Voedingscentrum states that baker’s salt is not compulsory when baking bread. So don’t assume it has been used based on the product name alone.
Check the ingredients list on the packaging. If the bun is sold loose, ask the baker which salt has been used.
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Checking for allergens only after choosing by flavour
The Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS versions reviewed list cereals containing gluten and milk. Other allergens may vary by product or warning.
If you have an allergy, check the current packaging first, including any warning about traces. Only then compare the size and filling.
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Buying extra buns without a storage plan
A pack containing lots of buns isn’t automatically convenient if you’re only serving some of them at Christmas breakfast. Storage instructions vary by product.
Work out how many portions you need in advance, and check whether and when you can freeze any leftover buns according to the packaging.
Brands to consider
These product examples show how portion sizes and ingredients can vary. The features listed apply to the specific versions described, not to every currant bun from that brand.
Albert Heijn
AH Extra lang lekker raisin and currant buns are a pre-packed option if you want to plan the number of portions in advance.
- Albert Heijn lists 10 buns weighing 65 g each, with 30% raisins and 4.2% currants.
- This product is a white wheat bun and lists milk and cereals containing gluten. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
The options described let you compare standard raisin and currant buns with smaller butter and raisin buns for a brunch.
- Jumbo lists 29.6% raisins and 6.1% currants in its standard version. Its mini butter and raisin buns contain 33.4% raisins and 1.9% butter.
- The versions reviewed list cereals containing gluten and milk. According to Jumbo, the mini butter version contains 4.4 g of fat per 100 g.
PLUS
The Korenlanders Reuze raisin and currant buns reviewed are a larger option if you want to serve one bun per guest.
- PLUS lists four buns per pack and 32% raisins for this extra-large version.
- The same version lists 1.9% currants. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging when choosing.
ALDI
ALDI describes a pack of six raisin and currant buns as an option if that quantity suits your Christmas breakfast.
- The product description calls them soft wheat buns with raisins and currants.
- Before buying, check the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging if they’re important to your choice.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Do Dutch currant buns have to be baked with baker’s salt?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt is not compulsory when baking bread. Check the ingredients list or, if the currant bun is sold loose, ask the baker which salt has been used.
How can I compare the fibre content of currant buns?
Compare the fibre content on a like-for-like basis, preferably per 100 g, and check which type of flour has been used. Allerhande lists 4 g of fibre per portion for a homemade recipe using wholemeal wheat flour. You can’t compare that figure directly with nutritional values per 100 g on a pack.
Can I freeze currant buns ahead of Christmas breakfast?
You can if the storage instructions for the product you choose allow it. Albert Heijn says its AH Extra lang lekker raisin and currant buns can be frozen on the day of purchase. For other buns, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
What should I check if a guest needs to avoid gluten or milk?
Check the current ingredients list and allergen information before serving the buns. The Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS versions reviewed list cereals containing gluten and milk. Don’t rely on the product name or an older image alone.
When is baking your own better than buying a pack?
Baking your own is a good option if you want to adapt the recipe and have time for preparation and proving. Allerhande’s currant bun recipe takes 2 hours and 30 minutes in total. If you don’t have that time on the morning itself, you can bake them earlier or choose a ready-made pack.