Christmas brunch organiser
You’re looking for rolls with ingredients such as sourdough or seeds to create the style of bread you want to serve. A rustic-sounding name alone doesn’t tell you which ingredients are inside.
Who are these rolls for?
Shopping for guests with allergen requirements
You need to take ingredients such as wheat, gluten or sesame into account. In that case, the label on the product you choose and the latest allergen information matter more than how the roll looks.
Planning a larger Christmas spread
You want to know how many rolls you’ll need and how to bake them in time. The number in each pack and the preparation instructions will help you plan.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which feature matters most to your guests. Then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions for rolls that meet that need.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Bread style | Look for the ingredients you want, such as sourdough or seeds, in the ingredients list. Check the baking instructions too. | For a festive brunch, I want to serve a roll with recognisable ingredients, not just a rustic-sounding product name. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this bread style. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether wholemeal flour is listed and compare the fibre content per 100 g; spelt, multigrain and sourdough don’t automatically mean wholemeal. | If wholemeal flour is my main reason for choosing a different roll, I want to be able to find it on the label. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this choice. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements. If gluten-free is essential, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | I want to give guests a roll that meets their stated allergen requirements, so its ingredients matter more than its style. For around 20% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Quantity and preparation | Count the rolls in each pack and read the preparation instructions for that specific product. | When I’m preparing rolls for several guests at once, the quantity and baking time need to fit my plans. This is the first thing around 20% of consumers consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming spelt or sourdough means gluten-free
Jumbo’s organic spelt roll lists gluten, spelt and wheat. The PLUS spelt sourdough rolls we checked also contain wheat or spelt.
If a guest needs to eat gluten-free, choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label and check the other allergen statements on the packaging too.
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Assuming a rustic name means wholemeal
Sourdough or a rustic appearance doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre a roll contains. For its wholemeal roll, Albert Heijn lists 100% wholemeal flour and 7.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
If this matters to you, compare the type of flour and the fibre content per 100 g rather than relying on the product name alone.
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Reading only the online product description
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is especially important when you’re buying rolls for guests with specific requirements.
Before serving, check the packaging of the pack you actually bought.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Offers both a wholemeal roll we checked and a separate white bake-at-home roll labelled gluten-free.
- According to Albert Heijn, its wholemeal roll contains 100% wholemeal flour and 7.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Don’t treat the gluten-free version as interchangeable with the wholemeal one. Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack.
Jumbo
Offers several types of bake-at-home rolls, including an organic spelt variety.
- The organic spelt roll we checked lists ingredients including spelt sourdough and seeds.
- This spelt roll lists gluten, spelt and wheat. If you’re catering for allergen requirements, read the full label.
PLUS
Offers Korenlanders rolls, including sourdough and spelt varieties for Christmas breakfast.
- The spelt variety we checked lists 7% sourdough, linseed and sunflower seeds.
- The spelt variety contains wheat or spelt, and sesame. Check the other allergen statements on the latest packaging too.
Lidl
Offers wholemeal bake-at-home rolls, among other products, in a 700 g pack.
- Lidl identifies the pack we checked as a store product.
- Check the label in store if the ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
ALDI
Offers individual white rolls as a simple option.
- Buying them individually makes it easy to choose the number you need.
- Check the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for sourdough, wholemeal flour or seeds; the name ‘white roll’ doesn’t confirm any of these.
Dirk
Offers white and rustic multigrain rolls as bake-at-home products.
- Each of the packs we checked contains four rolls.
- ‘Multigrain’ on its own doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre the rolls contain; check the label for this information.
Rustic rolls at Joybuy
These rolls are a good fit for a Christmas brunch if you’re looking for bake-at-home rolls that list sourdough as an ingredient. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and for information relevant to guests with allergen requirements.
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g'woon White Rustic Rolls, 4 pack
A bake-at-home option if you’re looking to serve rolls made with sourdough at your Christmas brunch.
- Four rolls per pack; the product description lists 8% sourdough.
- Contains wheat, spelt and cereals containing gluten. If you have allergies, check the latest packaging for statements about other allergens too.
- Check the preparation instructions on the packaging before planning when to bake them.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘rustic’ mean a roll is wholemeal?
No. A rustic name doesn’t confirm that a roll contains wholemeal flour or has a particular fibre content. If you’re looking for a wholemeal option, check the type of flour in the ingredients list and compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information.
Can I bake rolls for Christmas brunch in an air fryer?
Yes, if the instructions for that specific product include air-fryer cooking. For the Korenlanders Spelt rolls we checked, PLUS recommends 4 minutes at 200 °C in a preheated air fryer. For other rolls, follow the instructions on their packaging and your appliance’s manual.
Is a spelt roll gluten-free?
No. Don’t assume it is based on the name. Jumbo’s organic spelt roll we checked lists gluten, spelt and wheat. If gluten-free is essential, choose a roll with an explicit gluten-free label and check the latest allergen information.
Why should I check the label again before serving the rolls?
A product’s ingredients and allergen information can change. So check the packaging of the product you actually bought, especially if a guest has specific allergen requirements.