Hosting a small coffee get-together
Want to offer each guest one small bun alongside coffee, tea or dessert? Look for mini versions and work out how many you’ll need. Lidl, for example, stocks mini raisin and currant buns.
Which currant buns are right for you?
Preparing for dinner in advance
If you’re buying your currant buns ahead of time, check the use-by date and storage instructions on the specific bag. PLUS says its longer-life version can be frozen on the day of purchase.
Catering for guests with allergies
If you’re serving guests with a known food allergy, check the latest allergen information for the currant buns you’ve bought. If they’re sold loose, ask the retailer for this information.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide what size portion you want to serve and how many buns you’ll need. If you’re shopping in advance, check the storage instructions. If you know someone has an allergy, check the specific product before serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and number of guests | Compare mini, standard and larger buns, and check how many come in each bag. | If I want to give everyone a small bun after dinner, I need to choose the right size without ending up with lots left over. Around 40% of consumers prioritise portion size and the number of guests. |
| Storage and leftovers | Check the use-by date and storage advice, and see whether there are freezing instructions for this particular variety. | If I’m buying well in advance of the dinner party, I want to know how to store any unused buns. For around 30% of consumers, this is the most important question when buying. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the label on the bag you’ve bought, or ask the retailer for allergen information if the buns are sold loose. | If a guest has a known allergy, I want to check that these particular currant buns are suitable to serve. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing serving one bun per person with buying individually wrapped portions
A bag containing several currant buns lets you serve one bun per guest, but the buns aren’t necessarily individually wrapped.
Decide whether you want to give each person one bun or need them to be sold individually. For the first option, check how many come in a bag; for the second, ask a baker what’s available.
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Assuming all currant buns contain iodised baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So its presence isn’t a standard feature of currant buns.
For packaged buns, check the ingredients list. If they’re sold loose, ask what type of salt has been used.
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Relying on allergen information from a previous purchase
Ingredients and allergen information can change. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be shown on the label of prepacked food, and made available in another way for unpackaged products.
Check the packaging of the buns you’re actually serving. If they’re sold loose, ask the retailer for the latest allergen information.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells raisin and currant buns.
- Check the specific product if you want to choose the right size for a small portion.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, so check the packaging before serving.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists standard raisin and currant buns in packs of 6, mini raisin buns with butter in packs of 9, and giant raisin buns in packs of 4.
- The pack sizes offer different quantities and portion sizes to compare with the number of guests you’re expecting.
- The mini raisin bun with butter is a different product from the standard raisin and currant bun. Check the ingredients and allergens for the bag you choose.
PLUS
PLUS lists standard currant buns in packs of 6 and a longer-life version in packs of 8.
- For its longer-life version, PLUS provides clear freezing instructions: freeze on the day of purchase and use within 1 month.
- Don’t apply these instructions to other PLUS varieties without checking first; read the label on the bag you choose.
ALDI
ALDI lists raisin and currant buns in packs of 6.
- A pack of 6 gives you a clear quantity to compare with the number of guests you’re serving.
- Before buying, check the size of the buns and the information on the packaging to make sure they suit your serving plan.
Lidl
Lidl lists mini raisin and currant buns.
- The mini size is worth considering if you’re looking for a smaller portion for each guest.
- Before buying for a group, check the number of buns and the ingredients on the specific packaging.
Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy one individual currant bun for each guest?
Ask whether buns are sold individually if you want to buy exactly one for each guest. Jumbo, PLUS and ALDI also offer bags containing several buns, so check that the quantity suits your group.
Does every currant bun contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every currant bun does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for packaged buns, and ask what type of salt has been used if they’re sold loose.
How can I check allergens before serving currant buns?
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the currant buns you’re serving, or ask the retailer if they’re sold loose. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between prepacked and unpackaged food when it comes to allergen information.
Can I buy currant buns in advance and freeze them?
Follow the instructions for the specific variety. PLUS says its longer-life currant buns can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within 1 month. Don’t assume the same timeframe applies to other currant buns without checking.