Choose a pack of currant buns for your Easter brunch based on the number of guests and the portion size you have in mind. Mini buns are ideal for serving lots of small portions, while packs of 8 to 10 regular buns suit a table where guests will each have a whole bun. Check the exact pack for allergen and nutritional information, the use-by or best-before date, and any freezing instructions.
If you want to offer every guest a regular currant bun, check how many standard portions are in the pack. Albert Heijn lists a pack of 10 regular buns, while PLUS lists one of 8. Check the storage and freezing instructions in case you have any left over.
Mini buns can be more convenient than regular ones for a buffet with several dishes or for guests with smaller appetites. PLUS lists a pack of 9 mini currant and raisin buns.
If allergens, fibre or iodised salt influence your choice, compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact product. Check for any cross-contamination warnings as well as allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clear allergen information on labels.
First, decide whether you want to serve small, regular or generous portions. Then check whether the pack will suit the number of guests and meets the labelling requirements that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Compare both the number of buns and their size: mini buns are not the same as regular ones. | If there’s other food on the table as well as currant buns, I want to serve smaller portions without having to cut the buns. For around 36% of consumers, having plenty of small portions is the main consideration. |
| Number of guests and leftovers | Work out how many regular buns you need and check the date and any freezing instructions on the pack. | For a larger brunch, I want enough full portions, but I also want to know what to do with any leftover buns. For around 29% of consumers, balancing these two things is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any relevant cross-contamination warnings on the exact pack. | If a guest needs to avoid an allergen or ingredient, I need to be able to decide whether that particular pack is suitable. This is the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Fibre and type of bread | Compare the type of bread and the fibre content per 100 g; a wholemeal option may come in a smaller pack. | If I’m mainly looking for fibre, the nutritional information matters more than the maximum number of buns. For around 14% of consumers, this preference is the deciding factor. |
Nine mini buns make different portions from nine regular ones. And a pack of four giant buns won’t necessarily suit a table where lots of guests want a small individual portion.
First decide how many portions you want to serve, then choose the right bun size.
Ingredients and warnings can vary between products. PLUS lists wheat, rye and milk, among other ingredients, in its mini currant and raisin buns. That doesn’t tell you what’s on the label of another pack.
Read the label on the exact product before buying, then check it again when you serve the buns. If you’re unsure whether a product is suitable for a guest, choose one whose ingredients you can assess.
Albert Heijn lists 3.3 g of fibre per 100 g for its pack of 10 white raisin and currant buns, and 6.1 g per 100 g for its wholemeal variety, which comes in a pack of 4. Pack size and fibre content answer different questions.
If fibre matters more to you than the number of buns, compare the fibre per 100 g on the exact pack.
A large pack is only practical if you use the buns in time or can store them according to the product instructions. Dates and freezing instructions can vary from pack to pack.
Choose a quantity that suits your guests, check the date on the pack and follow the specific instructions if you want to freeze any buns.
Compare the packs listed here by product variety: the brand alone won’t tell you how many portions you’ll get or what’s on the label.
Albert Heijn lists a pack of 10 regular raisin and currant buns, as well as a separate wholemeal variety in a pack of 4.
PLUS lists packs of 9 mini currant and raisin buns, 8 regular currant buns and 4 giant currant and raisin buns.
Jumbo lists a pack of 6 regular raisin and currant buns for anyone who needs fewer standard portions.
ALDI lists 6 regular raisin and currant buns, as well as a separate pack of 9 mini butter-enriched raisin buns.
Lidl lists a pack of 6 regular currant buns and a giant variety in a pack of 4 × 100 g.
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so check the ingredients list on the exact pack to see whether iodised salt is listed.
Check the allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination on every pack you plan to serve. The PLUS mini buns mentioned here list wheat, rye and milk, among other ingredients, but information can vary between varieties. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of clearly listing allergens on labels.
Yes, if the instructions on the specific pack say you can. Albert Heijn’s 10-pack and PLUS’s 8-pack can be frozen on the day of purchase and used within a month; follow the storage and defrosting instructions on your own pack too.
Check the date on the pack before buying and choose a quantity that suits the days you plan to serve the buns. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates. Check which one appears on your product and follow the relevant storage instructions.
