For a small gathering, a pack of 6 currant buns is a manageable choice. If you’re serving more people, a pack of 8 could work, provided you have a plan for any leftovers. Mini and giant versions change the portion size, while baking your own takes more preparation but lets you choose the filling and flour. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients and allergens; don’t assume the buns are made with wholemeal flour or baker’s salt.
You want to match the number of buns to the size of your gathering. Jumbo, ALDI and Lidl list packs of 6, while PLUS lists, among other options, a pack of 8 and a mini pack of 9. The size of each bun also matters when you’re choosing.
If you bake your own, you can choose the filling, flour and how to divide the dough, but you’ll need to set aside time to prepare them. Rutger Bakt’s recipe divides the dough into 16 buns or 12 larger ones.
You want to check which flour, allergens and type of salt have been used before making your choice. For packaged buns, compare the information for the exact variety; for unwrapped buns, ask about the ingredients.
First decide how many portions you want to serve and how large they should be. Then consider whether you can store any leftovers and which ingredients matter for your choice.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Number and size | Compare the number of buns and the size of each one; don’t treat mini and giant buns as equivalent portions. | For a gathering, I want to serve enough portions of the right size. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the number and size. |
| Storing leftovers | Read the storage instructions for the exact pack and check whether they mention freezing. | If not everyone is eating straight away, I want to know what I can do with the leftover buns. For around 29% of consumers, storage is the first consideration. |
| Flour and nutritional information | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare fibre, sugars and salt on the same basis: per 100 g and, where shown, per portion. | I want to compare the flour type and nutritional information before choosing a variety. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens and type of salt | Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact bun; if you’re baking your own, check which salt you’re using. | If certain ingredients are a deciding factor for me, I want to know what’s actually in the buns. Around 14% of consumers prioritise checking this. |
More buns are only right for your sharing occasion if you’ll eat them all or can store them according to the product instructions.
Choose a pack to suit the number of people you’re serving. PLUS says its pack of 8 can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within 1 month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to other packs.
A mini pack of 9 and a giant pack of 4 won’t give you the same portion sizes.
As well as the number of buns, compare their size and, where listed, the net weight. When comparing different sizes, look at the nutritional information per 100 g as well as per portion.
The type of flour varies from product to product. You can’t tell whether a bun is wholemeal just because it contains currants or raisins.
Check the product name and ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ bread is made with wholemeal flour; compare the nutritional values of the varieties you’re considering.
Baker’s salt contains added iodine, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it.
For packaged buns, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt. For unwrapped buns, ask which type of salt was used. If you’re baking your own, check the label on the salt you choose.
Jumbo lists a 6-pack of Raisin Currant Buns.
PLUS lists, among other options, a pack of 8 currant buns, a mini pack of 9 and giant buns in packs of 4.
ALDI Netherlands lists a pack of 6 raisin and currant buns.
Lidl Netherlands lists a pack of 6 currant buns as an in-store product.
A larger pack is a good fit when it suits the number of people you’re serving and you have a plan for any leftovers. PLUS advises freezing its pack of 8 on the day of purchase and using the buns within 1 month; for a smaller gathering, a pack of 6 may be closer to the amount you need.
Choose mini buns for smaller portions and giant buns if you want to serve larger individual portions. PLUS lists mini buns in packs of 9 and giant buns in packs of 4; also compare the weight of the exact packs, as the number alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll be serving.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list or ask which type of salt was used in unwrapped buns; if you’re baking your own, you can choose which salt to add.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed contain wheat and milk, among other ingredients, and also list the possible presence of other allergens. So don’t rely on the product name alone.
Check whether the packaging explicitly describes the bun as ‘wholemeal’ and read which type of flour is listed in the ingredients. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ bread is made with wholemeal flour; the presence of dried fruit doesn’t tell you which flour has been used.
