Who is this choice for?

Fans of fruity snacks

You’re looking for a soft bun with raisins and currants that fussy eaters will recognise. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe the white varieties we looked at as soft wheat rolls.

People who like to mix things up with wholemeal

You want to keep fruity buns in your snack stash, but also have the option of choosing a product that is specifically labelled wholemeal. Check whether you want a wholemeal raisin and currant bun or a plain wholemeal roll with no fruit.

Stocking up on snacks for later

You’re buying several buns at once. The packaging, storage instructions, whether they can be frozen and the allergen information all help determine which option is practical to keep in stock.

What should you look for when choosing?

White raisin and currant buns

Choose these if: a soft bun with both raisins and currants matters more to you than a wholemeal base.

The trade-off: the white varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS that we looked at list fewer grams of fibre per 100 g than Albert Heijn’s wholemeal raisin and currant bun.

Wholemeal rolls

Choose these if: a wholemeal base is your priority, even if a plain wholemeal roll has no fruit in it.

The trade-off: a wholemeal roll isn’t automatically a currant bun. Wholemeal raisin buns and wholemeal raisin and currant buns are also available.

A mixed selection

Choose this if: not everyone wants the same bun and you can store each type according to its own packaging.

The trade-off: having two packs means keeping a closer eye on their separate storage instructions and use-by dates.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important to?
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre per 100 g. Check separately whether the buns contain raisins and currants. If I want to choose a wholemeal bun more often, I need to know whether it also has the familiar fruit filling. Around 45% of consumers prioritise wholemeal and fibre when making this choice.
A soft, fruity bun Read the product description and ingredients, and compare the sugars and fibre per 100 g. For a snack that fussy eaters will recognise, I mainly want a soft bun with raisins and currants. Around 33% of consumers prioritise that fruity flavour.
Storage and labelling Check the storage instructions, any freezing guidance and the latest allergen information on the packaging. If the buns won’t be eaten straight away, I want to know how to store them and whether they’re suitable for the people I’m buying for. Storage and checking the label are priorities for around 22% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a dark bun is wholemeal

    A brown colour or the words ‘multigrain’ don’t confirm that the bread is made entirely from wholemeal flour, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

    Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging, then compare the fibre per 100 g with your white alternative.

  • Thinking every wholemeal roll is a currant bun

    The PLUS wholemeal rolls we looked at are a different product from the white currant buns; the ingredients shown for the wholemeal rolls don’t list raisins or currants.

    If you want both qualities, check for the ‘wholemeal’ label as well as fruit ingredients.

  • Judging allergens by the product name

    The wheat rolls we looked at contain gluten. Allergens and warnings about possible traces may vary from product to product.

    Check the latest allergen information on every pack if someone you’re buying for needs to avoid certain ingredients.

  • Buying a large supply without a storage plan

    Storage and freezing instructions vary between products. A larger pack is less practical if you can’t use the buns within the stated time.

    Check the storage instructions before buying, and only freeze the buns if the guidance for that product allows it.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers both white and wholemeal raisin and currant buns, so you can compare two varieties within the same range.

  • The wholemeal variety we looked at lists 6,1 g of fibre per 100 g; the white variety lists 2,9 g per 100 g.
  • Both varieties we looked at list 25 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the nutritional information on the pack you buy.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers white raisin and currant buns as a fruity snack option.

  • The white variety we looked at lists 29,6% raisins, 6,1% currants and 2,8 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Jumbo says the mini wholemeal raisin and currant buns previously shown are no longer available online, so don’t assume you’ll be able to stock up on this variety.

PLUS

PLUS offers white currant buns and separate wholemeal rolls for anyone who wants to buy different types of product.

  • The white currant buns we looked at list 3,3 g of fibre per 100 g; the wholemeal rolls list 6,3 g per 100 g.
  • The ingredients shown for the wholemeal rolls don’t include raisins or currants, so they aren’t a like-for-like replacement for fruity currant buns.

ALDI

ALDI offers raisin and currant buns as well as separate wholemeal rolls.

  • The raisin and currant buns are described as soft wheat rolls with raisins and currants.
  • Compare the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens on the packaging before weighing up the two types of product.

Lidl

Lidl offers 360 g packs of mini wholemeal raisin buns as a compact wholemeal fruit option.

  • The product description confirms that these are mini wholemeal raisin buns.
  • A raisin bun isn’t automatically a raisin and currant bun. Check the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens in store if those differences matter to your choice.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a brown or multigrain bun automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, brown bread can be made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour. For a wholemeal base, look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging, not just the colour or types of grain.

Can I choose ordinary currant buns if I need to avoid gluten?

Don’t assume so: the currant buns we looked at contain wheat and gluten. If you’re following a gluten-free diet, check for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and the latest allergen information for the product you want to buy.

How should I store currant buns for later?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. Freezing guidance and how long to use the buns afterwards vary by product. For example, PLUS says to freeze its wholemeal rolls on the day of purchase and use them within one month.

Does baker’s salt mean every currant bun contains iodine?

No, you can’t tell from the product name. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that iodised baker’s salt can add iodine to bread. Check the ingredients of the currant buns in question for baker’s salt or iodised salt.

Which nutritional values should I compare in white and wholemeal buns?

Compare fibre and sugars on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the portion size too. A wholemeal label tells you what type of flour has been used, but not how much sugar the bun contains.