When choosing rolls for your Easter brunch, start with when you plan to serve them. Fresh rolls from the in-store bakery can go straight on the table, while bake-at-home rolls need time to cook and enough oven space. If you’re mainly comparing the grains they contain, check the ingredients for the exact variety. Terms such as sourdough, rustic and multigrain don’t, on their own, tell you whether a roll is wholemeal. Also check the allergen, storage and cooking information before buying for a group.
You’re looking for rolls that go well with your fillings and suit the time everyone will be sitting down to eat. Fresh rolls from the in-store bakery and bake-at-home varieties each call for different planning.
You want to know what terms such as multigrain, wholemeal and sourdough really mean. The ingredients list gives you a better idea than the roll’s name or colour.
You’ll need information about the exact roll before you buy. For a packaged product, check the label; for an unpackaged roll, ask the shop for its allergen information.
First decide when you want to serve the rolls and how many you’ll need. Then compare the ingredients, allergens and instructions for each variety. A fresh roll and a bake-at-home roll don’t meet the same planning needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and serving time | Check whether the rolls are sold fresh or need baking, and follow the cooking instructions for your chosen variety if needed. | I want the rolls on the table at the right time, without underestimating the time needed to bake them. For around 31% of shoppers, presentation and serving time come first. |
| Grain content | Read the ingredients list and, if it matters to your choice, compare the proportion of wholemeal flour and the fibre per 100 g. | When choosing a multigrain roll, I want to know which grains it contains rather than judge it by its dark colour. Around 25% of shoppers prioritise ingredients they can check. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the label on the exact pack, or ask for allergen information before buying unpackaged rolls. | If a guest has an allergy, I don’t want to guess what’s in a roll from its name or the seeds on the crust. Checking this is the top priority for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Quantity and preparation | Compare the number of rolls per pack, how they should be stored and the baking time and space required. | When I’m hosting several guests, I want to plan ahead and know how many rolls I can have ready at once. This preparation matters most to around 19% of shoppers. |
Sourdough, spelt, rustic and luxury don’t automatically tell you how much wholemeal flour a roll contains or what its nutritional value is. The Consumers’ Association points out that these names offer little guidance.
Read the ingredients list for the roll you’ve chosen and, if needed, compare the wholemeal flour and fibre per 100 g.
Don’t assume white, organic and multigrain varieties all follow the same recipe. The term sourdough also doesn’t tell you which salt has been used in a particular roll.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients for the exact variety or ask about it when buying an unpackaged roll.
Unpackaged rolls don’t have their own label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for unpackaged food must be provided to shoppers in another way.
Check the information available or ask the shop before buying. Don’t rely on the roll’s colour or appearance.
Cooking and storage instructions vary between varieties. If you can’t fit all the rolls in the oven or air fryer at once, you’ll need to adjust your serving time too.
Work out how many rolls you need, plan any baking batches and follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. If you’d rather not plan time for baking, look for fresh rolls from an in-store bakery.
These supermarket ranges show some of the different ways to choose rolls for Easter brunch. Always check the information for the specific variety, as a range doesn’t mean every roll has the same ingredients or cooking method.
An option if you’re looking for fresh rolls from an in-store bakery.
A starting point for comparing standard rolls with spelt, multigrain and sourdough varieties.
Worth considering if you want to compare specific sourdough and multigrain rolls using product information.
An option if you’re considering standard rolls alongside a multigrain variety for brunch.
An option if you want to serve an individual white roll at brunch.
No. These terms don’t, on their own, mean that a roll is wholemeal. The Consumers’ Association recommends looking beyond names such as sourdough, spelt and rustic. Check the ingredients list for the variety you want to buy.
Ask for allergen information before buying, or check the information provided by the shop. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information is on the label for pre-packed products, while for unpackaged products it must be provided to shoppers in another way.
Yes, as long as the storage instructions for your chosen variety suit your plans. PLUS says to store its Desem pistolet bruin meergranen at −18 °C and not to refreeze it after thawing. Follow the individual storage and cooking instructions for other rolls.
Don’t assume that every roll contains the same type of salt. Check the ingredients list for the exact variety to see which salt is used, or ask for ingredient information when buying an unpackaged roll.
