For an Easter brunch with someone who has coeliac disease, individual gluten-free rolls are handy if you want to limit shared cutting. Sliced bread is ideal for serving with toppings, while multigrain bread is an option if seeds and fibre matter to you. A bread mix takes more preparation and clean baking equipment. Whichever you choose, check the packaging and make sure the bread does not come into contact with crumbs, knives or toppings from gluten-containing bread once opened.
You’re also serving gluten-containing bread and want to be able to store, prepare and serve the gluten-free portion separately. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of cross-contamination from even small amounts of crumbs.
You’re looking for individual rolls to serve to each person, or sliced bread for making topped slices. Albert Heijn lists gluten-free white rolls, while PLUS describes Schär Meesterbakker Classic as soft white bread.
As well as checking that the bread is labelled gluten-free, you’re looking at its type and nutritional information per 100 g. PLUS lists 9.9 g of fibre per 100 g for Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn; check the allergens on the chosen pack too.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and planning a separate way to serve the bread. Then choose a type that suits the toppings and preparation for your Easter brunch.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free and served separately | Read the gluten-free label and allergen information. Choose packaging that can be resealed until you’re ready to set the bread out separately. | If regular bread is being served too, I want to stop crumbs or shared toppings from reaching my portion. Around 36% of consumers prioritise serving food separately and gluten-free. |
| Bread type and ease of serving with toppings | Compare individual rolls with sliced bread and check whether it needs warming. | For a table with a range of toppings, I want bread I can serve without much cutting. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this style of serving. |
| Type of bread and ingredients | Compare the ingredients, fibre per 100 g and allergens in each variant. | I want to know whether the seeds and stated fibre content suit my guest, without overlooking other allergens. For around 21% of consumers, the ingredients are the most important factor when choosing. |
| Availability and storage | Check the local range, best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging. | If I only need gluten-free bread for one guest, I want to know in advance where to buy it and how to store any leftovers. For around 14% of consumers, this planning is the top priority. |
Gluten-free bread can come into contact with crumbs from gluten-containing bread while being served. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that even a single crumb can be harmful to someone with coeliac disease.
Set the gluten-free bread aside and use clean, separate knives, a clean chopping board and separate toppings or butter.
Gluten-free does not mean that bread is free from other allergens. According to PLUS product information, Schär Meesterbakker Classic and Mehrkorn contain soya; other potential allergens are also listed.
If your guest has additional allergies, check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the chosen variant with them.
A type of bread listed in an online range may not be available in the shop where you do your shopping. This can make it difficult to plan a specific choice just before brunch.
Check what’s available locally in advance, and read the packaging and storage instructions again if you choose an alternative.
An extra trip to the shops also takes time to plan for.
PLUS’s ingredient information lists iodised salt in Schär Meesterbakker Classic and Mehrkorn. This tells you nothing about the type of salt used in another gluten-free bread.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list on the exact pack you’re buying.
Schär offers several types of bread and a bread mix that could suit an Easter brunch, from sliced bread to mini baguettes and options for baking your own.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free white rolls and various breads under its own brand.
PLUS lists its own gluten-free white, brown and multiseed breads, alongside products from other brands.
PLUS lists Yam products including gluten-free sourdough, raisin and light multiseed breads.
This curated order groups examples by type of bread, suitability for an Easter brunch and available product information. It is not a taste test or a ranking of product quality.
| Position | Product | Features | Why it’s included | Retailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AH Gluten-Free White Rolls | Two white rolls, according to Albert Heijn. | Albert Heijn lists individual gluten-free rolls, which you can set out for each person. | Albert Heijn |
| 2 | Schär Meesterbakker Classic gluten-free, 300 g | White bread; 8.1 g of fibre per 100 g, according to PLUS. | PLUS describes a soft bread that you can serve in topped slices. It contains soya; check the other allergen information too. | PLUS |
| 3 | Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn gluten-free, 300 g | Multigrain bread; 9.9 g of fibre per 100 g, according to PLUS. | An example to compare if seeds and the stated fibre content matter to you. Check the allergens on the packaging. | PLUS |
| 4 | Schär Mix B gluten-free bread mix, 1 kg | Bread mix for kneading by hand or using in a bread maker, according to Joybuy. | A different way to prepare bread: you bake it yourself, so you’ll need time and clean kitchen equipment. | Joybuy |
These options suit two ways of serving bread: setting out mini baguettes individually or baking your own bread from a mix. For both, make sure preparation and serving are kept separate from gluten-containing bread.
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A gluten-free mini baguette option if you’d like to serve bread individually at your Easter brunch.
Before buying, check the packaging for the actual quantity, serving size and preparation instructions. Check the ingredients and allergens too, and keep the bread separate from gluten-containing products when preparing and serving it.
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A gluten-free bread mix for anyone who wants to bake their own bread for Easter brunch and has time to prepare it.
Size: 1 kg. The product information describes kneading by hand and using a bread maker. Follow the packaging for quantities and baking time; check the allergen information and use clean baking equipment to prevent cross-contamination.
The label is a good starting point when choosing a product, but you also need to prevent cross-contamination after opening. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, a product can be labelled gluten-free if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. At brunch, use clean hands, a clean work surface, separate utensils and separate toppings.
Keep the gluten-free bread separate from gluten-containing bread and its crumbs. Only open the packaging when you’re ready to prepare the bread, and use a clean board, separate knives and separate toppings. Don’t put it in a bread basket that has held regular bread.
No. According to PLUS product information, Schär Meesterbakker Classic and Mehrkorn contain soya. Lupin and mustard are also listed as potential allergens for Classic, while lupin, mustard and sesame are listed for Mehrkorn. Check the current information on the packaging of the bread you choose.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For Schär Meesterbakker Classic and Mehrkorn, the product information says to reseal the packaging after opening and eat the bread within a few days or freeze it straight away.
