For King’s Day, choose a standard currant bun if easy sharing matters more to you than a pronounced cocoa flavour. If you’re specifically looking for dark cocoa, check that cocoa or dark chocolate appears in the ingredients list for the particular bun: the standard varieties with ingredients listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS do not include either. Before buying, also check the number of buns in the pack, allergens and storage instructions.
You want a currant bun with a pronounced cocoa flavour, not just a standard bun with raisins and currants. If you’re considering a special variety, check the ingredients: the standard varieties with ingredients listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS do not mention cocoa.
For a breakfast, picnic or sharing occasion, the number of buns and when you plan to serve them both matter. Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI show packs of six; Albert Heijn and PLUS also provide freezing instructions for the varieties mentioned.
If ingredients, allergens or the use of baker’s salt matter to you, read the label on the pack you choose. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt is not compulsory for bakers in the Netherlands.
First decide whether cocoa is a must-have. Then compare the number of buns and the label information for the product you want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark cocoa | Look for cocoa, cocoa powder or dark chocolate in the ingredients list. If you need a high cocoa content, check the percentage stated rather than relying on the name or colour. | I want cocoa to define the flavour of the currant bun, not just give it a dark appearance. For around 40% of consumers, this flavour requirement comes first. |
| Sharing and storage | Compare the number of buns in each pack with the number of people eating, and read the storage or freezing instructions for the variety you choose. | If I’m buying ahead for King’s Day, I want enough buns to share and to know how to store them until serving time. Around 30% of consumers give this practical consideration priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current allergen information. If you have questions about iodine or baker’s salt, check whether iodised salt is listed as an ingredient. | I need to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in this particular bun before handing them out. For around 30% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
A search term such as ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in the currant bun. The ingredients lists for the standard varieties from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS do not mention cocoa or dark chocolate.
Check the ingredients for the specific bun. If a high cocoa content is essential, ask for the exact percentage.
According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt is not compulsory in the Netherlands. So you can’t tell which salt has been used just from the product category.
Look for terms such as ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ in the ingredients list. If you’re buying an unwrapped bun, ask the baker which salt has been used.
Having enough buns doesn’t tell you anything about the allergens in the variety you’ve chosen. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists cereals containing gluten and milk among the ingredients in their standard currant buns; other warnings vary by product.
Work out how many portions you need, then check the current allergen information for the exact pack you’re buying.
Compare currant buns by product variety: a brand name or a pack of six doesn’t confirm that the buns contain cocoa.
Albert Heijn describes a pack of six raisin and currant buns.
Jumbo describes a pack of six white wheat buns with raisins and currants.
PLUS describes standard currant buns in packs of six and eight.
Lidl describes currant buns in packs of six and mini raisin and currant buns in packs of nine.
ALDI describes a pack of six raisin and currant buns.
Bolletje’s product overview features breakfast products, crackers and snacks, among other things.
Don’t assume they do: the ingredients lists for the standard currant buns mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS do not list cocoa or dark chocolate. For a special variety, check the ingredients on the pack and separately confirm any cocoa percentage you require.
You can, as long as the packaging for the variety you choose says it is suitable for freezing. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise freezing their listed products on the day of purchase; PLUS recommends using them within one month of freezing. Follow the storage and freezing instructions for your pack.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers in the Netherlands are not required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients for the bun you choose, or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying an unwrapped product.
Read the allergen information for the specific pack. The standard products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list cereals containing gluten and milk; additional warnings may vary by variety. If you’re handing the buns out, don’t rely on information for a different currant bun.
