Anyone serving smaller portions
For a Christmas brunch, buffet or children’s table, individual mini buns make it easy to plan how many to serve each guest. PLUS, Jumbo, Lidl and ALDI each list a nine-bun mini pack.
Who are mini currant buns useful for?
Anyone who needs to check ingredients and allergens
If you’re buying for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the label on the exact bag you’ll be serving. The PLUS and Jumbo versions described here both contain grain and milk ingredients, and their warnings about possible cross-contamination also differ.
Anyone comparing nutritional values per portion
The mini size makes it easier to choose a smaller portion. Also check sugars, salt, fibre and energy per portion and per 100 g, so the different bun sizes don’t skew your comparison.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many mini buns you want to serve at your Christmas gathering. Then use the current label to check the recipe and nutritional information, and plan when to buy them based on their shelf life.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning | Check the number of buns and the weight of each one; work out how many you’ll need for your guests. | For a brunch, I want to serve small buns without having to divide up a large one. Portion planning is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning on the current packaging. | If I’m buying for someone with a food allergy, I need to be able to check whether this particular product is suitable. Around 30% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars, salt, fibre and energy on the same basis: per 100 g and per planned portion. | I want to know what the portion on the table contains, rather than relying on the word ‘mini’. Nutritional values matter most to around 20% of consumers. |
| When to buy and how to store | Check availability at your chosen shop, the date on the packaging and the storage advice. | When doing my Christmas shopping, I want to know whether I can buy the buns in time and keep them until they’re ready to serve. This is the main concern for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all mini buns contain the same allergens
The PLUS and Jumbo products described both contain grain and milk ingredients, but their ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings aren’t the same. A similar product name is no substitute for checking the label on the bag you’ve chosen.
Check the current allergen information when you buy the buns, and again before serving them to guests.
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Assuming a smaller bun has different nutritional values
A smaller portion may contain less of the product, but that alone tells you nothing about the amount of sugars, salt or energy per 100 g. Recipes also vary.
Compare products per 100 g, and also check the nutritional value of the portion you plan to serve.
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Leaving it until the last minute to decide when to buy
Lidl says its mini raisin and currant buns are sold in store. For the mini butter-made version described, Jumbo states a shelf life of 8+ days; the date on your own pack is what matters for planning.
Check availability at your shop and follow the storage advice on the packaging. Only freeze the buns if the instructions for that product allow it.
A bag that isn’t eaten in time or can’t be stored properly may end up going to waste.
Comparing brands and supermarket own-label products
PLUS
PLUS describes mini currant and raisin buns in a bag of nine.
- The product information lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values for you to compare before buying.
- The version described contains wheat, rye, milk and lactose, and has additional ‘may contain’ warnings. Check the current label.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers mini butter-made raisin buns in a pack of nine for anyone specifically looking for a recipe made with butter.
- Jumbo states that this version contains 1.9% butter and has a shelf life of 8+ days.
- The version contains wheat, rye and milk, among other ingredients. Check the rest of the allergen information on the packaging too.
Lidl
Lidl lists mini raisin and currant buns made with butter in a bag of nine, weighing 360 g.
- The number of buns and pack weight help you plan portions for a group.
- Lidl says these are sold in store only. Check the label and availability there too.
ALDI
ALDI describes mini butter-made raisin buns in a pack of nine.
- The stated number of buns makes the pack easy to compare when planning how many to serve.
- Check the full ingredients list, allergens and nutritional values on the packaging when you buy them.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes a mini raisin and currant bun with a portion size of 40 g, but says this particular item is no longer in its range.
- The product information shows which portion and ingredient details you can compare for a current mini version.
- Don’t use the information for this item as label information for another or current version.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does a mini currant bun automatically contain less sugar or energy?
Not per 100 g: the smaller size tells you only how big the bun is, not what’s in the recipe. So compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g. For reference, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 15.9 g of sugars and 134 kcal for a 50 g currant bun; don’t use these figures as the nutritional values for a specific mini product.
What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?
Read the allergen information on the exact pack before serving the buns. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must appear on the label of pre-packed products. The PLUS and Jumbo versions described contain grain and milk ingredients, and also have ‘may contain’ warnings that vary by product.
Are mini currant buns always made with baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the product name. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread-making isn’t compulsory, and you can check the label to see whether it has been used. So check the ingredients for the version you’re buying.
Can I buy or freeze mini currant buns before Christmas?
That depends on the date and storage advice for the product you buy. Jumbo states that the mini butter-made version described has a shelf life of 8+ days, but check the packaging you receive. If you want to freeze the buns, follow the instructions on that same pack rather than advice for another version.