Choose a whole, sliced multigrain sourdough loaf if you want to top or share slices straight away at the Christmas market without an oven. If you’d rather bake the bread just before serving, choose a sourdough baguette with instructions that suit your equipment and the time you have available. In either case, check the label: sourdough alone tells you nothing about whether the bread contains baker’s yeast, how much wholemeal flour it contains or which allergens are present.
When you plan to serve the bread is the main factor in deciding whether a sliced loaf or a bake-at-home product is more practical. If you need a gluten-free option, start by checking the label.
If you want to make sandwiches, topped slices or tasting portions without baking the bread first, a whole, sliced loaf suits the job. Albert Heijn describes its AH OerDesem donker meergranen as an 800 g sliced loaf.
If you have an oven or air fryer available just before serving, you could consider a sourdough baguette that’s ready to bake. The baking instructions for the PLUS multigrain baguette can help you plan when to prepare it.
Don’t rely on the words ‘multigrain’ or ‘sourdough’. Choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and check the packaging for other allergens too.
First decide whether you need bread that can be served straight away or baked on site. Then check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific product you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving straight away | Check whether the bread is sliced, and note the weight and storage instructions on the packaging. | I want to serve topped slices or tasting portions straight away, without an oven; around 40% of consumers prioritise serving bread immediately. |
| Serving warm after baking | Compare the required equipment, temperature and baking time with what’s available at the venue. | I want to serve warm bread just before it’s handed out, and have the time and equipment to do so; around 40% of consumers prioritise baking it just before serving. |
| Gluten-free option | Look for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and check the ingredients and warnings for other allergens too. | I need bread that is clearly labelled gluten-free and don’t want to overlook other allergens; this is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread is made with at least three different types of grain. The name doesn’t automatically tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging and compare the ingredients and fibre content per 100 g if these are important to your choice.
The ingredients lists for the regular breads mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS show that sourdough and baker’s yeast can both be used in the same product.
If the raising agents used are important to you, read the full ingredients list. Don’t rely on the word ‘sourdough’ on the front of the pack.
A baguette that’s ready to bake requires the specified equipment and preparation time. PLUS provides oven and air fryer instructions for its multigrain sourdough baguette.
Before you buy, plan where and when you’ll prepare the bread. If baking on site isn’t practical, choose a loaf that can be served straight away.
Schär Mehrkorn product information lists soya and warns that the product may contain lupin, sesame and mustard.
If you have a relevant allergy, always check both the ingredients and the ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging.
These examples show the product information you can compare for the Christmas market. A brand name alone won’t tell you whether a particular loaf suits the way you plan to serve it.
According to Albert Heijn, AH OerDesem donker meergranen is a whole, sliced wholemeal multigrain loaf weighing 800 g, made with 7,1% wholemeal wheat sourdough.
Jumbo lists a 250 g par-baked multigrain sourdough baguette and also describes a range of sourdough breads baked in store.
PLUS lists both a multigrain sourdough loaf with buckwheat and a multigrain sourdough baguette to bake at home.
ALDI lists a sliced farmhouse wholemeal multigrain loaf and multigrain products to bake at home.
According to the product information listed by PLUS, Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn is a gluten-free multigrain bread made with 14% rice flour sourdough.
These two Lekhaven Bakkerij baguettes are suited to a Christmas market where you can defrost the bread and bake it before serving. When choosing, pay particular attention to the pack size, the latest baking instructions and the label.
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Worth considering if you have time and an oven at the Christmas market to bake the baguettes after defrosting them.
The product name lists 4 x 135 g x 2. Check the exact contents of this variant before planning portions, and read the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and baking instructions.
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This variant is a good fit for serving warm if defrosting and baking it work with your preparations.
The product name lists four 135 g baguettes. Check the baking time on the current packaging and read the ingredients and allergen information for the people you’ll be serving.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but that label doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients on the packaging.
No. A loaf can contain both sourdough and baker’s yeast. The ingredients information for the regular multigrain products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS lists both, so check the ingredients for the product you’re buying.
Not based on the words ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’. The regular examples mentioned contain cereals with gluten. For a gluten-free option, choose a product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the label for other allergens too.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging, as they vary from product to product. Albert Heijn says its sliced loaf mentioned above can be frozen on the day of purchase. For a bake-at-home product, remember to allow time for the recommended preparation too.
