Who is this choice important for?

Organisers catering for fussy eaters

If not everyone wants a darker or seedier roll, offering a white roll alongside a wholemeal option gives guests a clear choice.

Families who also want to offer wholemeal

If you want to bring a roll that is clearly wholemeal without making it the only option for the group, check the product description. Albert Heijn describes its AH Pistolet volkoren as made with 100% wholemeal flour.

Those planning around a set serving time

Bake-at-home rolls are a good fit if you have the time and suitable equipment before the meal. Otherwise, rolls that are ready to serve are easier to plan for.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide which white and wholemeal options you want to offer for the Sinterklaas procession. Then check whether you can buy or bake the rolls in time.

What to consider What to check when buying Especially relevant for
A white option Choose a roll clearly labelled as white and keep it easy to identify alongside the other rolls. If guests would rather have a familiar white roll, I don’t want them to be able to choose only from darker options. Around 42% of consumers would put this white option first.
A wholemeal option Read the product description and ingredients list; if you wish, compare the fibre listed per 100 g. I also want to offer a roll whose wholemeal base is clearly stated on the packaging, rather than relying on its colour or the word multigrain. For around 33% of consumers, this would be the main reason.
Serving time Check whether the rolls are ready to serve or need baking, and plan the preparation according to the packaging. If everyone wants to eat at the same time around the procession, I need to know whether the rolls will be ready then. This timing would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means entirely wholemeal

    A multigrain roll can contain both wholemeal flour and refined flour. PLUS states that its sourdough multigrain roll contains 34% wholemeal wheat flour and 21% wheat flour.

    If you want a completely wholemeal roll, look for an explicit wholemeal description and read the ingredients for the option you choose.

  • Bringing only white rolls

    That leaves no wholemeal option for guests who prefer one.

    Offer white and wholemeal rolls separately, and make it clear which is which when serving.

  • Buying bake-at-home rolls without planning how to prepare them

    If you’re eating at a set time, preheating and baking several batches can affect when the rolls will be ready.

    Check the preparation instructions and how many rolls will fit in your oven or air fryer at once. Choose rolls that are ready to serve if baking them doesn’t fit your plans.

  • Relying on an old product page for allergen information

    The ingredients in the rolls you buy are what matter if someone needs to avoid an allergen.

    Check the current packaging for each option before serving, and keep it available while the rolls are being eaten.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Pistolet wit and AH Pistolet volkoren as separate rolls, sold individually in store.

  • The white and wholemeal options are labelled separately; Albert Heijn states that its wholemeal roll is made with 100% wholemeal flour.
  • Before planning for a group, check that both options are available at your chosen store.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists a range of rolls and other bake-at-home bread, with different pack sizes and preparation methods.

  • When choosing, you can distinguish between individual rolls and packs containing several.
  • The previously listed four-pack of Jumbo Volkoren Pistolets is no longer in the online range. Check what’s currently available before counting on that option.

PLUS

PLUS lists, among other things, multigrain rolls to bake at home, with ingredient and preparation details for each option.

  • PLUS Pistolets meergranen state that they contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour and include oven and air fryer instructions.
  • The sourdough multigrain option lists wheat flour as well as wholemeal wheat flour. Check the exact option if you want a completely wholemeal roll.

Dirk / 1 de Beste

Dirk lists 1 de Beste Pistolets meergranen as a bake-at-home product in a four-pack.

  • The number of rolls in each pack is clearly stated, which makes planning for a group easier.
  • Check the packaging if the proportion of wholemeal flour or the allergens are important to your choice.

ALDI

ALDI lists an individual white roll and also mentions white and wholemeal rolls in its bakery range.

  • The white roll is labelled as an individual item.
  • Check in store which wholemeal roll is available alongside the white one; a wholemeal loaf or roll is not automatically a wholemeal version of this roll.

Rolls on Joybuy

These g'woon white rolls are a good fit for the white option at the procession. Choose a wholemeal alternative based on the product description and packaging.

g'woon White Rustic Pistolet, 4 pieces

g'woon White Rustic Pistolet, 4 pieces

A white roll for guests who prefer a white option.

Pack of 4. Check the packaging to see whether baking is required, and read the current ingredients and allergen information if anyone has an allergy.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a multigrain roll the same as a wholemeal roll?

No. The word multigrain alone doesn’t mean that all the flour used is wholemeal: PLUS states that its standard multigrain rolls contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour, while its sourdough multigrain option contains 34% wholemeal wheat flour alongside 21% wheat flour. Check the product description and ingredients for the option you’re buying.

Can I prepare bake-at-home rolls in an air fryer just before the procession?

You can if the packaging for your rolls includes air fryer instructions and you have time to prepare them. PLUS says to cook its Pistolets meergranen in a preheated air fryer at 200 °C for 4 minutes. For other options, follow the instructions on their own packaging.

How do I check allergens in rolls for a group?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for each option you choose. A description such as white wheat roll won’t tell you which other ingredients or warnings apply to that specific product, so keep the packaging available when serving.

Does every Dutch roll contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume so. Check whether iodised salt is listed in the ingredients for the rolls you buy, rather than assuming it’s a feature of the product category.