Anyone making a French toast brioche cake
You want to arrange the slices in a tin, soak them and then bake the cake. Lidl’s recipe shows how to assemble it. If you choose a different brioche, check that you can cut it into suitable slices.
Who is this choice for?
Anyone comparing ingredients
You check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before choosing a brioche, particularly if you’ll be sharing the cake with people who have dietary requirements.
Anyone looking for a chocolate gift
You’re looking for a gift box with varieties, fillings and allergens that suit the recipient. If you also plan to use some of its contents in a cake, check that separately.
What should you look for?
For a project that combines a cake and a possible gift, start with what matters most to you: assembling the dessert, checking its ingredients or choosing what goes in the gift box.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Brioche format | Check that you can cut it into slices that fit your tin and that there’s enough for your recipe. Lidl uses slices arranged flat in its French toast brioche cake. | If I’m making a layered cake, I want to arrange and soak the brioche without changing the planned method. Around 45% of consumers prioritise this ease of preparation. |
| Brioche ingredients | Read the ingredients, any allergens highlighted and the nutritional values per 100 g. The words ‘no additives’ don’t, on their own, tell you anything about allergens. | Before serving the cake to a group, I want to know what’s in the brioche and which allergens it contains. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| What’s in the gift box | Check the varieties of chocolates and sweets, the fillings, allergens and net weight before choosing a gift or considering it for baking. | When giving an assortment, I want to know what the recipient will get and which pieces might work in my recipe. Choosing what’s inside comes first for around 22% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming ‘no additives’ means ‘allergen-free’
Harry's plain sliced brioche with no additives contains wheat, eggs and butter, among other ingredients. Its product information also mentions possible traces of soya, nuts and sesame.
If allergens matter to your guests, read the ingredients list and any trace warnings for the product you’re buying rather than relying on a claim on the front of the pack.
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Choosing a gift box based on its presentation alone
An assortment may contain different types of chocolate and fillings. According to the DGCCRF, chocolate descriptions in France refer to distinct composition categories, so the appearance of the box isn’t enough to identify what’s inside.
Check the details of the assortment, the ingredients and the allergens, then make sure it suits both the gift and the recipe you have in mind.
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Taking online product information as the packaging label
Auchan says the ingredients in its sliced brioche may vary depending on the online grocery service and the date of purchase. Information you check before ordering may therefore differ from what’s on the product you receive.
If you’re making a cake for a group, check the ingredients and instructions on the packaging of the actual product you’ll be using.
Brands and retailers to consider
Brioche Pasquier
The brand offers plain sliced brioche, which is worth considering if you’d like to make a dessert using slices.
- The product information for this variety lists its ingredients, including wheat, eggs and butter.
- This information applies to the plain sliced brioche, not every Brioche Pasquier product.
Harry's
The range includes plain sliced brioche, as well as varieties described as lower in sugar or wholemeal.
- These varieties let you compare the ingredients and nutritional information for different recipes.
- The plain brioche with no additives lists allergens and possible traces, so check each pack separately.
Carrefour
The retailer offers own-brand sliced brioche, including Carrefour Classic'.
- The Carrefour Classic' product information lists wheat flour, fresh eggs and concentrated butter, among other ingredients.
- The ingredients of one product shouldn’t be assumed to apply to the retailer’s other brioches.
E.Leclerc
The retailer stocks Marque Repère’s Epi d'Or sliced brioche, among other products.
- Its 500 g product information lists wheat flour, eggs, concentrated butter and wheat gluten, among other ingredients.
- For this product, E.Leclerc recommends contacting the relevant store to check availability.
Auchan
The retailer offers, among other products, a 700 g sliced brioche with 26 slices.
- The stated number of slices and the size of the loaf can help you plan how to assemble a cake.
- Auchan says the ingredients may vary depending on the online grocery service and the date of purchase, so check the packaging you receive.
Lidl
Lidl is the reference here for the preparation method: its French toast brioche cake recipe uses slices arranged in a loaf tin.
- The recipe describes layering brioche with eggs, milk, cream and caramel before baking in the oven.
- A recipe doesn’t tell you what’s in the brioche you’ll buy, so check the ingredients of the product you choose.
Joybuy products for these uses
These two products suit different choices for this project: picking an assortment to give as a gift or considering a brioche for the cake. For the brioche, check that its size and shape will work for layering slices.
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Quality Street assorted chocolates and toffees in a tin, 400 g
Worth considering if you’d like to give an assortment rather than just one type of chocolate. The tin contains chocolates and toffees, so check the varieties, fillings and allergens before choosing it for someone or using any of the pieces in a recipe.
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ERHARD pure butter brioche, 280 g
This brioche could work as the base for a cake. If your recipe has layers like Lidl’s, check that you can cut it into slices that fit your tin. Also check the ingredients and allergens on the product you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Is sliced brioche suitable for a French toast brioche cake?
Yes, for a layered cake like the one in Lidl’s recipe: the slices are soaked, then arranged flat in a loaf tin before baking. Adjust the amount of soaking mixture and the other ingredients to suit your tin and the brioche you’re using.
What should you check on a brioche label if any guests have allergies?
Read the ingredients and the allergens highlighted on the pack you’re using. The DGCCRF sets out this labelling rule for prepacked foods. For example, Harry's plain brioche with no additives lists wheat, eggs and butter, as well as possible traces of soya, nuts and sesame.
Can a box of chocolates given as a gift also be used for the cake?
It depends on what’s inside and the recipe you have in mind. Check the types of chocolate, fillings and ingredients before relying on the gift box for baking. If you’re giving it as a present, also check the allergens and the recipient’s preferences.
Can you freeze brioche before making the cake?
Brioche Pasquier says its brioches can be frozen, although they may be less soft after defrosting. For another product, follow the instructions on its packaging and consider the texture before making the cake.