Who are these options for?

Cyclists planning a long ride or race

You want to fit brioche into a wider fuelling plan without overlooking drinks or when to eat. The IRBMS highlights the importance of appropriate fuel on long rides.

Cyclists looking to portion out a brioche snack

You want to choose a portion for breakfast or a snack, and compare the carbohydrates, sugars, fibre and fat listed on the packaging.

Fans of all-butter recipes for a special meal

You prioritise the ingredients and the pleasure of a more indulgent brioche, without assuming it’s also the right choice for a meal just before an event.

What should you compare?

First decide when you’ll eat the brioche, then compare the nutrition figures per 100 g with the portion you’ll actually serve. The word ‘premium’ doesn’t tell you either of these things on its own.

Criterion What to check Who it matters to
When you’ll eat it Carbohydrates per 100 g and per portion; how the brioche fits into your planned fuelling. Before a long ride or race, I want to know when to eat my portion without relying on brioche as my only fuel. Around 42% of consumers put the timing and planning of their fuel at the heart of their choice.
Ingredients and portion Sugars, fibre and fat on the same basis; portion weight and allergens on the packaging. For breakfast or a snack around training, I prefer to be able to portion out the brioche and check its ingredients carefully. Being in control of the ingredients and portion is the main concern for around 33% of consumers.
All-butter recipe Recipe ingredients; fat and saturates per 100 g. For a special meal well away from exercise, I’m mainly looking for a recipe made with butter and eggs, without seeing it as a promise of race-day suitability. This recipe choice comes first for around 25% of consumers.

Pitfalls to avoid

  • Assuming ‘all-butter’ means it’s better for a race

    Butter can be a recipe preference, but it doesn’t tell you whether a food is suitable for exercise. For the day before a competition, the IRBMS recommends choosing an easy-to-digest meal and avoiding fatty foods in particular.

    If you’re planning to eat brioche close to an event, check its fat content and choose when to eat it based on your own tolerance.

  • Focusing only on ‘less sugar’

    Sugar content doesn’t tell you everything about a product. Brioche Pasquier and Harrys each list 11 g of fat per 100 g for the less-sweet versions mentioned here.

    Compare carbohydrates, fibre and fat per 100 g too, then work out what those figures mean for the portion you’re planning to eat.

  • Assuming all brioche contains the same allergens

    The recipes mentioned here list wheat and eggs, among other ingredients; milk and traces of other allergens vary from one product to another.

    If you need to avoid an allergen, check the information on the packaging of the product and batch you buy, rather than relying on the details for a different recipe.

  • Relying on brioche as your only fuel on a long ride

    The IRBMS points out that a 2 to 4-hour cycling ride requires a significant amount of energy, and that both drinks and food have a role to play in preparing for it.

    Plan your hydration and ride food separately. If you’re taking brioche with you, try it in training rather than for the first time during a race.

Brands to consider

Brioche Pasquier

Two sliced brioches give you the chance to compare a plain recipe with a version labelled as having reduced sugars.

  • Per 100 g, Brioche Pasquier lists 50 g of carbohydrates and 4.6 g of fibre for the plain version, compared with 47 g of carbohydrates, 8.8 g of sugars and 7.4 g of fibre for the reduced-sugar version.
  • Both products list 11 g of fat per 100 g. Check the portion size and allergens for the recipe you choose.

Harrys

The less-sweet sliced brioche is another option to compare by portion, without assuming from its name that it’s suitable for exercise.

  • Harrys lists 45.1 g of carbohydrates, 9.3 g of sugars and 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • This product also lists 11 g of fat per 100 g. Its recipe contains wheat and eggs, and may contain traces of other allergens.

Carrefour Traiteur

The 500 g sliced, braided all-butter brioche is an example of a recipe-led choice for a special meal.

  • Its product information lists 12% butter, 11% fresh eggs and 49 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.
  • It also lists 14 g of fat and 9.5 g of saturates per 100 g. If you’re planning to eat it close to a race, don’t choose it based on its carbohydrate content alone.

Auchan Gourmet

The mini all-butter gâches in this range are an example of a recipe to consider for breakfast or a special meal.

  • For this product, Auchan lists concentrated butter, eggs and crème fraîche among the ingredients.
  • These ingredients alone aren’t enough to assess the portion or whether it’s a good choice around a ride. Check the nutrition information and allergens on the packaging of the product you choose.

All-butter brioche on Joybuy

This selection features an all-butter brioche to consider for breakfast or a special meal well away from a race. If you’re looking for a snack to portion out around a ride, start with the portion you’ll actually serve and check the label.

ERHARD all-butter brioche, 280 g

ERHARD Pure Butter Brioche 280 g

An all-butter brioche to consider if you’re choosing a recipe for a meal well away from immediate exercise. It comes in a 280 g pack. To portion it out as a snack, check the weight of the portion you’ll serve, as well as the nutrition information and allergens on the packaging.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is all-butter brioche suitable just before a cycling race?

Don’t choose it based on the recipe alone. The IRBMS recommends an easy-to-digest meal on the day before a competition and advises avoiding fatty foods in particular. If you’d like to eat brioche before riding, try the portion and timing during training first.

How can I compare two brioches in different pack sizes?

First compare their nutrition information per 100 g on the same basis, then look at the figures for the portion you plan to eat. Check carbohydrates, sugars, fibre, fat and salt in particular. The DGCCRF also highlights the importance of the ingredients list and allergen information on prepacked foods.

Is less-sweet brioche enough for a ride lasting several hours?

No. The label doesn’t tell you how much to take or cover your overall fuelling plan. For a long cycling ride, the IRBMS stresses that hydration and food intake should be planned with the duration and conditions of the ride in mind.

How should I store brioche planned for breakfast before a ride?

Follow the use-by date and storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy. For example, Carrefour Traiteur’s braided brioche product information says to store it at room temperature. Don’t assume the same instructions apply to other brioches.