Hosts who want to serve without slicing
Individual portions make it easy to hand them out during the party. Choco Barre Pitch, sold in individual sachets, and Mini Tressée Harrys fit the bill, but both are sweet options.
Which format is right for you?
Anyone hosting a savoury drinks party
You can cut plain brioche into small pieces, toast them and add toppings. Brioche Pasquier also has a recipe for croutons made with its sliced brioche.
Anyone who needs to check the label
Keep the packaging for each product you serve so you can check its ingredients, allergens and date. Brioche Pasquier’s Brioche Tranchée Nature, for example, lists wheat, eggs and butter. Don’t assume the same ingredients apply to every brioche.
What should you check before buying?
First decide whether you’re preparing savoury bites or serving sweet individual portions. Then choose packaging that suits the way you’ll serve them.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Savoury use | For toast, check the ingredients of plain or sliced brioche. Look out for chocolate, chocolate chips or pearl sugar in individual portions. | For savoury bites, I’d choose plain brioche rather than a chocolate bar. Around 31% of consumers prioritise savoury use. |
| Individual servings | Check how many pieces are in the pack and whether they’re individually wrapped: small bites aren’t necessarily wrapped separately. | When guests are standing as they serve themselves, I want portions I can hand out without slicing. That’s the main requirement for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’re buying, along with the date and storage instructions. | If a guest needs to check the ingredients, I want to be able to show them the packaging for the product being served. Ingredients and allergen information come first for around 23% of consumers. |
| Number of portions | Compare the number of pieces with the pack weight, then work out how many bites you’ll need based on brioche’s role in the buffet. | To avoid leftovers after the party, I work out portions based on how much brioche there is on the buffet. Getting the number of bites right is a priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an individual brioche is suitable for savoury toppings
Choco Barre Pitch contains milk chocolate, while Mini Tressée Harrys is sprinkled with pearl sugar. Their convenient size doesn’t make them a neutral base for toast.
Save these products for the sweet part of the buffet. For savoury toppings, choose plain brioche and allow time to slice it.
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Judging allergens by appearance
Brioche Pasquier’s Brioche Tranchée Nature lists wheat, eggs and butter. Another variety may have different ingredients.
Check the label on the pack you’ve bought and keep it to hand while serving.
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Preparing topped bites too far in advance
Storage instructions for wrapped brioche don’t necessarily apply to toppings that need to be kept chilled. Anses notes that low temperatures slow the growth of micro-organisms.
Follow the storage instructions for each topping and assemble the bites as close to serving time as possible if they need to be kept chilled.
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Choosing a pack without counting the portions
A pack of mini brioches and a sliced loaf won’t serve guests in the same way. The loaf still needs slicing, but lets you choose the size of each bite.
Count the pieces or slices, then decide whether the brioche will be an extra treat or the base for bites to share.
Brands and retailers to know
Brioche Pasquier
Its Brioche Tranchée Nature is a loaf you can slice to make bites.
- Brioche Pasquier sells it pre-sliced and also has a recipe for brioche croutons.
- It needs preparing for a drinks party; the product mentioned lists wheat, eggs and butter.
Pitch
Choco Barre is a brioche bar that works well as a sweet individual portion.
- Auchan lists eight pieces and individual sachets for the product checked.
- Its milk chocolate filling makes it better suited to the sweet part of the buffet than to savoury toast.
Harrys
Mini Tressée is a small, individually portioned brioche you can serve without slicing.
- Harrys describes this product as individually portioned.
- It contains pearl sugar, so check that it suits the role you have in mind for brioche on your buffet.
Auchan
The retailer offers mini brioches and brioche loaves from several brands.
- The product listings checked make it possible to compare pack sizes and, for Choco Barre Pitch, individual packaging.
- Check the exact ingredients and packaging before choosing a format for savoury toppings or for serving without slicing.
Epi d’Or / E.Leclerc
E.Leclerc’s range includes round mini brioches and a sliced brioche loaf.
- The formats listed include round mini brioches x12 and sliced brioche x18.
- These formats aren’t ready-to-serve savoury bites on their own: check the ingredients and how much preparation they need.
A Joybuy option for savoury bites
If you’d rather serve small savoury bites than a sweet brioche bar, this selection features brioche with ham and Emmental that needs cooking before serving.
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ERHARD Mini Ham & Emmental Brioche Bites x9, 115 g
These ham and Emmental bites are a handy option for a savoury drinks party, with no slicing required. The pack contains nine bites, weighing 115 g in total. They must be cooked thoroughly before serving and kept in the freezer before preparation; follow the packaging instructions. If each portion needs to be individually wrapped, check the packaging before ordering, as well as the allergen information for the product you’re serving.
Frequently asked questions
Can Choco Barre be used instead of savoury toast?
Not if you’re looking for a base for savoury toppings: Choco Barre Pitch combines brioche with milk chocolate. It’s better suited to the sweet part of the buffet. For toast, choose plain brioche that you can slice.
How do you prepare plain brioche for a drinks party?
Cut the slices into small pieces, then toast them before adding toppings to suit your menu. Brioche Pasquier has a recipe for croutons made with sliced brioche. If your toppings need to be kept chilled, follow their storage instructions until serving.
Which allergens should you check in brioche?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you’re serving. Brioche Pasquier’s Brioche Tranchée Nature, for example, lists wheat, eggs and butter. Ingredients can vary from one product to another.
Does topped brioche need to be kept chilled?
Follow the storage instructions for the brioche and each topping. If a topping needs to be refrigerated, keep it chilled until you prepare the bites and don’t leave them waiting too long before serving. Anses notes that cold temperatures slow the growth of micro-organisms.