To serve brioche at the table without having to slice it yourself, choose a family-sized loaf that’s pre-sliced, checking the number of slices against the number of guests. If you want to give everyone an individual piece or divide leftovers between lunchboxes, look for a multipack of mini brioches instead. A large pack doesn’t necessarily mean the portions are individually wrapped. Either way, check the ingredients for the specific product you choose if they matter to your guests.
Your choice mainly depends on how you plan to serve the brioche and share out any leftovers after dinner.
Pre-sliced brioche saves you from having to cut it while setting the table or laying out the buffet. Carrefour, Auchan and E.Leclerc stock family-sized formats, with some packs listing up to 27 slices. Compare this with the number of portions you actually plan to serve.
If each guest needs their own piece, or you want to divide leftovers between lunchboxes, a multipack of mini brioches serves a different purpose from a family-sized sliced loaf. E.Leclerc, for example, stocks a pack of 12 mini brioches. Check separately whether each piece has its own wrapper.
If the ingredients or allergens matter to one of your guests, check the exact product before choosing a format. Information published by Brioche Pasquier, Harrys and Auchan shows that ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings vary between products.
First decide whether you need slices to share or individual pieces to hand out. Then check the label if the recipe matters to your guests.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving at the table | The number of slices listed and the pack’s net weight. | If you’re setting the table for several friends, you’ll want to serve the slices without having to cut them at the last minute. Around 31% of consumers put ease of serving first. |
| How much to buy | The number of portions available and storage instructions after opening. | If you’re worried about opening more brioche than your group will eat, you may prefer to adjust the number of packs. Around 31% of consumers put getting the right quantity first. |
| Sharing out individual pieces | The number of mini brioches and whether they come in separate wrappers, which you should confirm on the packaging. | If you want to give each guest their own piece or prepare lunchboxes with the leftovers, look for portions that are easy to share out. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Ingredients | The ingredients list, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g if you’re comparing recipes. | If one of your guests needs to avoid an ingredient, check the exact brioche you plan to serve before considering its size. Around 15% of consumers prioritise the ingredients. |
The formats available don’t all contain the same number of slices. Auchan lists 26 slices for a 700 g brioche, while E.Leclerc lists 27 for a 700 g product. So the weight alone won’t tell you how many slices you’ll have to serve.
A family-sized brioche may be pre-sliced but still come in a single pack. It may not be suitable if you need individually wrapped portions for lunchboxes.
Look for an explicit indication on the packaging of the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped. If this isn’t stated, plan to portion out the pack yourself.
A recipe described as ‘additive-free’, wholemeal or lower in sugar may still contain ingredients that one of your guests needs to avoid. Brioche Pasquier, for example, lists wheat, eggs and milk in its sliced plaited brioche.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, and check any ‘may contain’ warnings if they’re relevant to your guest.
Auchan states that the ingredients in its fresh-egg sliced brioche may vary depending on the click-and-collect order and purchase date. An old product listing may not be enough to answer questions about ingredients or nutritional values.
Check the label on the pack you actually collect or have delivered before serving it.
These products illustrate the different formats and recipes available. Check the details of the specific product you’re thinking of serving.
Carrefour stocks, among other options, a 650 g family-sized sliced brioche and a 500 g sliced plaited brioche.
The range includes several sliced brioche recipes. Auchan, for example, stocks a 680 g Harrys pack with 26 slices.
The range lets you compare sliced brioches, an all-butter gâche and several formats from national and own-label brands.
Auchan lists a 500 g fresh-egg sliced brioche with 18 slices, as well as a 700 g version with 26 slices.
E.Leclerc stocks EPI D'OR sliced brioches in 500 g packs with 18 slices or 700 g packs with 27 slices, as well as multipacks of mini brioches.
These savoury brioche bites are designed to share as a pre-dinner snack when you’re having friends round. They’re not a substitute for a family-sized sliced brioche served at the table.
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This pack contains 9 ham and Emmental bites, with a stated total weight of 115 g, making it a savoury option to serve before dinner. Store in the freezer and cook in the oven before serving, following the product instructions. If you plan to take leftovers in lunchboxes, check whether the bites are individually wrapped. Check the label you receive for allergen information.
Not necessarily. ‘Family-sized’ may simply mean a large pack of sliced brioche. If each guest needs a wrapped portion, check that this is stated explicitly on the pack rather than assuming it from the weight or number of slices.
Before serving, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact product. The recipes reviewed list wheat, eggs or milk, depending on the product. A claim such as ‘additive-free’ is no substitute for checking the label.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack after opening and reseal it as directed. If you want to divide the leftovers between lunchboxes, check before buying whether you need individual pieces rather than slices from a single pack.
They’re a good choice for handing out individual pieces, but not necessarily for serving slices to share. E.Leclerc, for example, stocks multipacks of 12 mini brioches as well as sliced brioches with 18 or 27 slices. Choose according to how you want to serve them and how many portions you need.