Though they were invented in Vienna, Austria, the French love Viennese pastries, and the croissant has become an emblem of the culinary heritage of France. There is always a craving for chocolate or raisin bread
Though they were invented in Vienna, Austria, the French love Viennese pastries, and the croissant has become an emblem of the culinary heritage of France. There is always a craving for chocolate or raisin bread at breakfast or snack time. But beware, these delicacies are high in calories.
Croissant, brioche, pain au lait, pain au chocolat…, many of you want them because they are important sources of deliciousness. However, some of these pastries are very high in calories (fat and carbohydrates…). Do you want to eat them without gaining weight? So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn about some of the least caloric french pastries out there.
1. Pain au lait, 156.6 kcal per unit
Bread pudding is at the top of the list when it comes to the least caloric pastries. In fact, this delicacy has fewer calories than the croissant per 100 g (379 kcal/100 g). And buying it in a bakery is the only way to get it with such a low-calorie content. Why?
You need to know that artisanal bread pies contain more fat than commercial ones; 15% for artisanal bread pies against only 12% for industrial ones. So if you want to eat pastries without worrying about gaining a few pounds, bread pudding sold in bakeries can be an excellent choice. But be careful! Just because this food is the lightest doesn’t mean you should overdo it. In fact, eating a lot of them changes the whole picture in terms of calories.
2. The croissant, 251 kcal each
Many people tend to think that the croissant is one of the most calorific pastries. But the opposite is true. In fact, a 60-gram butter croissant has 250.8 calories per unit. Therefore, it is one of those bakery products you can consume with pleasure without the slightest worry. Nevertheless, you must remember that even if industrial croissants are less fatty, they are made from margarine. These contain trans-fatty acids that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
This is why, when you buy your croissants at the supermarket, you should take the trouble to read the label carefully in order to opt for the butter croissant that has the lowest percentage of fatty acids. But even if it contains a low amount of fatty acids, the butter croissant is rich in vitamin A. It is therefore beneficial to the skin and vision of its consumer.
3. Brioche, 374 kcal/100g
A good brioche is a real treat for breakfast. Tasted plain, it is not so caloric. It is spread with butter and jam. And, at snack time, the chocolate spread will cover it. It is a little weak point: it is often associated with other fats.
4. Pain au chocolat
The chocolate croissant is the favorite of many consumers. It is the most popular pastry in the “gourmet” category for children and adults. Its calorie content depends on the type of chocolate it contains. Indeed, for an artisanal puff pastry, it is necessary to count 274 kcal for a bread that weighs 65 g. As for the industrial type of chocolate bread, it contains only 183 kcal per 45 g.
Chocolate bread is, therefore, one of the least caloric pastries we can enjoy. But as for the pastries presented above, the chocolate bread is not to be consumed without moderation. Moreover, it is not uncommon to find some weighing more than 100 g or even 120 g. Details to take into consideration if you think about your weight.
5. Pain aux raisin
According to research, raisin bread is the least caloric pastry per 100g, with 331kcal/100g. Unlike other baked goods, raisin bread has less fat. But in quantity, it is the most generous, as one unit usually weighs 95 or 100 g. Moreover, raisin bread has an additional advantage: it contains raisins, a fruit with many benefits.
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