Bread can be healthier than buns, but it all depends on the kind of bun and bread being compared. For example, one slice of white bread is healthier than a single sweet bun which can have a high amount of carbohydrates and sugar. On the other hand, one whole wheat bun might be healthier than a slice of white bread.

In Southern England, a bun is a hand-sized sweet cake, while in Northern England, it is a small round of ordinary bread. In Ireland, a bun refers to a sweet cake, roughly analogous to an American cupcake. Buns are usually made from a dough of flour, milk, yeast and small amounts of sugar and/or butter.