Regular stock-up shopper
You often have breakfast cake with your afternoon coffee at home and want to get several slices from one pack. A large own-brand cake is a useful option to compare.
Who are these options relevant to?
Label-conscious coffee drinker
You want to know which grains and ingredients a breakfast cake contains, and how its sugar and fibre are listed on the label. So you compare the exact product, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.
Shopper looking for portable portions
You take breakfast cake to work or like to have a portion ready in advance. In that case, the packaging and amount per portion matter more to your choice than the overall pack size alone.
What should you look for in a breakfast cake?
First, decide whether the breakfast cake will mainly be eaten at home or needs to go with you. Then compare the label of the pack format that suits your coffee break.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack for home | Compare the net weight and check whether the cake is pre-sliced. | For my regular afternoon coffee, I want to be able to have breakfast cake from one pack several times. This makes home use the deciding factor for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and compare sugar and fibre per 100 g; check the allergens on the pack. | If I’m considering a wholemeal option, I want to know what’s in the cake rather than judging it by the front of the pack alone. Around 30% of consumers put this label information first. |
| Portions to take with you | Check how many portions are in the pack, how much each portion weighs and how they’re packaged. | For a coffee break away from home, I want to be able to take a portion with me easily. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the pack size
A large pack won’t necessarily suit how often you eat breakfast cake at home; a different pack format may be more convenient when you’re out and about.
Think about how many slices you usually have and whether you want to cut them yourself before choosing a size.
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Treating a claim on the front as the whole story
A description such as ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value of a breakfast cake. The Voedingscentrum recommends reading the ingredients list and nutrition table too.
Compare the products you’re considering using their nutritional information per 100 g.
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Skipping the allergen information
Ingredients and warnings can vary between breakfast cakes, so information for one option won’t necessarily apply to another.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, read the allergen information on the pack every time you buy.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
Jumbo’s breakfast cake range includes plain, sliced and wholemeal options.
- You can compare different pack formats from this own brand.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and pack weight for each option.
Albert Heijn
AH Ontbijtkoek is an own-brand option if you’re looking for a large cake to enjoy at home.
- The AH Ontbijtkoek reviewed comes in a 600 g pack.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredients and allergen information, among other details, may change; check the current packaging.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a sliced zero option in this range.
- Both listed options are sliced and come in a 485 g pack.
- Consider any claim on the front alongside the ingredients and nutritional information for the option you choose.
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers plain breakfast cake in a larger pack, as well as smaller portion packs.
- The different pack formats let you choose between enjoying it at home and taking it with you.
- Check the weight and portion size of the specific product.
PLUS Korenlanders
PLUS Korenlanders is an own-brand alternative if you’re looking for a larger plain breakfast cake.
- The listed Bakkers plain breakfast cake comes in a 500 g pack.
- Check the current product and packaging information before making your choice.
Breakfast cake on Joybuy
These products suit two ways of enjoying your coffee break: a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for home, and a breakfast cake to take with you as a portion. Check the current packaging for both before making a decision based on the label.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
An option to consider if you’re looking for a sliced wholemeal variety to enjoy with your afternoon coffee at home.
Pack weight: 485 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current pack.
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Snelle Jelle breakfast cake, 250 g
An option to consider if you’d like to take breakfast cake with you for a coffee break away from home.
Pack weight: 250 g. Check the pack to see how the portions are divided and whether the nutritional information is given per 100 g or per portion; don’t assume from the product name that the cake is sugar-free.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake automatically a suitable everyday snack?
No. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for the breakfast cake you choose. The Voedingscentrum notes that breakfast cake often contains a lot of sugar and little fibre, so compare the information for the exact product.
When should I choose a large pack rather than individual portions?
A large pack works well if you eat it repeatedly at home and can cut off the amount you want, or choose a pre-sliced cake. Individual portions may be more practical to take with you; check the amount per portion and how it’s packaged.
Where can I find the allergens in a breakfast cake?
Check the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific product. Ingredients and any warnings can vary between options, so don’t rely on the label of a different breakfast cake.
Does every Dutch breakfast cake contain iodine because it’s made with baker’s salt?
No. The use of baker’s salt doesn’t confirm that every breakfast cake contains iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt. For a specific product, check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer.