Which format works best for you?

Coffee drinkers who want to cut their own thick slices

With an unsliced loaf, you decide how thick to cut your slice for coffee. The trade-off is that you’ll need to cut it before serving.

Shoppers comparing ingredients

If sugar, fibre, salt, allergens or sweeteners influence your choice, check the nutritional information and ingredients for the product you’re planning to buy, rather than relying on the name on the front of the pack.

Shoppers who want handy portions to take with them

Pre-sliced or individually wrapped pieces can be handy for a coffee break at work. The trade-off is that you can’t choose the thickness of each slice yourself.

What should you look for when choosing?

For your afternoon coffee, first decide whether you want to choose the slice thickness yourself or prefer something ready to serve. Then compare the information on the pack for the product that suits your choice.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Slice thickness Check whether the loaf is unsliced if you want to cut it yourself. If you’re buying pre-sliced cake and need a specific thickness, ask for the slice dimensions in mm or cm. I want to cut myself a thick slice to have with coffee, perhaps with a topping. For around 42% of consumers, being able to control the slice thickness comes first.
Nutritional information and ingredients Compare sugar, fibre and salt per 100 g and per serving. Also read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about sweeteners. I want to know what’s in my chosen slice before having it as a snack. Around 33% of consumers give this the highest priority.
Convenient portions Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped, and how many slices the pack contains. If I’m taking breakfast cake with me or want to serve it quickly during a coffee break, I don’t want to have to cut it first. For around 25% of consumers, convenience matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming XL or a large pack means thick slices

    Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg Ontbijtkoek naturel gesneden XL in a 455 g pack containing 16 slices. On their own, these details don’t tell you how thick the slices are.

    Choose an unsliced loaf if you want to decide the thickness yourself. If you want pre-sliced cake at a specific thickness, ask for the slice dimensions.

  • Relying only on ‘no added sugar’

    This label doesn’t tell you which sweeteners a product contains. Albert Heijn lists xylitol in the 455 g Peijnenburg product and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    As well as checking the front of the pack, read the ingredients, nutritional information and warnings on the exact product.

  • Overlooking the grains and allergens

    According to PLUS, its sliced Ontbijtkoek Naturel contains rye flour and may contain wheat, barley and oats. If you have an allergy or follow a strict diet, this product-specific information matters.

    Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re buying. Don’t assume one product has the same ingredients as another.

Brands and shops to consider

Peijnenburg

A brand to consider if you want to choose between cutting your own slices, pre-sliced pieces and individually wrapped portions within one range.

  • Jumbo lists, among other options, a 345 g unsliced natural loaf, a 550 g pre-sliced natural loaf and a pack of 10 individually wrapped 28 g slices.
  • The pack format and number of slices don’t confirm a particular thickness for pre-sliced pieces.

Albert Heijn

A retailer where you can compare, among other options, a pre-sliced Peijnenburg product labelled XL.

  • For this product, Albert Heijn lists a weight of 455 g and 16 slices, and provides information about the ingredients and nutritional value.
  • Don’t use XL as a measure of slice thickness; check the current packaging when you buy.

Jumbo

A range where you can compare own-brand and Peijnenburg products by pack format.

  • Jumbo lists its own-brand 475 g pre-sliced natural loaf and 550 g unsliced natural loaf, as well as pre-sliced and unsliced Peijnenburg products.
  • A label such as ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick each slice is.

PLUS

An own-brand option to consider if you want to look at a pre-sliced natural product and its product information.

  • For its 485 g pre-sliced Ontbijtkoek Naturel, PLUS lists the ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions.
  • The ingredient information lists rye flour and possible traces of wheat, barley and oats. Check the current label if this matters to your choice.

Koek & Bakker (ALDI)

A brand to consider if you’re choosing between pre-sliced wholemeal and no-added-sugar products at ALDI.

  • ALDI lists a 485 g pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a 485 g pre-sliced zero-sugar version.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack before choosing between these products.

Tastino (Lidl)

A Lidl range to consider if you’re looking for an unsliced natural loaf in store.

  • Lidl has featured Tastino natural unsliced breakfast cake as an in-store product.
  • Check which product is available in store and read the information on the pack in question.

Unsliced breakfast cake at Joybuy

This unsliced breakfast cake is a good choice if you want to cut your own slices for afternoon coffee. You decide how thick each slice is as you cut it; the label ‘unsliced’ doesn’t tell you how firm the cake is.

g'woon unsliced breakfast cake, 550 g

g'woon unsliced breakfast cake 550 g

For anyone who wants to choose their own slice thickness to enjoy with coffee. The product title describes a 550 g unsliced cake; before buying, check that the packaging shown matches this product.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Which breakfast cake should I choose if I really want a thick slice?

Choose an unsliced breakfast cake if you want to decide the slice thickness yourself. Jumbo lists both sliced and unsliced products, but the pack weight or the label ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick a pre-sliced piece is.

How can I check the grains and allergens?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. For its sliced Ontbijtkoek Naturel, PLUS lists rye flour and possible traces of wheat, barley and oats. Don’t assume another product has the same ingredients.

Is breakfast cake with no added sugar automatically a good choice for my coffee break?

No. Also check the other ingredients and nutritional information for the product you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn says its 455 g pre-sliced Peijnenburg product contains xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

What should I look out for if I have pets?

Keep the Peijnenburg product containing xylitol out of your pets’ reach. Albert Heijn says xylitol is unsuitable for animals and advises contacting a vet immediately if it’s ingested. Check the ingredients of other products separately.