If you’re just having a coffee break
You want to grab a single portion without cutting into a large breakfast cake. Look for the words ‘individually wrapped’ and check the weight of each bar.
Who is an individually wrapped bar right for?
If you compare ingredients carefully
You may be looking for a no added sugars option, but you’ll also want to check the sugars per portion, any sweeteners and the allergens listed on the label.
If you’re planning ahead for several coffee breaks
You want to keep enough individual portions at home. So compare the number of bars, the weight of each bar and how they’re packaged.
What should you look for in a bar for your afternoon coffee?
Start with the portion you want to eat, then check the ingredients and the pack size.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portion | Check whether the bars are individually wrapped and how many grams each bar weighs. | For one coffee break, I want to be able to grab a bar without cutting into a large cake. Around 42% of consumers prioritise an individual portion. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Read the nutritional information per portion, the ingredients and the allergen information; if the product contains sweeteners, check the warnings on the label too. | If I’m considering a no added sugars option, I want to know what is in the bar. These ingredients are the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Number of bars | Compare the number of bars, the total weight and the individual packaging. | I like to have bars ready for several coffee breaks, while still being able to take one portion at a time. Around 25% of consumers say planning ahead is their priority. |
Common misconceptions
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
Peijnenburg’s bar with no added sugars still contains 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar. The variant also contains xylitol.
Compare the sugars per portion and read the ingredients list. If a product contains xylitol, check the usage warning on the packaging.
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Treating a fibre claim as the whole story
The Consumers’ Association (Consumentenbond) points out that a product carrying a fibre claim can also contain a lot of sugar. What you eat is also a portion, not automatically 100 g.
So compare the fibre, sugars and energy per bar, as well as the values per 100 g.
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Assuming the baking salt contains iodine
According to brood.net, the use of baking salt containing iodine is not required by law. So you can’t assume it’s present just because a product is a breakfast cake.
Check the ingredients list for the variant you’ve chosen if the type of salt used matters to you.
Brands and own-label options to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg makes small breakfast cake bars for a quick coffee break, including a natural variant and a no added sugars option.
- According to Peijnenburg, the natural pack contains five individually wrapped bars weighing 32.5 g each; the no added sugars variant contains five individually wrapped bars weighing 27 g each.
- The natural bar contains 12 g of sugars per bar. For the other variant, check the ingredients and allergen information too, including rye and the warning about possible traces.
Snelle Jelle
Snelle Jelle makes individually wrapped gingerbread bars, including a Zero variant if you want to compare products with that label.
- Albert Heijn lists a pack of four individually wrapped 42 g Snelle Jelle Zero bars.
- For the variant you choose, check the label for sugars per bar, ingredients such as rye and xylitol, and allergen information.
Goud Gebakken
This ALDI own-label brand offers koekhappers in a spiced cake or breakfast cake variant.
- ALDI lists a pack of six individually wrapped pieces.
- Choose the cake variant you want and check the ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging.
Snelle Jelle packs at Joybuy
These two Snelle Jelle packs are options if you’re looking for a set amount of breakfast cake for a coffee break. Check the weight of each bar and whether the bars in your chosen pack are individually wrapped.
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Snelle Jelle Gingerbread Natural, 325 g
If you’re looking for one bar to have with your coffee, check what portion of this 325 g pack makes up one serving and whether it suits your coffee break.
If you have allergies, check the current information about rye, gluten-containing cereals and possible traces of milk or nuts.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g
If you’re considering this variant for a coffee break, check the pack to see how much each bar weighs and compare the nutritional information per portion.
Don’t take the product name as proof that the bar is sugar-free. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current label too.
Frequently asked questions
Is one individually wrapped bar the same as one bar sold on its own?
No. An individually wrapped bar can be part of a multipack. Peijnenburg lists packs with five such bars, Albert Heijn lists a Snelle Jelle Zero pack with four, and ALDI lists a Goud Gebakken pack with six pieces. So check whether you’re looking for a single bar sold on its own or a pack that lets you take one bar at a time.
Is a breakfast cake bar with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No. Peijnenburg lists 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar for its no added sugars variant. Check the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific variant you’re buying.
Are breakfast cake bars always gluten-free?
No, you can’t assume that: the Peijnenburg and Snelle Jelle variants described contain rye. If you have an allergy or intolerance, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
Why compare nutritional values per 100 g and per bar?
Values per 100 g help you compare products on the same weight basis, while values per bar show you what’s in the portion you’ve chosen. So check the weight of each bar too, particularly if the packs contain different portion sizes.
Does every breakfast cake bar contain baking salt with iodine?
You can’t tell from the name ‘breakfast cake’. According to brood.net, the use of baking salt containing iodine is not required by law; check the ingredients list for the bar in question if the type of salt matters to you.