If you want one portion with your coffee
An individually wrapped bar saves you having to cut a slice from a large breakfast cake. Don’t just look at the number of bars in the pack; check the weight of each one too.
Who might find an individually wrapped bar useful?
If you’re mainly comparing sugars
Use the figures per 100 g to compare different varieties, then check what’s in one bar. Factor in fibre and salt too: the wording on the front of the pack doesn’t tell you the whole story.
If fibre matters to you
A wholemeal variety may suit your preference. Check the fibre per portion, and read the information about sugars, ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the portion you want to have with your coffee. Then compare the nutritional information using the same units, and check which grains are used in a wholemeal variety.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and packaging | The weight of each bar, the number of bars and whether they’re individually wrapped. | I want one bar with my coffee without having to cut a slice from a whole cake. For around 37% of consumers, having a defined portion comes first. |
| Sugars and nutritional information | Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g, then check the figures per bar. | If I’m watching my sugar intake, I want to see how the varieties compare on other nutritional values too. Around 36% of consumers prioritise comparing labels. |
| Fibre and grains | Check the fibre per portion, and read the ingredients and allergen information. | I’m looking for a wholemeal bar and want to know which grains it contains before choosing. Around 27% of consumers put this combination of considerations first. |
Common mistakes
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Focusing only on ‘less sugar’
According to PLUS’s nutritional information, the Less Sugar bar tested contains less sugar and more fibre per 100 g than the Original bar, but also more salt: 0,59 g compared with 0,50 g.
Always compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g. Then check the weight of the bar to see the figures for your portion.
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Assuming the number of bars tells you the portion size
A multipack doesn’t tell you how much you’ll eat with your coffee. Jumbo lists the Peijnenburg Original bar in its 10-pack as 28 g each, and its own-brand wholemeal bar as 58 g per portion.
Check both the number of bars and the weight of each one before comparing nutritional information per portion.
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means other things too
Jumbo’s wholemeal bar contains 4,8 g of fibre and 20,5 g of sugars per 58 g portion. According to Jumbo, it contains gluten, rye and wheat.
Check the nutritional information and allergen details for the specific wholemeal bar you’re considering; the name alone isn’t enough.
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Assuming every breakfast cake bar contains iodine
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t assume from Dutch regulations that a particular bar contains iodine.
Check the ingredients of the bar you choose if the use of baker’s salt matters to your decision.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg makes large breakfast cakes and individually wrapped bars, including Original and flavoured varieties.
- For a single coffee break, the individually wrapped multipacks are particularly relevant. For example, Jumbo lists a 10-pack of Original bars weighing 28 g each.
- Check the exact variety: portion weight, ingredients and nutritional values can vary between Original, wholemeal and flavoured varieties.
Snelle Jelle
Snelle Jelle offers spiced cake and breakfast cake bars in multipacks, with a range of different variety descriptions.
- Albert Heijn’s range includes Original, Less Sugar and protein varieties.
- Words such as ‘zero’, ‘less sugar’ and ‘protein’ don’t replace the ingredients list and nutrition table.
PLUS
PLUS sells breakfast cake bars in 6-packs, including Original and Less Sugar varieties.
- According to PLUS, its Less Sugar bar contains 22,9 g of sugars and 9,2 g of fibre per 100 g; its Original bar contains 38,2 g of sugars and 3,2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The same PLUS information lists 0,59 g of salt per 100 g for Less Sugar, compared with 0,50 g for Original. So compare more than one nutritional value.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells larger breakfast cakes and bars in 6-packs, including a wholemeal variety.
- Jumbo’s nutritional information lists 4,8 g of fibre per portion for its 58 g wholemeal bar.
- The same bar contains 20,5 g of sugars per portion and, according to Jumbo, contains gluten, rye and wheat.
Breakfast cake bars at Joybuy
This product selection is suited to enjoying one breakfast cake bar with your coffee. Assess the variety by its stated portion size and nutritional information; don’t assume anything about its sugar content from the product name.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
An option if you’re looking for a breakfast cake bar to enjoy with your coffee. The product name gives the pack weight as 250 g; check the pack for the weight of each bar and the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion. If you’re comparing sugars, don’t rely on the variety description alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is a breakfast cake bar with less sugar automatically the right choice with coffee?
No. Compare the other nutritional values and the portion size too. According to PLUS, the Less Sugar bar tested contains less sugar and more fibre per 100 g than the Original bar, but also more salt.
Why compare both per 100 g and per bar?
Comparing per 100 g lets you assess the nutritional information for different varieties on the same basis; per bar shows you the figures for the portion you choose. This matters when the bars don’t weigh the same: for example, Jumbo lists its Peijnenburg Original bar as 28 g and its wholemeal bar as 58 g.
Can I assume a breakfast cake bar is gluten-free?
No. Always check the label on the specific bar. According to Jumbo, its wholemeal bar tested contains gluten, rye and wheat.
Does every Dutch breakfast cake bar contain iodine from baker’s salt?
You can’t assume that every bar does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the product you choose if this is relevant to your purchase.
How should I store an opened pack of breakfast cake bars?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack. PLUS says to store the bars tested in a cool, dry, dark place; Jumbo says to store its wholemeal bar in a cool, dry place and protect it from moisture and heat.