Looking for a distinctive flavour
You want a breakfast cake with a recognisable flavour, such as ginger or pearl sugar, to enjoy with a sweet breakfast or a coffee.
Which option is right for you?
Comparing nutritional information
You check the sugars, fibre and ingredients before choosing. Compare the figures per 100 g and per serving so you can account for differences in slice size.
Looking for an easy-to-portion breakfast
You want sliced cake or individual portions that you can take with you without having to cut them yourself.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether flavour, ingredients or portion convenience matters most for your sweet breakfast. Then compare the packaging and nutritional information of the varieties that fit the bill.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Check whether the cake contains ginger or pearl sugar, and compare the sugars per serving. | If you want a sweet breakfast with a distinctive flavour, you may prefer a variety with ginger or pearl sugar over a plain one. Flavour is the top priority for around 40% of these consumers. |
| Ingredients | Compare the sugars and fibre per 100 g and per serving. For varieties with no added sugars, check the ingredients too. | If I’m choosing based on the ingredients, I want to know how much sugar and fibre a slice contains, not just what it says on the front. Around 40% of these consumers prioritise ingredients. |
| Portion convenience | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced, individually wrapped or unsliced. | For breakfast on the go, I want to be able to grab a portion without cutting it myself. Portion convenience matters most to around 20% of these consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘premium’ means better nutritional value
Ginger, fillings and pearl sugar mainly describe the flavour and finish. According to the Voedingscentrum, a 30 g slice of breakfast cake contains 11.2 g of sugar; figures can vary by product.
For the varieties you’re considering, compare the sugars and fibre per 100 g and per serving.
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Relying on ‘no added sugars’ alone
This claim doesn’t mean that the cake contains no sugars. Peijnenburg states that its plain variety with no added sugars contains 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and lists xylitol as an ingredient.
Check the nutrition table and ingredients list if the amount of sugar or a particular ingredient will affect your choice.
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Overlooking allergen information
Rye is a gluten-containing cereal. For the breakfast cake varieties reviewed, mentions of wheat or the possible presence of milk and nuts may also be relevant to your choice.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, always check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the specific variety.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers plain breakfast cake and varieties featuring ingredients such as ginger or pearl sugar.
- According to Peijnenburg, its plain variety with no added sugars contains 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This variety contains xylitol. Check the allergen information on the packaging too; a flavoured variety won’t necessarily have the same ingredients.
Koek & Bakker
This ALDI own-label range includes ginger breakfast cake, sliced wholemeal cake and a sliced zero variety.
- According to ALDI, the ginger variety contains pieces of ginger, while the sliced varieties offer a convenient way to portion your cake.
- Don’t choose on the variety name alone: check the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging for each product.
PLUS Korenlanders / PLUS
PLUS lists Korenlanders Bakkers plain breakfast cake alongside its regular PLUS varieties, including plain sliced cake.
- According to PLUS product information, Korenlanders plain contains 38.5 g of sugars and 3.7 g of fibre per 100 g; PLUS plain sliced contains 36 g and 3.3 g respectively per 100 g.
- These figures apply to the varieties named, not to all PLUS breakfast cake. Check the current packaging before comparing.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
These products include a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a Snelle Jelle variety to consider for a sweet breakfast. If you’re choosing based on ingredients, always check the nutritional information on the packaging.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
Worth considering if you want pre-sliced portions. The pack contains 485 g of breakfast cake.
Compare the sugars and fibre using the current nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. If you have questions about rye or gluten, check the label too.
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Snelle Jelle breakfast cake, 250 g
Worth considering if you want to take breakfast cake with you; check that the packaging and portion sizes suit your needs. The stated pack size is 250 g.
Don’t assume from the variety name how much sugar the cake contains, or that no sugars have been added. Check the current ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g and per serving. If you have allergies, check the allergen information too.
Frequently asked questions
Does premium breakfast cake have different nutritional values from regular breakfast cake?
The term ‘premium’ doesn’t tell you that. Compare the nutritional information for the specific varieties: the Voedingscentrum states that a 30 g slice of breakfast cake contains 11.2 g of sugar, but figures can vary by product.
Can I choose breakfast cake by brand name if I need to avoid allergens?
No. Check the current packaging for the specific variety. Rye contains gluten, and ingredients and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens can vary by product.
Can I tell from the name breakfast cake whether it contains iodine?
No. The name doesn’t tell you which ingredients a particular cake contains. If the presence of baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the current ingredients list.
How should I store breakfast cake after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your variety. For PLUS Korenlanders Bakkers plain breakfast cake, PLUS recommends keeping the cake tightly sealed in a cool, dry place after opening.