Handing out slices quickly
If you don’t want to cut cake at a busy King’s Day event, look for a pre-sliced pack. Albert Heijn, ALDI and PLUS list sliced breakfast cakes in packs weighing 485 to 550 g; check how many slices each product contains.
Which pack is best for you?
Making your own portions for a group
An unsliced cake gives you the freedom to choose the size of each slice. PLUS lists an unsliced breakfast cake weighing 550 g. Just remember to bring a knife, chopping board and a clean way to serve it.
Sharing while keeping an eye on the label
If your guests are concerned about ingredients, allergens or a particular product variety, check the packaging before choosing. Products in the same range may have different recipes and allergen information.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether everyone will have a slice there and then, whether you’d like to cut it yourself, or whether guests will take a portion with them. Then check the quantity and the label on the pack you’ve chosen.
Large, pre-sliced breakfast cake
Choose this option: if you want to hand out slices without a knife; Dutch retailers sell sliced packs weighing 485, 500 and 550 g.
Bear in mind: once opened, the group will be sharing from one pack rather than taking individually sealed portions.
Large, unsliced breakfast cake
Choose this option: if you want to decide the size of each slice yourself or arrange the cake on a plate in advance.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to cut the cake and serve the slices hygienically.
Individually wrapped portions
Choose this option: if guests will each take a portion with them; for example, ALDI lists cake bites in a pack of six individually wrapped pieces.
Bear in mind: the portion size is fixed, so check how many pieces you’ll need for your group.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Handing it out straight away | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and how many slices are in the pack. | I want to be able to hand out slices straight away in a busy place, without cutting them there and then. This convenience matters most to around 31% of consumers. |
| Enough for the group | Compare the total weight and decide whether you want to cut the slices yourself. | If I’m bringing one cake for several people, I want to decide how large the portions will be. This is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Individual portions | Check the number of individually wrapped pieces and the portion size. | Guests need to be able to take their portion with them without me having to pass around an opened cake. Around 25% of consumers put this first. |
| Label and ingredients | Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional information for the exact variety. | When I’m sharing with guests who are concerned about ingredients or allergens, I want to know what’s in this pack first. For around 19% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Assuming ‘sharing bag’ is a specific pack format
With breakfast cake, you can choose a sliced or unsliced cake, or individually wrapped portions. These formats determine how you can hand out the cake; the term ‘sharing bag’ doesn’t tell you that.
First decide how you want to serve it, then check the weight or number of pieces on the pack.
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Confusing a variety name with allergen information
‘Wholemeal’ and ‘Zero’ don’t tell you which allergens a product contains. Varieties can differ even within the same brand.
Before sharing the cake with guests, read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the exact pack.
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Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodine from baker’s salt
Information about baker’s salt in bread isn’t a product specification for all breakfast cake. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also states that using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory.
For the ingredients in a particular breakfast cake, rely on the information from the manufacturer or on the packaging, not on the product category.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
An option if you’re looking for a large, pre-sliced breakfast cake: PLUS lists Peijnenburg Naturel Gesneden, weighing 550 g.
- This variety is pre-sliced, so you can hand it out without cutting it.
- The product information lists rye and cereals containing gluten; check the current label before sharing.
Albert Heijn
Its range of sliced breakfast cakes includes packs weighing 485, 500 and 550 g.
- You can compare products by pack weight and variety.
- Check the ingredients and number of slices for the product you choose; range information doesn’t replace the label for each variety.
Jumbo
Lists both Peijnenburg Naturel Gesneden, weighing 550 g, and Peijnenburg portions that are individually wrapped.
- The different pack formats suit different ways of handing out the cake.
- Compare the number of portions and the product labels separately.
PLUS
Lists a 550 g unsliced own-brand breakfast cake and a 550 g sliced Peijnenburg variety.
- It’s easy to compare the difference between cutting it yourself and handing out slices straight away.
- The unsliced own-brand variety lists rye and may contain wheat, barley and oats.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists 485 g varieties of sliced breakfast cake, including Volkoren and Zero.
- Both of these varieties are pre-sliced.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each variety; don’t assume they’re the same as another variety based on its name.
Tastino
Lidl lists Tastino breakfast cake in pack weights ranging from 465 to 550 g, as well as a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
- Pack weight and whether it’s sliced are useful points to compare when buying for a group.
- Check the latest product information and label for the variety you choose.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
This sliced breakfast cake is a good choice if you want to hand out slices without cutting it on the spot. Check that the pack contains enough portions for your group.
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g'woon sliced wholemeal breakfast cake 485 g
Ideal for handing out slices without cutting the cake on the spot. This sliced wholemeal variety weighs 485 g; check the number of slices if you’re buying for a group.
Before sharing with guests who have a food allergy or coeliac disease, read the allergen information on the exact pack.
Frequently asked questions
Should I bring sliced or unsliced breakfast cake for King’s Day?
Bring sliced breakfast cake if you want to hand out slices without a knife; choose an unsliced cake if you want to decide the portion size yourself. If you choose the latter, make sure you have a knife, chopping board and a clean way to serve it.
Where can I check for allergens when sharing breakfast cake?
Check the allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying. For example, the unsliced PLUS breakfast cake described here lists rye and may contain wheat, barley and oats; don’t assume another variety has the same label.
Does breakfast cake automatically contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell that from the name ‘breakfast cake’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses baker’s salt in bread and states that its use isn’t compulsory; check the manufacturer’s or packaging information for a particular breakfast cake.
How should I store an opened large breakfast cake?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For Peijnenburg Naturel Gesneden, the product information recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place and, once opened, preferably in a sealed container or tin.