Who is this choice relevant to?

Families looking for a deeper flavour

If the adults at home prefer a cocoa flavour to regular plain breakfast cake, check the ingredients of the exact variant. The word ‘cocoa’ in the name doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the cake contains.

Households looking for a family-size pack

If several people eat breakfast cake regularly, pack weight and whether it’s sliced or unsliced are practical considerations. PLUS, for example, lists packs of 485 g and 550 g; pack size says nothing about cocoa flavour or nutritional value.

Shoppers comparing labels

If you’re keeping an eye on fibre, sugars or sweeteners, check these details for each variant. The Peijnenburg and Jumbo products reviewed contain rye and gluten. Check the packaging again if the ingredients matter to your household.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with what matters most at home: cocoa flavour, a practical family-size pack, nutritional information or the ingredients of the specific variant. These features don’t automatically go hand in hand.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is it important to?
Cocoa flavour Look for cocoa or cocoa powder in the ingredients list. Compare percentages only if they’re stated for the variants in question. I’m looking for a more pronounced cocoa flavour for the adults at home and don’t want to judge by the packaging colour. Cocoa flavour would be the main reason for choosing it for around 29% of consumers.
Family-size pack Compare the net weight, whether it’s sliced or unsliced, and the storage instructions with how much your household eats. If several people at home regularly have a slice, I want a pack that’s easy to share without being left open for longer than necessary. A family-size pack would be the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Nutritional information Check fibre and sugars per 100 g alongside the ingredients and any sweetener warnings. At our house, the ingredients matter more than flavour or pack size. I don’t want to confuse wholemeal with a zero label. This would be the main consideration for around 21% of consumers.
Ingredients and portions Read the allergen information for the exact variant and, if portion size matters, check how much a slice weighs. I need to know which ingredients everyone at home can have and how the cake will be shared. These checks would be the most important consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a dark-sounding name means lots of cocoa

    A mention of cocoa doesn’t tell you how much the product contains. Albert Heijn lists 1% cocoa powder for Peijnenburg Zero Cacao; you can’t assume it has a more intense flavour from the name alone.

    For the variant you’re planning to buy, check which cocoa ingredients and any percentages are listed on the packaging.

  • Assuming ‘zero’ means sugar-free

    A zero label doesn’t tell you on its own how much sugar or which sweeteners a product contains. Peijnenburg Zero Cacao contains xylitol; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the nutritional information and sweetener warnings for the exact variant. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.

  • Choosing based on pack size alone

    A larger pack isn’t automatically wholemeal or richer in cocoa. For its 280 g Wholemeal Breakfast Cake, Jumbo lists both 8.2 g of fibre and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and choose a pack size that suits how you’ll use it and the storage instructions at home.

  • Assuming all breakfast cake contains iodised salt

    The name ‘breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you which type of salt is used in a particular variant.

    If this ingredient matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt.

Brands to compare

These brands offer a starting point for comparing variants and pack sizes. The product features mentioned don’t necessarily apply to the entire range.

Peijnenburg

The Zero Cacao variant is worth considering if you want to look at both a cocoa claim and the ingredients of a zero variant.

  • Albert Heijn lists 1% cocoa powder and 16 g of fibre per 100 g for this variant.
  • That cocoa percentage doesn’t support choosing it for a high cocoa content. The variant also contains rye, gluten and xylitol.

Jumbo huismerk

Jumbo offers plain and wholemeal breakfast cake, among other options. Check the nutritional information for each variant.

  • For its 280 g Wholemeal Breakfast Cake, Jumbo lists 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same variant lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g. In this case, wholemeal tells you nothing about the cocoa flavour.

PLUS huismerk

PLUS offers breakfast cake in different formats, including sliced and unsliced plain variants.

  • The available pack sizes include a 485 g sliced pack and a 550 g unsliced pack.
  • Don’t choose based on pack size if cocoa flavour is your priority; check the ingredients of the specific variant instead.

Koek & Bakker

The wholemeal breakfast cake from this brand listed by ALDI comes in a pre-sliced 485 g pack.

  • Pre-sliced portions can be handy when several people at home are helping themselves.
  • The terms ‘wholemeal’ and ‘pre-sliced’ don’t tell you the cocoa content or whether it has a deeper flavour.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does cocoa in the name mean a breakfast cake contains lots of cocoa?

No, the name alone doesn’t tell you how much cocoa it contains. Albert Heijn lists 1% cocoa powder for Peijnenburg Zero Cacao; for another variant, check the ingredients list and any stated percentage.

Is zero breakfast cake the same as sugar-free breakfast cake?

No, don’t rely on the zero label alone. Check the sugars per 100 g and the ingredients: Peijnenburg Zero Cacao contains xylitol, and the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Can I assume all breakfast cake contains iodised salt?

No, check the ingredients list for the exact breakfast cake. Look for wording such as baker’s salt or iodised salt if this ingredient matters to your choice.

How should I store an opened family-size pack of breakfast cake?

Seal the pack well after opening and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Jumbo’s product information for the wholemeal variant reviewed says to store it in a dry place; check the instructions for the variant you buy.

Are Peijnenburg Zero Cacao and Jumbo Wholemeal gluten-free?

No, the Peijnenburg Zero Cacao and Jumbo Wholemeal variants reviewed contain rye and gluten. Check other variants individually using their own ingredients and allergen information.