If you want breakfast cake with as little added sugar as possible for a late-night snack, start with a variety labelled ‘no added sugars’. Then compare the sugars per 100 g with the portion you plan to have. A sliced wholegrain variety may suit you if fibre matters; an individually wrapped bar gives you a set portion, though it may be larger than one slice. ‘Zero’ doesn’t automatically mean 0 g of sugars, so also check for rye, gluten and sweeteners such as xylitol.
You’re looking for breakfast cake with no added sugars, or you’re happy with a clearly stated reduction. Either way, you’ll also want to know how many sugars the cake contains per 100 g and per portion.
You want to decide in advance between one slice and one bar. With a sliced cake, you can have one slice; an individually wrapped bar comes in its own portion, which may be larger.
You check for wholegrain rye or the stated fibre content, but also look for gluten and sweeteners such as xylitol if those ingredients matter to you.
First, check exactly what the sugar claim says. Then compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the portion you actually plan to have, and check the ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added and total sugars | Read the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. ‘Less sugar’ isn’t the same as ‘no added sugars’. | If I want to limit added sugar, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘zero’ alone. For around 50% of consumers, this distinction would be the first thing to consider when making a purchase. |
| Portion size | Compare the weight of one slice or bar, and check how many portions are in the pack. | When I want a late-night snack, I want to know in advance whether I’ll have one slice or a whole bar. A defined portion would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Check the fibre per 100 g, whether rye and gluten are listed, and the ingredients and warnings relating to polyols. | I want to weigh up wholegrain rye or fibre against any ingredients I need to avoid. For around 20% of consumers, this would be the most important consideration. |
The Albert Heijn, Peijnenburg and PLUS zero and no-added-sugars varieties reviewed still list 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
As well as checking the claim, look at ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table.
Jumbo says its Ontbijtkoek Minder Suiker bars contain 30% less sugar than its regular Jumbo breakfast cake bar. According to Jumbo, the bars reviewed still contain 22.7 g of sugars per 100 g, as well as ingredients including sugar and glucose-fructose syrup.
If you require no added sugar, read the ingredients list and look for an explicit statement about added sugars.
The sliced cakes reviewed list portions of 28 to 30 g; the individually wrapped AH Kruidkoekreep zero weighs 42 g per bar.
Decide whether you want one slice or one bar, and compare the nutritional information both per 100 g and per stated portion.
The zero varieties reviewed contain xylitol and carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Some also list rye and gluten. PLUS also warns that xylitol is unsuitable for animals in the information for one Peijnenburg variety.
Read the current ingredients and allergen label, keep products containing xylitol out of pets’ reach, and contact a vet immediately if a pet eats any.
Peijnenburg offers sliced breakfast cake with no added sugars, including a plain variety and a wholegrain variety.
Albert Heijn lists both sliced AH Ontbijtkoek zero and individually wrapped AH Kruidkoekreep zero.
Jumbo’s breakfast cake bars reviewed make a less-sugar claim, rather than stating ‘no added sugars’.
PLUS lists a sliced own-brand variety called Ontbijtkoek Zero.
ALDI lists a pre-sliced 485 g Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero.
This bar may suit you if you’re considering a breakfast cake bar positioned as a lower-sugar option. If you’re specifically looking for a variety with no added sugars, check that the ingredients and nutritional information meet your requirements.
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For anyone considering a breakfast cake bar who isn’t looking exclusively for a variety with no added sugars. The pack states 250 g; before choosing, check the ingredients and sugars per 100 g and per bar. The words ‘Sugar-Free’ in the product name alone don’t confirm that it contains 0 g of sugars.
No, not necessarily. The Albert Heijn, Peijnenburg and PLUS varieties reviewed list 0 g of added sugars, but also 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the exact claim and the nutrition table.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check the weight of the portion you plan to have. Peijnenburg lists 28 g per slice for the wholegrain sliced variety reviewed, while Albert Heijn lists 30 g per portion for AH Ontbijtkoek zero and 42 g per AH Kruidkoekreep zero.
Read the ingredients list and don’t choose based on the sugar claim alone. The zero and no-added-sugars varieties containing xylitol reviewed carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Don’t assume they are. The Albert Heijn, Peijnenburg, Jumbo and PLUS varieties reviewed list rye or other gluten-containing grains. If necessary, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current allergen label.
You can’t assume that every breakfast cake does. If the presence of iodine-enriched baker’s salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients for the specific variety or ask the manufacturer.
