Commuters short on time to pack
If you don’t want to cut anything before you leave, a separately wrapped slice could be just the thing. For example, Peijnenburg lists ten individually wrapped 28 g slices in its Naturel 10-pack.
Who might find breakfast cake practical on the go?
Consumers who compare labels
If you pay attention to sugars, fibre or ingredients, compare the nutritional information for your chosen variety per portion and per 100 g. The figures for a standard cake won’t necessarily apply to a wholemeal or differently made version.
Consumers who need to check allergens
When checking for allergens, the label on the exact pack is what matters. The standard Peijnenburg portion pack lists rye and warns that it may contain, among other things, hazelnuts and almonds; other varieties may have different ingredients.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how you want to take your breakfast cake with you. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack you’re actually choosing.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Taking it with you and portioning | Check whether the slices are individually wrapped and how much a portion weighs. | When I’m in a hurry, I want to be able to take a slice with me without having to cut or wrap it first. Around 36% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Sugars and fibre | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; check the ingredients list too. | For my lunch, I want to know how much sugar and fibre the slice I’m eating contains. Around 29% of consumers give this comparison top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the allergen information on the exact pack, including any warnings about possible traces. | If I need to avoid certain allergens, I want to assess the variety I’ve chosen rather than go by the brand name. Around 21% of consumers put this check first. |
| Flavour and type | Check what has been added to the variety and whether the cake is sliced or unsliced. | If I’m taking breakfast cake with me mainly for the flavour, I want to know whether a version with, for example, pearl sugar suits the occasion. An estimated 14% of consumers choose primarily on flavour and type. |
Common mistakes
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Looking only at the fibre information
Fibre doesn’t tell you how much sugar a slice contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists both 1.1 g of fibre and 11.2 g of sugars in a 30 g slice of standard breakfast cake; a specific variety may differ.
Compare the nutritional information on the label of your chosen cake per portion and per 100 g, including sugars and fibre.
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Guessing allergens from the product name
Breakfast cake made with rye contains a cereal that contains gluten. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens may also vary between varieties.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, even if you already know the brand.
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Assuming a premium version has nutritional benefits
ALDI Supermarkets describes Koek & Bakker’s premium pearl sugar breakfast cake as an unsliced cake with pearl sugar. This flavour description alone says nothing about its nutritional value compared with other varieties.
Choose this type of cake to suit your taste, and use the nutrition table to compare it with plain or wholemeal breakfast cake.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers standard portion packs and sliced varieties, including a version with no added sugars.
- According to Peijnenburg, the Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices. Its sliced Naturel version with no added sugars lists 1.4 g of sugars and 4.7 g of fibre per 28 g slice.
- Packaging and nutritional values vary by variety. Check the exact product name and label before comparing figures.
Koek & Bakker
Koek & Bakker is a supermarket own brand offering, among other things, pre-sliced zero and wholemeal breakfast cake, as well as an unsliced pearl sugar version.
- ALDI Supermarkets describes both the zero and wholemeal versions as pre-sliced breakfast cake weighing 485 g.
- The pearl sugar version has a different flavour and is made differently; compare the label if nutritional values matter to your choice.
g'woon
The relevant g'woon variety here is 485 g of sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
- The product information lists rye as an ingredient, which is relevant if you’re looking for a wholemeal variety.
- The information about rye and the allergen statement on the product page contradict each other. For an allergen decision, use the label on the physical pack.
Breakfast cake for on-the-go eating at Joybuy
These products show two ways to take breakfast cake with you: a bar-shaped cake and sliced wholemeal breakfast cake. For both, check the packaging if individually wrapped portions or allergen information are key to your choice.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
The bar shape can be handy if you want to take breakfast cake with you. The pack contains 250 g; check the label to see how the portions are packaged and how much each bar weighs.
Don’t assume the product name tells you how much sugar it contains. Compare the nutritional information per portion and per 100 g, and read the allergen information on the pack.
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g'woon sliced wholemeal breakfast cake 485 g
The sliced version is a good fit if you want to pack slices yourself for lunch on the go. The pack contains 485 g; check the weight of each slice when comparing nutritional values per portion.
The product information lists rye, but its allergen statement is contradictory. For an allergen decision, check the label on the physical pack.
Frequently asked questions
Is a slice of breakfast cake a full lunch?
A slice of breakfast cake isn’t automatically a full lunch. For a 30 g slice of standard breakfast cake, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists, among other things, 92 kcal, 11.2 g of sugars, 1.1 g of fibre and 0.9 g of protein. Check the nutritional information for your variety and consider what else you’re taking with you.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean it contains no sugars?
No. Peijnenburg’s sliced Naturel with no added sugars still contains 1.4 g of sugars per 28 g slice. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table on your chosen pack.
Where can I check for gluten and possible traces of nuts?
Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact pack. The standard Peijnenburg Naturel portion pack lists rye and the possible presence of hazelnuts and almonds; don’t assume the same applies to other breakfast cake varieties.
Does all breakfast cake contain baker’s salt with iodine?
Don’t assume every breakfast cake is made with baker’s salt. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific product or ask the manufacturer.
How can I take breakfast cake with me without mistaking the pack for a portion?
Check whether the slices are actually individually wrapped; ‘sliced’ only means that the cake has already been cut into slices. Also check the weight of each slice and follow the storage and use-by information on the pack.