Choose individually portioned pieces if you want to hand out breakfast cake without cutting it, or pack it in lunchboxes. With a large sliced cake, you can decide how many slices to put out. Whichever you choose, check the quantity, whether the pieces are individually wrapped and the current label if ingredients or allergens matter to your guests.
If you want to put out a set number of pieces in advance for a neighbourhood get-together, check whether the cake is actually individually wrapped. Jumbo stocks Peijnenburg packs containing four, eight and ten pieces; ALDI Netherlands lists snack-sized cake pieces in a pack of six, each individually wrapped.
An individually wrapped piece is ready to pop straight into a lunchbox. A large pre-sliced cake can work too, but think about how you want to wrap and store the slices.
If you’re buying for several people, compare the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information for each variety. Descriptions such as wholemeal or no added sugars don’t replace checking the label.
First decide whether you need individual portions that are ready to serve, or would rather put out slices yourself. Then compare the quantity and, if anyone has specific dietary requirements, check the label for the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving without cutting | Check the number of pieces, the weight per piece and whether each piece is individually wrapped. | I want to put out portions for the get-together without having to cut up a cake first. For around 29% of consumers, being able to serve without cutting comes first. |
| Lunchbox portions | Compare individual pieces with pre-sliced cake, and check how the portions are wrapped. | For a day out, I want to take a portion with me without needing to cut it on the spot. For around 21% of consumers, lunchbox convenience is the top priority. |
| Quantity for the group | Compare the total weight and work out how many slices or pieces you want to put out. | If several neighbours are coming, I want to have enough cake to serve and decide how to divide it up myself. Around 29% of consumers prioritise quantity. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, nutritional information and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen. | When I’m buying for people with different dietary requirements, I want to know what’s in the cake. For around 21% of consumers, this label information matters most. |
The number of pieces doesn’t tell you how much cake you’re buying in total. For example, Jumbo lists a Peijnenburg 10-pack containing 10 × 28 g, while ALDI Netherlands shows a pack of six individual snack-sized cake pieces.
Compare both the number of pieces and their weight with the number of portions you want to serve.
These two descriptions don’t mean the same thing. The product information for a Peijnenburg variety with no added sugars also lists sugars and polyols, along with a warning about excessive consumption.
Check the nutritional information, ingredients and any warnings on the specific pack, rather than relying only on the wording on the front.
Ingredients vary between varieties. PLUS lists rye flour in its sliced plain breakfast cake and notes that it may contain wheat, barley and oats.
Ask guests in advance about any relevant allergies or intolerances, and keep the current packaging to hand when serving the cake.
Baker’s salt with iodine may be used in bakery products, but according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use it.
So don’t assume that a breakfast cake contains iodine-fortified baker’s salt unless you’ve checked its ingredients.
The format and ingredients depend on the variety you choose, not just the brand. The examples below show some packs you could compare for a get-together or lunchbox.
As well as large sliced cakes, Jumbo stocks Peijnenburg packs containing individual portions.
G'woon offers, among other options, a pack of six pieces and a 485 g sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
ALDI Netherlands lists a 485 g pre-sliced Zero breakfast cake.
ALDI Netherlands lists snack-sized pieces of spiced cake or breakfast cake in a pack of six, each individually wrapped.
PLUS lists a 485 g sliced plain breakfast cake for anyone who wants to serve slices.
These products show two ways to serve breakfast cake: individual portions and a large sliced wholemeal cake. Compare the packaging before deciding what will work best for your get-together or lunchbox.
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Worth considering if you want to hand out or pack individual portions; check the pack to see how many pieces it contains and whether they’re individually wrapped.
This variety weighs 250 g. Don’t assume from the variety name that the cake is sugar-free: check the current nutritional information, ingredients and allergen information.
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A good option if you want to put out slices at home and are looking for a wholemeal variety. If you want to pack slices to take away, check whether individual wrapping is needed.
For this 485 g variety, Joybuy lists 43% wholemeal rye flour and 5.9 g of fibre per 100 g. If you’re serving it to a group, also check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
Individual portions are handy if you want to serve a set number of pieces without cutting anything. If you’re serving at home and want to decide how many slices to put out, a large sliced cake works too. With either option, check the quantity and whether the pieces are individually wrapped.
No, that description doesn’t mean it’s sugar-free. The product information for a Peijnenburg wholemeal variety with no added sugars also lists sugars and polyols; check the nutritional information and any warnings on the pack you choose.
Not without checking the allergens for the variety you’ve chosen. PLUS lists rye flour in its sliced plain breakfast cake and notes that it may contain wheat, barley and oats. Ask guests about any relevant allergies or intolerances, and keep the label to hand.
No, you can’t assume that every Dutch breakfast cake contains it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that adding iodine through baker’s salt is permitted in bakery products, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your variety. PLUS says to store its sliced plain breakfast cake in a cool, dark place; the product information for a G'woon variety says to store it in a cool, dry place and reseal the pack securely after opening.
