A small household that enjoys coffee now and then
If you only have a slice at home occasionally, a smaller pack means you won’t have as much breakfast cake open at once. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 265–345 g packs alongside larger sizes.
Who is a small pack suitable for?
Commuters and office workers who take a slice with them
An individually wrapped slice is handy if you don’t want to take a whole pack with you. Peijnenburg lists ten individually wrapped 28 g slices in its 10-pack of plain breakfast cake.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients and allergens
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
Think about how many slices your household gets through and whether you want to take one with you. Then check the nutritional information and allergens for the variety you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the net weight, whether the cake is sliced and how to store it after opening. | If I only have the occasional slice with coffee, I don’t want to open more breakfast cake than I need. For around 37% of consumers, a smaller pack would therefore be the top priority. |
| Individual portions | Check the number of slices, the weight per slice and whether they’re individually wrapped. | A slice to take with you should be easy to pack on its own, without taking a whole pack. For around 27% of consumers, individual portions would come first. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion, and check the weight of that portion. | If you choose a slice to have with coffee, you’ll want to know how much sugar and fibre it contains. For around 18% of consumers, nutritional values and portion size would be the main considerations. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, listed allergens and any warnings on the current packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know which allergens are in this particular variety. For around 18% of consumers, checking the label would be the top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming ‘half loaf’ always means the same weight
A small breakfast cake doesn’t always contain the same amount: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list packs weighing 265 g, 280 g and 345 g, among other sizes.
Compare the net weight and stated number of portions rather than relying on the pack-size description alone.
-
Going by a word on the front of the pack alone
A label such as wholemeal or gluten-free doesn’t tell you everything about nutritional value or other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists milk and lupin in Peijnenburg’s 285 g gluten-free unsliced breakfast cake.
Read the ingredients and allergens for the variety you choose, and compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
-
Assuming a product contains iodine based on its category
A 2008 agreement from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport describes bakers’ salt as iodised table salt for bread and other baked goods. This description doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular breakfast cake.
If iodine is relevant to your choice, check the current packaging or ask the manufacturer about that variety.
Brands compared
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers breakfast cake in several pack sizes, including small loaves and individually wrapped slices.
- Albert Heijn lists sliced breakfast cake in 265 g and 345 g packs; Peijnenburg also describes a 10-pack of ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- Check the ingredients for each variety: Albert Heijn lists milk and lupin in the 285 g gluten-free unsliced cake.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own brand offers a small breakfast cake pack as well as larger sizes.
- Jumbo’s range includes 280 g packs of plain and wholemeal breakfast cake.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions for your chosen variety.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s own sliced breakfast cake is particularly worth considering if you’re looking for a larger pack to keep at home.
- Albert Heijn lists its own 485 g wholemeal sliced breakfast cake.
- If you only have a slice now and then, a 485 g pack means having more cake open than with a smaller size.
Bolletje
Bolletje is another option to compare if you’re looking for a larger pack of sliced breakfast cake.
- Albert Heijn and Jumbo list 500 g packs of sliced Bolletje breakfast cake.
- Consider whether a 500 g pack suits how often your household eats breakfast cake.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare packs described as small or half loaves?
Compare the net weight and number of portions, as the description alone doesn’t indicate a fixed amount. For example, Albert Heijn and Jumbo list small breakfast cake packs weighing 265 g, 280 g and 345 g.
How should I store breakfast cake after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. For Peijnenburg 550 g plain sliced breakfast cake, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry place out of direct light, such as in a sealed tin or container, to keep it soft.
Do allergens have to be listed on breakfast cake packaging?
Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods. Check all the allergens listed for the specific variety. For example, Albert Heijn lists milk and lupin in Peijnenburg’s 285 g gluten-free unsliced breakfast cake.
Can I assume that all breakfast cake contains iodised bakers’ salt?
No. Don’t assume that a product contains iodised bakers’ salt based on its category. The 2008 agreement from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport describes what bakers’ salt is, but doesn’t say which salt is used in any particular variety of breakfast cake. Check the current packaging or ask the manufacturer.