If you want a set portion
If you want to grab one defined piece for your afternoon snack, check the weight of each mini or slice. A small size, on its own, says nothing about the ingredients or nutritional value.
Who are the different sizes suitable for?
If you take breakfast cake with you
An individually wrapped slice can be handy for work, school or when you’re out and about: there’s no need to cut or wrap it yourself. Check that the product you’ve chosen really does come in individual portions.
If you compare labels
If sugars, fibre, salt or allergens influence your choice, look beyond the wording on the front of the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing products per 100 g; then check the nutritional information for the portion you’ll actually eat.
What should you look for when choosing?
Mini, approx. 14 g
Choose this size: if one small piece is enough for your afternoon snack. Jumbo lists a 14 g portion for the Peijnenburg Pearl Sugar Minis reviewed here.
Bear in mind: this variety contains pearl sugar; its small size is no indication of its nutritional profile.
Individually wrapped 28 g slice
Choose this size: if you want to take a slice with you without having to cut it. Albert Heijn says its Peijnenburg Plain 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
Bear in mind: one slice weighs twice as much as the 14 g mini mentioned above; consider whether that suits the portion you want.
Sliced breakfast cake
Choose this size: if you want to take a slice or portion it yourself at home. Albert Heijn lists a portion size of 30 g for its sliced wholemeal breakfast cake.
Bear in mind: sliced cake doesn’t automatically give you an individually wrapped portion to take with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Set portion | Check the weight of each piece and whether the pieces are individually wrapped. | I prefer to have a small afternoon snack as one pre-portioned piece, without having to cut it myself. For around 40% of consumers, a set portion would be the most important consideration. |
| Ingredients and nutritional profile | Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g and then per portion; if you have a specific dietary requirement, check the ingredients too. | If I’m paying attention to ingredients or nutritional value, I want to know what’s in the portion I’ll actually eat. For around 30% of consumers, the ingredients and nutritional profile would matter more than the size. |
| Taking it with you | Check whether each piece is individually wrapped and how many pieces are in the pack. | When I’m out and about, I want to be able to grab a slice without wrapping it first. For around 30% of consumers, this convenience would be the main reason for their choice. |
Common mistakes
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Focusing only on the mini size
A mini makes it easier to grab one piece, but it doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fibre or salt the breakfast cake contains.
Following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g first, then look at the portion you want to eat.
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Assuming a ‘no added sugars’ claim means sugar-free
The Peijnenburg Zero variety described by Albert Heijn also lists naturally occurring sugars. So the front of the pack doesn’t tell you the whole story.
Read the nutrition table and ingredients list for the exact variety you’re considering.
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Assuming a product page means the item is available
Jumbo listed the Peijnenburg Pearl Sugar Minis as no longer part of its online range, even though the product information was still visible.
Before buying, check that your preferred size is available. If necessary, compare another product by the weight of each piece and its packaging.
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Assuming breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt
An agreement on the use of baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in a particular breakfast cake. In 2008, the Dutch Government Gazette published an agreement on baker’s salt.
If iodised salt is relevant to your choice, check the product’s ingredients list or ask the manufacturer.
Brands compared
Peijnenburg
The products reviewed include small Pearl Sugar Minis and individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- You can compare these specific sizes by the weight of each piece and the packaging.
- Ingredients and nutritional information vary by variety; Jumbo listed the Pearl Sugar Minis as no longer part of its online range.
AH
The AH wholemeal breakfast cake reviewed is sliced, and Albert Heijn lists a portion size of 30 g.
- With a sliced cake, you can take a piece yourself at home.
- The product reviewed isn’t an individually wrapped mini.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI describes the Sliced Zero Breakfast Cake reviewed as a pre-sliced 485 g cake.
- The sliced format is an option if you want to choose your own portion.
- This product isn’t an individually wrapped mini; check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack before making your choice.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
These breakfast cakes suit two ways of portioning: taking a piece with you or choosing a portion yourself at home. Check the portion weight and packaging for each product before comparing it with a mini.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
An option for taking breakfast cake with you. If you’re looking for a small portion or want to compare varieties, check the weight of each piece and the nutritional information on the pack.
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g'woon Breakfast Cake, 6 pieces
For anyone who wants to have a piece of breakfast cake at home. Check the weight of each piece and whether individual wrapping is important for how you plan to use it.
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g'woon Wholemeal Breakfast Cake, sliced, 485 g
For anyone who wants to choose their own slice at home instead of taking an individually wrapped mini. Use the weight of the slice you eat when comparing the nutritional information per portion.
Frequently asked questions
Does mini breakfast cake automatically have a different nutritional value?
No, the small size mainly determines how much you take in each piece. Compare the nutritional information for the exact products per 100 g, then work out what’s in the portion you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing products per 100 g.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean breakfast cake contains no sugars?
No, this wording doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. For Peijnenburg Wrapped Slices Breakfast Cake Zero%, Albert Heijn states that the cake contains naturally occurring sugars; check the nutrition table for the variety you choose.
Does all breakfast cake contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the product category alone. The Dutch Government Gazette published an agreement on baker’s salt in 2008, but to check the ingredients in a particular breakfast cake, read the label or contact the manufacturer.
How should I store sliced breakfast cake after opening?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of your breakfast cake. For its sliced wholemeal breakfast cake reviewed here, Albert Heijn recommends a cool, dark and dry place; also check the best-before date on the pack.