Which choice is right for you?

If you want to compare lower-sugar options

You’re looking for a small snack while studying and want to check fibre, sweeteners and slice size as well as sugar. A claim on the front of the pack is no substitute for the nutritional information.

If wholegrain and fibre matter to you

You want to know which grain is used in the breakfast cake and how much fibre the variety contains. Compare the sugar content, too: wholemeal breakfast cake isn’t automatically low in sugar.

If you need to check allergens carefully

If you need to avoid gluten or another allergen, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. Gluten-free breakfast cake can still contain other allergens, such as the milk and lupin in Peijnenburg’s gluten-free variety.

What should you look for when choosing?

If you need to avoid an allergen, first check that the packaging meets your needs. Then compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per slice, and only then decide which size is convenient to take with you.

What to look for What to check when buying Who it matters to
Nutritional values per portion Compare sugar and fibre per 100 g, then calculate the amount in the slice you eat. Check the portion weight, too. If I have breakfast cake while studying, I want to know what’s in my slice without mistaking it for a meal. This nutritional profile would be the first consideration for around 37% of consumers.
Sugar and sweeteners Check the number of grams of sugar and look at the ingredients for polyols and any relevant warnings. I want to compare lower-sugar options, but also find out whether my chosen variety contains sweeteners. This would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers.
Portion size Check whether the cake is sliced or individually wrapped, and how much a slice or bar weighs. For a break from studying, I want to be able to take a portion with me in advance. Convenience would come first for around 18% of consumers.
Gluten and other allergens Check the current ingredients, allergen information and any details about cross-contamination. If I need to avoid an allergen, I want to be able to check whether this particular pack is suitable. This check would be the top priority for around 18% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means ‘low in sugar’

    Jumbo’s Wholemeal Breakfast Cake contains 8.2 g of fibre, but also 35.5 g of sugar per 100 g. The type of grain doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in a slice.

    Compare the nutrition table per 100 g, then check the weight of the portion you’ll actually eat.

  • Relying only on ‘no added sugars’

    A lower sugar content doesn’t mean there’s nothing else to consider. AH Ontbijtkoek zero contains 22 g of polyols per 100 g and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check the ingredients and warnings, too. If you want to avoid polyols, compare it with a variety that doesn’t contain them, and take the sugar content into account when choosing.

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means all allergens are covered

    According to the product information, Peijnenburg’s gluten-free plain variety contains milk and lupin. Gluten-free doesn’t tell you anything about these other allergens.

    Check the full allergen information on the packaging every time you buy it, not just the ‘gluten-free’ claim.

  • Assuming breakfast cake contains iodine because it uses baker’s salt

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodised baker’s salt in relation to bread and explains that its use in bread isn’t compulsory. This doesn’t tell you the iodine content of any particular breakfast cake.

    For breakfast cake, rely only on product-specific ingredient and nutritional information, not assumptions about baker’s salt.

Brands compared

Compare varieties within a brand just as carefully as products from different brands: wholemeal, zero and gluten-free options don’t answer the same shopping question.

Peijnenburg

Worth considering if you want to compare a wholemeal variety with no added sugars against a gluten-free option.

  • The wholemeal variety reviewed contains 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • This wholemeal variety contains xylitol, rye and gluten. Peijnenburg’s gluten-free plain variety contains 42 g of sugar and 1.0 g of fibre per 100 g, and contains milk and lupin.

Albert Heijn

Offers an AH Zero variety and an AH Wholemeal variety, which you can compare using their different nutritional values.

  • Albert Heijn lists 4.9 g of sugar and 16 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Ontbijtkoek zero.
  • The Zero variety also contains 22 g of polyols per 100 g and carries a warning about excessive consumption. AH Ontbijtkoek wholemeal contains 34 g of sugar and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.

Jumbo

The Jumbo Wholemeal Breakfast Cake reviewed is an option for comparing wholegrain rye with other breakfast cake varieties.

  • Jumbo lists 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same variety contains 35.5 g of sugar per 100 g and includes rye, wheat and gluten.

Koek & Bakker (ALDI)

ALDI offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a sliced Zero variety from Koek & Bakker.

  • ALDI lists both varieties in a pre-sliced 485 g pack.
  • ALDI describes the Zero variety as having ‘no added sugars’. For a proper comparison, check the current ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging, too.

PLUS

PLUS Ontbijtkoek Naturel gesneden is a standard variety to compare with wholemeal and zero options.

  • PLUS lists a sliced 485 g pack.
  • For this variety, PLUS lists 36 g of sugar, 3.3 g of fibre and 0.52 g of salt per 100 g. It contains rye and cereals containing gluten.

Tastino (Lidl)

Lidl lists a 485 g Tastino Ontbijtkoek Zero for in-store purchase.

  • You can compare the pack size with other sliced or unsliced varieties.
  • In store, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the current packaging before comparing this variety with other breakfast cakes.

Breakfast cake on Joybuy

These products offer two breakfast cake formats for a study break: sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and a variety in a different pack size. Choose the one that suits you based on the current portion and nutritional information.

g'woon sliced wholemeal breakfast cake, 485 g

g'woon sliced wholemeal breakfast cake 485 g

For anyone who wants to portion sliced wholemeal breakfast cake as a snack.

Pack size: 485 g. To compare it, check the sugar and fibre per 100 g, the weight per slice and the current allergen information.

View on Joybuy
Snelle Jelle Less Sugar-Free breakfast cake, 250 g

Snelle Jelle Less Sugar-Free breakfast cake 250 g

For anyone considering a 250 g pack of breakfast cake as a snack while studying.

Check the portion size and nutritional values per 100 g and per portion on the packaging. Don’t judge the sugar content by the product name alone.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can breakfast cake replace a meal while studying?

It’s better to have breakfast cake as a snack than as a replacement for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating regularly during test and exam periods, too.

Is wholemeal breakfast cake automatically low in sugar?

No. Jumbo lists 35.5 g of sugar and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g for its Wholemeal Breakfast Cake. So compare both values and check how many grams the slice you want to eat weighs.

What should I look for in breakfast cake containing polyols?

Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging. AH Ontbijtkoek zero contains polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This is worth bearing in mind if you want to avoid polyols.

Does breakfast cake naturally provide iodine because it uses baker’s salt?

You can’t tell from the product category alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodised baker’s salt in bread, but also explains that its use in bread isn’t compulsory. Check the information for the specific breakfast cake rather than assuming it contains iodine.