If you want to cut yourself a thick slice of breakfast cake for a Sunday meal, choose an unsliced loaf; the word ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. Pre-sliced breakfast cake is more convenient if you want to grab a slice straight away. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each option, especially if sugars, fibre or allergens matter to you.
If you want a slice to top or enjoy on its own as a Sunday treat, think about the slice size you want. A pre-sliced pack doesn’t mean the slices are thick. With an unsliced loaf, you choose the thickness yourself.
Regular, wholemeal and no-added-sugar varieties have different nutritional information. Compare the values per 100 g and, if listed, per serving; the names alone won’t tell you how much sugar or fibre there is in a slice.
Rye, wheat and other gluten-containing cereals feature in the varieties reviewed. If you have an allergy or need to avoid other ingredients, check the current packaging for the exact flavour and variety you’re choosing, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
First decide whether you want a set, pre-sliced portion or to choose the thickness yourself. Then use the packaging to check the nutritional values, ingredients and availability of your chosen variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice size | Check whether the weight or thickness of a slice is stated. Choose an unsliced loaf if you want to decide the thickness yourself. | If I want a thick slice for a Sunday treat, I don’t want to rely on an unspecified slicing thickness. For around 36% of consumers, control over slice size is the top priority. |
| Sugars and fibre | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and, where listed, per serving. For no-added-sugar varieties, check the ingredients too. | If you’re choosing between regular and other varieties, you’ll want to know what’s actually in a portion. Sugars and fibre are the main priorities for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety, including any warnings about the possible presence of other ingredients. | If I need to avoid certain cereals or sweeteners, I need to be able to assess the exact variety before buying it. This is the most important consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check where the specific variety is sold, especially if you need it for a particular Sunday occasion. | If you don’t want to choose a different loaf at the last minute, you’ll want a variety that’s easy to find in time. Availability is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Pre-sliced breakfast cake is easy to portion, but the label doesn’t tell you how thick each slice is. You could end up with slices that aren’t the size you had in mind.
Look for a stated slice thickness or weight. If choosing the thickness yourself matters more than the convenience of pre-sliced cake, choose an unsliced loaf.
According to Peijnenburg, its reviewed no-added-sugar sliced variety still contains 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and includes xylitol. So there’s more to consider than just the wording on the front of the pack.
Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and check which sweeteners and usage warnings are listed for the variety you choose.
The breakfast cakes reviewed list rye and other gluten-containing cereals, among other ingredients; some varieties also carry a ‘may contain’ statement. A brand name or flavour isn’t enough to confirm that a product is free from particular ingredients.
If you have an allergy, check the current packaging for the exact variety before deciding.
These brands offer different varieties of breakfast cake that were reviewed. The details below apply to the products named, not necessarily to the entire range.
Includes sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and sliced plain breakfast cake with no added sugars.
Sliced plain breakfast cake in regular and zero varieties.
Regular sliced plain breakfast cake and an unsliced ginger variety.
Sliced zero and wholemeal breakfast cake at ALDI.
Includes sliced wholemeal breakfast cake at Lidl.
These sliced breakfast cakes are a good fit if you want to grab a slice straight away for a Sunday occasion. If you’d rather cut yourself a thick slice, an unsliced loaf gives you more control over the size.
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For anyone looking for a wholemeal variety that’s already sliced. Check the slice size if you want a thick slice; if you have an allergy, check the current packaging, as the product information is inconsistent about rye.
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For anyone who wants breakfast cake in ready-sliced portions. Check the packaging for the slice size, nutritional values and allergens if these are important to your choice.
No: ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its sliced no-added-sugar variety reviewed; Jumbo says its zero variety reviewed contains naturally occurring sugars. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the breakfast cake you’ve bought. For the sliced varieties reviewed, Jumbo recommends storing them in a cool, dry place and advises keeping one variety in a sealed tin after opening.
No, you can’t assume this is the case for every breakfast cake. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products only through the addition of baker’s salt; this rule doesn’t confirm what’s in any individual loaf. Check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer.
