Breakfast cake on the train: portions, nutrition and sourdough

Who is this choice relevant to?

For travellers who want to take one slice

You want a ready-to-eat portion for your journey without opening a whole pack. For example, Peijnenburg describes a 10-pack of individually wrapped slices.

For label checkers

You compare breakfast cakes by ingredients, sugars, fibre and portion size. Check the variety you’ve chosen: wholemeal and no added sugars are different product characteristics.

For those looking for sourdough breakfast cake

You want sourdough to be part of the breakfast cake itself. A sourdough bread recipe or starter doesn’t meet that requirement, so check the description and ingredients of the cake itself.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide what matters most for your train journey: an individual portion, nutritional information or confirmed sourdough preparation. Then check the packaging of the variety you want to take with you.

What to look for	What to check before buying	Who it matters to
Individual portion	Check whether the slices are individually wrapped and what portion size is stated on the pack.	You want to be able to eat one slice on the train without opening the rest of the pack. An estimated 50% of consumers give this convenience the highest priority.
Nutritional information	Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g and per portion; check the ingredients and description on the pack you’ve chosen.	When comparing varieties, you want to know what’s in each slice and what terms such as wholemeal or no added sugars mean for that product. An estimated 30% of consumers put this comparison first.
Sourdough	Check whether the product description or ingredients confirm that this breakfast cake is made with sourdough.	You’re specifically looking for breakfast cake made with sourdough and don’t want to confuse it with ordinary baked goods or a bread recipe. This is estimated to be the top priority for 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

Mistaking a sourdough recipe for a breakfast cake product

A recipe or starter won’t tell you whether a ready-made breakfast cake was made with sourdough. That distinction matters if sourdough is a condition of your purchase.

Before choosing it as a sourdough variety, check the product description and ingredients for the breakfast cake itself.
Assuming an individual portion pack means different nutritional values

Individual wrapping makes it easier to take with you, but it doesn’t change the cake’s nutritional composition. Peijnenburg states that its plain 10-pack contains 11 g of sugars per 28 g slice.

Choose the pack format for convenience when travelling, and compare the nutritional information separately for each portion.
Relying only on ‘wholemeal’ or ‘zero’

These descriptions don’t mean the same thing. On their own, they also don’t tell you how much sugar, fibre or salt is in a particular slice.

Read the ingredients, allergen information, nutrition table and portion size on the pack you’re buying.
Assuming which type of salt is used based on where the cake comes from

The fact that a breakfast cake is sold in the Netherlands doesn’t tell you what type of salt was used to make it.

If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients or ask the baker about the recipe if you’re buying unpackaged breakfast cake.

Brands and retailers compared

Peijnenburg

Worth considering if you’re weighing up individually wrapped slices against a sliced wholemeal variety.

Peijnenburg describes its plain 10-pack as ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
For Peijnenburg Wholemeal Sliced, the manufacturer states that it’s 100% wholemeal and contains 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety. For its plain 10-pack, Peijnenburg states that it may contain milk, nuts and other cereals containing gluten.

Albert Heijn

Offers an overview that lets you compare sliced breakfast cake and different varieties side by side.

The range includes plain and wholemeal breakfast cakes from various brands.
Check the ingredients and packaging for each product you choose; a separate sourdough starter isn’t a ready-to-eat breakfast cake.

Jumbo

Worth considering if you’re thinking about baking your own as well as buying ready-made breakfast cake.

Jumbo publishes recipes and information about making sourdough.
A sourdough recipe isn’t a product you can take on the train and eat as breakfast cake straight away.

Lidl

A retailer to compare if you’re looking for breakfast cake labelled ‘zero’.

Lidl lists a 485 g Ontbijtkoek zero as a product available in store.
Check what the ‘zero’ description means on the pack you choose, and read the ingredients and nutritional information.

Aldi

Worth considering if pre-sliced portions and a no added sugars description influence your choice.

ALDI describes Koek & Bakker Sliced Breakfast Cake Zero as pre-sliced and containing no added sugars.
For this variety, compare the nutrition table and ingredients; the product description doesn’t confirm sourdough preparation.

Related products at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

What should you bear in mind when eating breakfast cake on an NS train?

Take a portion that’s easy to open during your journey, and dispose of the packaging and any leftovers properly. NS asks passengers to put rubbish in the bin; check the latest house rules if you have questions about your specific journey.

Does Dutch breakfast cake contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, where it comes from doesn’t tell you what type of salt was used in the breakfast cake. Check the ingredients or ask the baker which type of salt they use if it matters to your choice.

How can you check allergens in breakfast cake?

Read the allergen and ingredients information on the packaging for the specific variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens, including cereals containing gluten, must be listed on food labels. Don’t rely on the brand name or the ‘wholemeal’ description alone.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?

No, these descriptions don’t mean the same thing. For breakfast cake labelled ‘no added sugars’, check the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion on the current label.