Parents who want to cut their own thick slices
With an unsliced loaf, you can decide the thickness and size of each slice at home. You will need to cut it before you can prepare the snack.
Which format is best for you?
The choice between unsliced, pre-sliced and individually wrapped breakfast cake mainly comes down to control over slice thickness, preparation and how you want to pack a slice.
Families who want to grab a portion quickly
A pre-sliced pack gives you ready-to-eat slices in a fixed size. Individually wrapped slices let you take one without opening the rest of the pack.
Parents who need to check the label and school rules
Ingredients, nutritional information and allergens can vary between products. Before packing a slice, check the current packaging and ask the school or childcare setting about its rules.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to choose the slice thickness yourself or would rather grab a ready-made portion. Then check the packaging and label of the product you are considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing the slice thickness yourself | Look for ‘unsliced’ on the packaging; ‘sliced’ on its own tells you nothing about the thickness. | I want to be able to cut a thicker after-school slice to size myself, even if that means doing some preparation; around 31% of consumers put the freedom to cut their own slices first. |
| Grabbing a ready-made portion quickly | Check the number of slices and the amount per slice; choose individually wrapped slices if you need them for taking with you. | When time is short, I want to be able to grab a slice without cutting it first. For around 25% of consumers, having a portion ready to eat is the main priority. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre per portion and per 100 g; also read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings. | When choosing a slice for my child, I want to know what it contains before packing it; around 25% of consumers put this label check first. |
| Choosing the right pack | Compare the pack weight and the number of slices or individual wrappers with the amount you want to use. | For several afternoons, I want to choose an amount that suits how we use it, without more individual packaging than necessary; for around 19% of consumers, choosing the right pack is the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘thickly sliced’
With pre-sliced breakfast cake, the slice size is fixed. The stated number of slices or portion size does not tell you how thick they are.
If you want to cut a thicker slice yourself, choose an unsliced loaf. Choose pre-sliced if the convenience of having a ready-made slice matters more.
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Taking ‘Zero%’ at face value
A name like this does not tell you which ingredients, sweeteners, allergens and warnings are listed on the individual product packaging.
Read the ingredients list and nutritional information for the product you are buying. Check any usage warnings too, rather than relying on the front of the pack alone.
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Not checking the packaging or school rules again
Standard breakfast cake products may contain rye or wheat. Product information can change, and a school or childcare setting may have its own rules about what children can bring in.
Check the current label and the rules at your child’s school or childcare setting before packing a slice.
Brands to consider
These brands and own-label products show the formats you may come across; a brand name alone tells you nothing about the slice thickness or ingredients of a specific product.
Peijnenburg
Jumbo lists Peijnenburg breakfast cake in sliced, unsliced and individually wrapped formats.
- The plain sliced version at Jumbo contains 12 slices in a 345 g pack; there is also a pack with 10 individually wrapped slices.
- Don’t assume a particular slice thickness from the word ‘sliced’ or the number of slices. Check the pack you choose if thickness matters to you.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s own-label range includes both sliced and unsliced breakfast cake.
- The 550 g Naturel Ontbijtkoek is an unsliced option if you want to choose the slice thickness yourself.
- Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings for each product individually; the product range name is no substitute for checking.
AH
Albert Heijn lists both sliced and unsliced breakfast cake under its AH own-label range.
- The product listings offer a choice between a slice ready to take from the pack and cutting your own.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. So check the packaging you are actually using.
PLUS
PLUS lists sliced plain breakfast cake as well as unsliced versions.
- The 485 g sliced PLUS Naturel is an option if you don’t want to cut the slices yourself.
- PLUS notes that product, ingredient, nutritional and allergen information may change; check the current pack.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists sliced breakfast cake and an unsliced ginger version under Koek & Bakker.
- The sliced wholemeal version is sold pre-sliced; you cut the ginger version yourself.
- Check the slice format, ingredients and allergens on the packaging for the product you choose, rather than assuming that details for one version also apply to another.
Unsliced breakfast cake at Joybuy
This product selection is for anyone who wants to cut their own breakfast cake slices at home. Choose your own portion size and check the current packaging before packing a slice.
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g'woon unsliced breakfast cake, 550 g
The unsliced format is a good choice if you want to decide the thickness of each slice at home.
The product information lists rye flour, but also includes an allergen claim that contradicts this. If allergies are a concern, don’t rely on that claim: read the current label and check the school or childcare setting’s rules before packing the cake.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get a thicker slice of breakfast cake?
Choose an unsliced loaf and cut it to your preferred thickness at home. With a pre-sliced pack, the slice size is fixed; the number of slices or portion size does not prove that they are extra thick.
Is breakfast cake an obvious choice for every afternoon?
No, don’t choose it simply because a slice is convenient. The Voedingscentrum suggests vegetables and fruit as snacks for children aged 4 to 12; if you are considering breakfast cake, check the portion size and nutritional information for the specific product.
Can breakfast cake be taken to school if allergens are a concern?
That depends on the ingredients in the specific product and the school’s rules. Standard versions may contain rye or wheat; always read the current label and ask the school or childcare setting what is allowed. If the allergen information is contradictory, don’t assume the product is suitable.
What does ‘Zero%’ tell you when choosing a slice?
The name alone isn’t enough to assess a product. Compare the sugars and fibre per portion and per 100 g, and check which sweeteners, allergens and any warnings are listed on the current packaging.