Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents looking for a dark chocolate flavour

You’re looking for chocolate-flavoured breakfast cake for your child’s lunchbox. Check the packaging to see which chocolate ingredients it contains, and whether nuts or milk are a concern for your child.

Parents comparing sugar and fibre

For you, the nutritional information matters more than a dark flavour. A sliced wholemeal version with no added sugars may be worth comparing, provided you also check the ingredients and allergens.

Parents considering allergens and school rules

You want to know which cereals containing gluten and other relevant allergens are in the breakfast cake before packing it. Also check for warnings about possible cross-contamination and find out what the school’s rules are.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, check that the specific breakfast cake is suitable for any allergies and complies with the school’s rules. Then compare the flavour you’re looking for, the portion size and the nutritional information.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Allergens and school rules Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific packaging. If an allergy is relevant, also look for warnings about possible cross-contamination and check the school’s rules. If a child needs to avoid an allergen, I want to know whether this cake meets the agreed requirements before packing it. For around 31% of consumers, this would be their first concern.
Convenience Check whether the cake is pre-sliced or individually wrapped, and how many slices are in the pack. On a busy school morning, I want to be able to pack a slice without having to cut it. For around 25% of consumers, this convenience would matter most.
Dark chocolate flavour Check which chocolate ingredients are listed; if you prefer a high cocoa content, look for a specific cocoa percentage. For a chocolate and nut variety, check the allergens too. I’m mainly looking for a dark, chocolatey flavour, but I don’t want to mistake ‘dark chocolate’ for confirmed high cocoa content. For around 19% of consumers, this flavour preference would come first.
Sugar and fibre Compare sugar and fibre on the same basis: per 100 g and per slice. Also read the ingredients and allergen information. If I pack breakfast cake regularly, I want to know how much sugar and fibre there is in a slice. For around 25% of consumers, this comparison would be the main reason for choosing between varieties.

Pitfalls to avoid when choosing

  • Assuming ‘dark chocolate’ means a high cocoa content

    Lidl Nederland lists a breakfast cake variety with dark chocolate and nuts, but doesn’t give a cocoa percentage. Albert Heijn lists its AH Bio chocolate breakfast cake as discontinued.

    If you prefer a high cocoa content, look for a specific percentage on the current packaging. If you’re choosing mainly for the flavour, check the ingredients and allergens too.

  • Assuming gluten is the only concern

    PLUS Korenlanders’ plain breakfast cake lists wheat, rye and cereals containing gluten, and may contain nuts. Peijnenburg says its wholemeal variety with no added sugars may contain nuts and milk.

    Read the label on the specific variety, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination, before putting the cake in the lunchbox.

  • Treating ‘no added sugars’ as the whole story

    This claim doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fibre there is in a slice, and says nothing about allergens. Slice sizes can also vary.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and check the ingredients and allergens separately.

  • Assuming baker’s salt is always iodised

    According to NBC / Brood.net, the use of iodised baker’s salt can vary between products. So the words ‘baker’s salt’ alone aren’t a reason to assume that every breakfast cake has the same ingredients.

    If this ingredient matters to your choice, read the ingredients list on the specific packaging.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg offers, among other products, a sliced wholemeal breakfast cake with no added sugars. This variety isn’t confirmed as a dark chocolate-flavoured option.

  • For this variety, Peijnenburg lists 12 slices, 17 g of fibre and 4,9 g of sugar per 100 g.
  • The cake contains wholemeal rye flour and may contain nuts and milk.

AH Bio

Albert Heijn describes an organic chocolate breakfast cake in a resealable 200 g pack.

  • The product page lists seven slices and Fairtrade chocolate.
  • Albert Heijn marks this variety as discontinued. If you choose an alternative, check the ingredients and allergens again.

Tastino / Lidl-lijn

Lidl Nederland lists a variety of its luxury breakfast cake with dark chocolate and nuts, alongside other flavours.

  • The chocolate and nut variety listed may suit those who prefer a dark chocolate flavour.
  • The listing doesn’t confirm a cocoa percentage. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI Nederland describes Koek & Bakker’s sliced Ontbijtkoek Zero as a variety with no added sugars.

  • According to ALDI, the cake is pre-sliced.
  • Before choosing, read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging.

PLUS Korenlanders Bakkers

PLUS lists a 500 g plain baker’s breakfast cake. This isn’t a chocolate variety.

  • PLUS’s product information lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
  • According to PLUS, this plain variety contains wheat, rye and cereals containing gluten, may contain nuts, and has 37,7 g of added sugars per 100 g.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is breakfast cake automatically gluten-free?

No, breakfast cake may contain cereals containing gluten, such as rye or wheat. If you need a gluten-free option, read the label on the specific variety rather than relying on the product category.

What should I look for when there’s a warning about possible cross-contamination?

Take the warning into account if the allergen mentioned is relevant to the child. Read the current packaging and make sure your choice complies with the arrangements for the child and the school. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the rules, in force since 1 January 2026, on how and when manufacturers must warn about possible cross-contamination.

Does breakfast cake always contain iodised baker’s salt?

You can’t assume that every breakfast cake does. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific product.