When serving afternoon coffee to a group of older people, a 485–550 g pack of sliced breakfast cake is a practical choice if you want to hand out slices without having to cut it first. Choose an unsliced cake if you want to decide how thick the slices are. Whichever you choose, compare the nutritional information and allergen details on the packaging, especially if you need to take individual requirements into account.
Which packaging is right for you?
If you want to serve slices without cutting
If you’re hosting afternoon coffee for several guests, a sliced cake means you can put slices straight on the table. For example, Jumbo lists 18 slices for its 550 g sliced Peijnenburg Naturel. Check how many slices are in other packs.
If you want to compare nutritional information
You may be looking for more than just something to share: perhaps you want to compare regular, wholemeal and Zero varieties. Compare sugars, fibre and salt on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the size of each slice too.
If you need to consider individual requirements
For allergies, the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack matter more than its size. If someone has difficulty swallowing, don’t assume a cake is suitable just because it feels soft. Thuisarts recommends first finding out what is causing the problem.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with how you’ll serve it: do you want to hand out slices straight away, or would you rather decide the thickness yourself? Then check the information that matters to your guests.
| What to consider |
What to check when buying |
Who it matters to |
| Serving at the table |
Check the net weight and, if listed, the number of slices. Choose a sliced cake if you don’t want to cut it while serving. |
When I’m making coffee for several people, I want to be able to pass the cake round straight away. For around 40% of consumers, ease of sharing comes first. |
| Nutritional information |
Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the size of a slice. Don’t rely on the variety name alone. |
I want to know how a regular or wholemeal slice compares with a Zero variety before serving it. For around 30% of consumers, this comparison is the main reason for choosing. |
| Individual requirements |
Read the current allergen information. If someone has difficulty swallowing, seek professional advice on a suitable food texture. |
If a guest has allergies or difficulty swallowing, I want to find out first whether this cake is suitable for them. For around 30% of consumers, individual requirements carry the most weight. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a label on the front tells you everything about its nutritional value
‘Wholemeal’ or ‘Zero’ on its own doesn’t tell you how much sugar, fibre and salt there is in a particular slice. For example, the Voedingscentrum lists 7.3 g of sugars per 30 g slice for a lower-sugar breakfast cake. This figure doesn’t apply to every Zero variety.
Compare the nutritional information on the packs you’re considering, using the same basis and taking portion size into account.
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Buying an unsliced cake when you want to serve it straight away
A large unsliced cake lets you choose the thickness of each slice, but it needs some preparation if guests are expected to help themselves as soon as they arrive.
Choose sliced if you want to serve it without cutting; go for unsliced if you want to decide the portions yourself.
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Checking allergen information only after you’ve bought it
Ingredients vary between varieties. PLUS lists rye in its 550 g unsliced Naturel; according to PLUS, its separate Korenlanders Bakkers variety contains wheat and rye and may contain nuts.
Before serving, read the allergen information on the pack you actually bought.
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Assuming soft cake is automatically suitable for someone with difficulty swallowing
How a cake feels doesn’t determine whether its texture is suitable for someone with difficulty swallowing. Thuisarts recommends first finding out what is causing the problem.
If someone has difficulty swallowing, ask a doctor or a relevant nutrition or swallowing specialist which foods and textures are suitable.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
The 550 g sliced Naturel is an option if you’re looking for a large cake with a stated number of portions.
- Jumbo lists 18 slices for this pack.
- Check the nutritional information too: the number of slices doesn’t tell you what’s in the cake.
PLUS
The 550 g unsliced Naturel is a good fit if you want to choose the thickness of each slice yourself.
- You can cut the cake into portions yourself for coffee time.
- This variety contains rye. Check the label if you need to take allergies or a gluten restriction into account.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI Netherlands lists 485 g sliced wholemeal and Zero varieties.
- According to ALDI, both of these varieties are pre-sliced.
- Check the nutritional information for the variety you choose before comparing what’s in it.
Tastino
Lidl Netherlands lists a 485 g Ontbijtkoek Zero.
- The stated pack size gives you a useful starting point for comparing it with other packs.
- Before comparing this variety with other breakfast cakes, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
These g’woon packs offer two ways to share breakfast cake with your coffee: 485 g sliced packs and a 550 g unsliced cake. Choose based on whether you want to cut it yourself, and check the current pack if you need to take individual requirements into account.
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g’woon Sliced Wholemeal Breakfast Cake 485 g
A good choice for coffee time when you want to serve slices without cutting the cake first. Check how many slices are in the pack.
The product description gives conflicting information about rye and allergens. If you have an allergy or need to avoid gluten, check the information on the current packaging.
View at Joybuy
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g’woon Sliced Breakfast Cake 485 g
This sliced pack is a convenient choice if you want to serve it without cutting. Check the pack for the number of slices, and compare the nutritional information if sugars, fibre or salt are important to your choice.
View at Joybuy
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g’woon Unsliced Breakfast Cake 550 g
If you want to choose the thickness of each slice, this unsliced cake gives you that option. You’ll need to cut it before guests can help themselves.
The product description mentions rye but also makes a conflicting allergen claim. If you have an allergy or need to avoid gluten, check the current label.
View at Joybuy
Frequently asked questions
Which pack is handy when several people are coming over for coffee?
A sliced pack is handy if you want to serve slices without any preparation. Jumbo lists 18 slices for its 550 g Peijnenburg Naturel Sliced. If you’d rather choose the thickness yourself, an unsliced cake is an option, as long as you have time to cut it.
Can breakfast cake replace another snack for older people?
You can’t assume that it’s right for everyone. The Voedingscentrum notes that some older people may benefit from eating less cake and, for example, more bread and dairy. If you have a specific dietary question, consider the person’s overall diet.
Is soft breakfast cake suitable for someone with difficulty swallowing?
You can’t tell from softness alone. Thuisarts recommends first finding out what is causing the swallowing difficulty. Then ask which food texture is suitable for that person.
How should I store breakfast cake once it’s opened?
Store an opened pack in a cool, dry, dark place and seal it well, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.