If you take one portion with you
You want to take Dutch breakfast cake with you without slicing it on the go or having to store the rest of an opened loaf. Individually wrapped slices and bars give you a portion size set in advance.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you compare food labels
You look beyond wholegrain or sugar claims and compare the ingredients, sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion. If a product contains sweeteners, you also check the warnings on the packaging.
If you’re looking for a familiar flavour
If the spice and texture are what matter most, you could start with a plain or spiced variety. Then compare the nutritional information for the specific product you’re considering.
What should you look for in a single portion?
First decide whether you want to take a portion with you or slice some at home. Then compare the labels of the packaging formats that work for you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; check the ingredients as well when you see wholegrain or sugar claims. | If I choose mainly by the label, I want to know what I’m actually eating per slice and which sweeteners it contains. This label check is a top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Portion and packaging | Check the weight per portion and whether the slices are individually wrapped. | When I’m out and about, I want to take one portion with me without slicing it myself. This convenience is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Check which variety you’re choosing and read the ingredients for rye, spices and added flavourings. | If I’m particular about flavour, I want to find a variety with spices I enjoy. Around 25% of consumers prioritise flavour when choosing. |
| How you’ll use the pack | Compare the number of portions with how often you eat Dutch breakfast cake, and check how to store the rest after opening. | If I only have a slice now and then, I want to avoid leaving the rest of the loaf unused. This is the biggest consideration for around 19% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming an individually wrapped portion is low in sugar
Individual wrapping makes it easy to take a portion with you, but it tells you nothing about the sugars in the slice. According to the product information listed by Jumbo, a 28 g Peijnenburg Naturel portion contains 11 g of sugars.
Compare the sugars and fibre per individual portion before comparing a small slice with a larger bar.
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Assuming wholegrain means low in sugar
A wholegrain claim doesn’t tell you the full nutritional story. Albert Heijn lists its sliced wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake as containing 41% wholegrain rye flour and 34 g of added sugars per 100 g.
As well as the ingredients, check the nutritional information per 100 g and, if you know the portion weight, work out how much you’ll be eating.
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Using a sugar claim to compare products on its own
The 30% less sugar claim listed by Jumbo for Snelle Jelle Minder Suiker compares it with Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek naturel. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Peijnenburg Zero Volkoren contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
When you see a sugar claim, check what it’s compared with, the sugars per 100 g, the portion size and the ingredients. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
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Choosing a large loaf for occasional use
If you only eat a slice now and then, some of a large pack may go uneaten after you open it.
Consider how many portions you expect to use and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Brands compared
Peijnenburg
Worth considering if you want to compare a classic flavour with an individually wrapped or wholegrain variety.
- Jumbo lists the Naturel 10-pack as containing ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
- With Zero Volkoren, check the sweetener used and the warnings for that specific variety.
Snelle Jelle
Worth considering if you want to compare a larger individually wrapped portion of spiced cake with a relative less-sugar claim.
- Jumbo lists five 50 g portions for the Minder Suiker variety.
- Jumbo’s 30% less sugar claim is compared with its own plain variety; also compare the sugars per portion.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-label range offering different packaging formats and plain, wholegrain and less-sugar varieties to compare.
- The range includes packs with multiple portions and a separate gluten-free Dutch breakfast cake.
- Check the nutritional information and dietary claims on the packaging of the product you choose, rather than relying on the range description.
Bolletje
Worth considering if you want to compare a larger pre-sliced loaf with portions set out in advance.
- Jumbo’s range lists Bolletje Ontbijtkoek Gesneden, weighing 500 g.
- Check the label for this variety to compare sugars, fibre and ingredients.
Dutch breakfast cake at Joybuy
These two products offer different ways to choose a portion: a Snelle Jelle variety to take with you, and sliced wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake to cut at home. Compare the portion size and label for both.
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Snelle Jelle Dutch breakfast cake, Less Sugar, 250 g
An option for taking a portion with you without having to slice it yourself. Check that the portion size suits your needs and compare the sugars on the label; less sugar doesn’t mean sugar-free.
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g'woon wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
For anyone who wants to cut a slice at home. Check the weight of a slice and compare the sugars and fibre per 100 g; wholegrain alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar it contains.
Frequently asked questions
Is wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake a complete breakfast on its own?
No. A wholegrain claim doesn’t mean that one slice makes a complete breakfast. Albert Heijn lists its sliced wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake as containing 41% wholegrain rye flour, 5.7 g of fibre and 34 g of added sugars per 100 g. Look at the full nutritional information and consider what else you’re having at that meal.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean Dutch breakfast cake is sugar-free?
No. No added sugars doesn’t mean that the product contains no sugars or sweeteners. Albert Heijn lists Peijnenburg Zero Volkoren as containing 3.1 g of sugars and 21 g of polyols per 100 g. The variety contains xylitol and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Can I eat any Dutch breakfast cake if I have coeliac disease?
No. Check for a gluten-free label and read the packaging for the specific product. The Peijnenburg and Snelle Jelle varieties reviewed contain rye; Jumbo’s range also lists a separate gluten-free Dutch breakfast cake.
What does a report about acrylamide tell me about the Dutch breakfast cake I’m buying?
A finding for a group of products doesn’t tell you how much acrylamide is in a specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority reported that, in its 2025 study of traditionally made Dutch breakfast cake and gingerbread, 29 of 85 products exceeded the reference value used in the study. This doesn’t provide a result for any one supermarket product.