Which option is right for you?

Thoughtful stock-up shopper

You want to keep Dutch breakfast cake at home, so you compare wholemeal flour, fibre, sugars and any sweeteners before choosing a larger pack.

Coffee-time treat and flavour seeker

You’re looking for a cake to enjoy with coffee or serve to guests. The flavour, texture and option to cut your own slices all come into play.

Portion and allergen checker

You take Dutch breakfast cake to work or school, or share it at home. You want to know what’s in one portion and which allergens matter for your household.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether the cake is mainly for a regular snack, a particular flavour moment or taking with you. Then compare the packaging of the specific variety, rather than relying on the name on the front.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars and fibre Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per slice. For a variety with no added sugars, check the ingredients list for sweeteners too. If I regularly buy Dutch breakfast cake as a snack, I want to compare the nutritional value per portion. For around 40% of consumers, this comparison would be the top priority.
Flavour and how it’s served Check which flavouring is mentioned and whether the cake is sliced or unsliced. For coffee or guests, I mainly look for a flavour that suits the occasion, and I might want to cut my own slices. For around 30% of consumers, the flavour occasion would come first.
Portions and allergens Check the weight per slice, storage instructions and allergen information on the specific pack. If I’m taking Dutch breakfast cake with me or sharing it at home, I want to know how large a portion is and which ingredients could be a problem. For around 30% of consumers, portion and allergen information would be the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘premium’ means different nutritional value

    ALDI describes Koek & Bakker’s Luxury Dutch breakfast cake with pearl sugar as an unsliced cake topped with crunchy pearl sugar. This description doesn’t tell you how its nutritional value compares with that of another variety.

    Choose this variety for its flavour and how it’s served if that’s what you’re looking for. To compare nutritional value, check the per-100 g tables and portion details on the packaging.

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Peijnenburg still lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal variety with no added sugars. The ingredients information also lists xylitol.

    Check both ‘of which sugars’ in the nutrition table and the ingredients list, as well as any warnings on the pack.

  • Leaving allergen checks until after you buy

    According to PLUS, the PLUS Korenlanders Bakers’ plain Dutch breakfast cake discussed here contains rye and wheat and may contain nuts. Another variety, even from the same brand, needs to be checked separately.

    Read the allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the exact pack you’re buying.

  • Assuming an online product listing means it’s in stock

    A product page doesn’t guarantee that the Dutch breakfast cake in question will be available when you do your shopping.

    Check availability, and read the best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging before buying.

Brands to consider

Dutch breakfast cake varieties can differ considerably within the same brand. Use the products mentioned as points of comparison, not as a judgement on the brand as a whole.

Peijnenburg

Worth considering if you want to compare a sliced plain variety with a sliced wholemeal one.

  • For its Wholemeal variety with no added sugars, Peijnenburg lists 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • According to Peijnenburg, the sliced plain variety contains 3.1 g of fibre and 38 g of sugars per 100 g. The values for the wholemeal variety therefore don’t apply to the plain one.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists both a sliced Zero variety and an unsliced premium variety topped with pearl sugar.

  • Choosing between pre-sliced pieces and cutting your own makes the format relevant to different occasions.
  • The ‘premium’ label on the pearl sugar variety isn’t a reason to consider it nutritionally superior to the Zero variety.

PLUS Korenlanders

The 500 g plain Bakers’ Dutch breakfast cake is a larger size for sharing at home.

  • The stated weight can help you choose a cake to enjoy at home over several occasions.
  • According to PLUS, this variety contains rye and wheat and may contain nuts. Check the packaging if allergens matter for your household.

AH Puur&eerlijk

The 400 g organic Dutch breakfast cake is a useful point of comparison if organic ingredients are one of your selection criteria.

  • Albert Heijn states that this variety contains ingredients from organic sources.
  • Check which organic Dutch breakfast cake you can actually buy and compare the information on that pack.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean Dutch breakfast cake is sugar-free?

No. Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and 1.4 g per 28 g slice for its Wholemeal variety with no added sugars. For the variety you buy, check the ingredients list and nutritional information per portion too.

Is ordinary Dutch breakfast cake suitable for a gluten-free cupboard?

You can’t tell from the product category alone. According to PLUS, the PLUS Korenlanders variety discussed here contains rye and wheat, and Peijnenburg lists rye in its wholemeal variety. If you need a gluten-free product, check the label and allergen information on the specific pack.

Does ‘bakers’ breakfast cake’ mean it contains baker’s salt?

No. The product name alone doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used. If baker’s salt or iodine is relevant to your choice, check the ingredients information for that specific Dutch breakfast cake.

What should I compare on the labels of two Dutch breakfast cakes?

Compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g, then check the weight of a slice or portion. Also read the allergen information, best-before date and storage instructions on both packs. Products in the same category don’t necessarily have the same ingredients.

How should I store Dutch breakfast cake after opening?

Follow the instructions on your own pack. PLUS advises storing its Korenlanders Bakers’ Dutch breakfast cake in a cool, dry place, tightly closed after opening. Instructions may differ for another cake or pack.