Who are these choices relevant to?

Lunchbox snackers looking for wholegrain and fibre

You’re looking for sliced Dutch breakfast cake to enjoy with lunch and want to make your choice based on the ingredients and nutrition information, not just a label such as XL.

Shoppers looking to avoid added sugars

You compare variants with no added sugars and check how much sugar they contain, which sweeteners they use, and what warnings and allergens are listed.

Portion planners for work or lunchboxes

You want to take pre-sliced breakfast cake with you and check whether the number of slices and the weight per slice suit your lunch break.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for a larger slice or a particular recipe. Then compare the packaging and nutrition information for the exact variant you want to buy.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important to?
Wholegrain and fibre Check the ingredients and compare the fibre content per 100 g and per slice. I want to choose a lunchbox snack based on its ingredients and nutritional value, rather than just the size of the slice. For around 40% of consumers, wholegrain and fibre come first.
Slice size and portion Check the number of slices, the weight per slice and the nutrition information per portion; don’t judge the thickness by the XL label alone. For lunch, I want to know how much breakfast cake I’ll get in a single slice. A larger portion with a clearly stated weight is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Sugars and ingredients Check the sugar content per 100 g and the ingredients list. If the variant contains polyols, also look for the warning on the packaging. I prefer to choose based on the full ingredients list rather than just the words ‘no added sugars’, especially if sweeteners or allergens are a concern. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers.
Packaging and availability Check whether you can find the sliced variant you want, and whether the pack size and number of slices suit how you plan to use it. I want packaging that suits how often I take breakfast cake with me and makes it easy to find again. This is the main consideration for around 10% of consumers.

Common buying misconceptions

  • Assuming XL means different nutritional values

    Albert Heijn lists a Peijnenburg variant as plain sliced XL. The product name doesn’t tell you the weight per slice or how its nutritional values compare with a standard sliced variant.

    Before choosing XL, compare the number of slices, the portion weight and the label.

  • Confusing ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’

    Variants with no added sugars can still contain sugars. The listed Peijnenburg wholegrain variant contains xylitol; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    As well as checking the wording on the front, read the nutrition information, ingredients and warnings for the variant you’ve chosen.

  • Thinking one slice of breakfast cake is a complete lunch

    For a standard 30 g slice of breakfast cake, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 20.8 g of carbohydrates, including 11.2 g of sugars, and 1.1 g of fibre. These figures don’t tell you what’s in a specific XL slice.

    Enjoy breakfast cake as a snack or part of a varied lunch, and check the nutrition information for your own portion separately.

  • Assuming baker’s salt is always an ingredient

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t necessarily use baker’s salt. So you can’t assume that a particular pack contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt just because it’s breakfast cake.

    Check the ingredients list if this is important to your choice.

Brands and own-label options compared

Peijnenburg

Offers sliced variants, including plain XL and wholegrain with no added sugars. Check each variant separately: the XL label tells you nothing about the ingredients in the wholegrain variant.

  • Albert Heijn lists the sliced wholegrain variant as 100% wholegrain, with 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The wholegrain variant contains rye and xylitol, with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. For plain XL, check the weight and nutrition information per slice separately.

Jumbo

An own-label brand with a sliced breakfast cake variant labelled zero.

  • Jumbo lists 17.4 g of fibre and 5.8 g of sugars per 100 g for this variant.
  • The variant contains maltitols and cereals containing gluten. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Albert Heijn

The AH range includes sliced own-label variants in plain, wholegrain and zero options.

  • These individual variants give you a basis for comparing ingredients and nutritional values.
  • Always use the information on the specific pack to check nutritional values and allergens, rather than relying on the range description alone.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists sliced wholegrain breakfast cake and a separate zero variant from this brand.

  • Both product listings give a pack size of 485 g; the zero variant is labelled as having no added sugars.
  • Before comparing the two variants, check the selected pack for nutritional values per 100 g and per slice, ingredients and allergens.

PLUS

An own-label brand with a listing for sliced wholegrain breakfast cake.

  • The PLUS product listing gives a pack size of 485 g.
  • Check the pack for the current ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does XL tell you anything about the nutritional value of breakfast cake?

No. XL in a product name doesn’t tell you the nutritional value or weight per slice. Check the number of slices and compare the nutrition information per 100 g and per portion for the specific variant.

Can a slice of breakfast cake replace my lunch?

It’s best to enjoy breakfast cake as a snack or part of your lunch, rather than as a complete meal. For a standard 30 g slice, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 20.8 g of carbohydrates, including 11.2 g of sugars, and 1.1 g of fibre. The figures for your slice may be different.

Is breakfast cake with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean that the product contains no sugars. Albert Heijn lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and xylitol for Peijnenburg sliced wholegrain; Jumbo lists 5.8 g of sugars per 100 g and maltitols for its sliced zero variant. For both, check the ingredients and warnings on the pack too.

How should I store sliced breakfast cake for lunch?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. The product information for Peijnenburg sliced wholegrain recommends storing it in a dry, dark place after opening, preferably in a sealed container or tin.

Does breakfast cake always contain iodine-enriched baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume that it does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bakers don’t necessarily use baker’s salt, so check the ingredients list of the breakfast cake you’re considering.