Who is this for?

This is for you if you’re choosing between slicing the cake yourself and serving pre-cut portions. Around 33% of consumers prioritise choosing the slice thickness, 27% compare sugar and ingredients, while 20% each focus on serving convenience or practical availability.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a drinks platter, the choice between slicing it yourself and serving it straight away comes down to what’s most practical for you. Each option suits a different need.

Unsliced Dutch breakfast cake

Choose this if: you want to decide how thick to cut the slices for your get-together.

The trade-off: you’ll need to slice the cake yourself before serving it.

Pre-sliced Dutch breakfast cake

Choose this if: you want to lay out portions without any slicing.

The trade-off: you can’t choose the thickness of the pre-packed slices yourself.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Slice thickness and presentation Look for ‘unsliced’ on the pack if you want to cut thick slices yourself. I want to put slices of my chosen thickness on the drinks platter. This is a priority for around 33% of consumers.
Sugars and ingredients Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per serving. For varieties with sweeteners, also read the ingredients and warnings. If I’m considering a variety with less sugar or no added sugars, I want to know what’s actually in my portion. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this consideration.
Ease of serving Check whether the cake is sliced or individually wrapped, and how many portions the pack contains. I want to be able to lay out and serve the cake without slicing it; this matters most to around 20% of consumers.
Packaging and availability Check the pack weight and whether the variety you’ve chosen is available through your preferred retailer. For a larger get-together, I want to be able to pick up a suitable pack when I do my shopping. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical availability.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘thickly sliced’

    A pack labelled ‘sliced’ confirms that the cake has already been cut into slices, but it doesn’t tell you how thick they are. So you can’t be sure that a particular variety will have slices thick enough for your get-together.

    If you want to choose the thickness yourself, look for a pack that explicitly says ‘unsliced’.

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

    The two claims don’t mean the same thing. A variety with no added sugars may still contain sugars; products with sweeteners may also carry warnings on the packaging.

    Check the sugars per 100 g and per serving, the ingredients list and any warnings for the product you’ve chosen.

  • Relying on a temporary in-store offer

    A product being available as an in-store offer doesn’t mean it will still be available when you shop for your get-together.

    Check the offer period shortly before buying, and make sure you can get the variety through your preferred retailer.

  • Assuming allergens from the brand name

    Ingredients and possible traces can vary between varieties of Dutch breakfast cake. For example, Peijnenburg says that one of its individually wrapped plain varieties may contain milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten.

    If any of your guests have a relevant allergy, check the label on the specific pack you’ll be serving.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg offers sliced plain varieties, options with no added sugars and individually wrapped Dutch breakfast cake.

  • The individually wrapped variety may suit you if you want to set out portions separately.
  • ‘Sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. If you’re choosing based on ingredients, check the label on the specific variety too.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists sliced Dutch breakfast cake, as well as unsliced varieties in its product range.

  • This makes it easier to look for a pack to slice yourself or one with pre-cut slices.
  • For one sliced variety with sweeteners, Jumbo warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read the warning on the pack you choose.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists pre-sliced wholemeal Dutch breakfast cake and a pre-sliced zero variety under this brand.

  • Both are already sliced, saving you a job when you’re getting everything ready.
  • The product format doesn’t tell you how thick the individual slices are.

PLUS

PLUS lists both sliced plain Dutch breakfast cake and an unsliced ginger variety.

  • These varieties give you the choice between serving it straight away and slicing it yourself.
  • The flavours differ, so check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging too.

Tastino

Lidl has offered Dutch breakfast cake under the Tastino name as part of a temporary in-store range.

  • It’s a brand worth checking if you’re shopping at a Lidl store before your get-together.
  • A previous offer doesn’t guarantee that a variety will be available on the day you shop.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I serve Dutch breakfast cake in thick slices of my choosing?

Buy an unsliced loaf and cut the slices yourself before serving. With pre-sliced Dutch breakfast cake, you can’t tell how thick the slices are from the word ‘sliced’ alone.

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

No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean that the product contains no sugars. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving for the variety you’ve chosen, and check whether the label lists sweeteners and any related warnings.

Where can I check for allergens when buying Dutch breakfast cake for guests?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’ll actually be serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on labels. If someone has a specific allergy, don’t rely on the flavour or brand name alone.

Can I assume Dutch breakfast cake contains iodine-rich baker’s salt?

No. Don’t assume which type of salt is used based on the product category. Check the ingredients on the pack, or ask the manufacturer about the specific product if this matters to your choice.