Which option is right for you?

Festive hosts

If you want to serve breakfast cake as a treat, compare a variety with ginger pieces or pearl sugar with the plain version. Consider the shape, too: the ginger and pearl sugar varieties described by ALDI Nederland are unsliced.

Label checkers

If the ingredients matter more to you than the festive look, compare the ingredients and nutritional information for each variety. Wholemeal and no added sugar are different characteristics; check which sweeteners and allergens are listed, too.

People handing out treats on the go

Individually wrapped slices can be handy to take along and hand out to people at a busy procession. For example, Peijnenburg lists a plain variety in a pack of ten individually wrapped slices.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decide whether you mainly want to serve the breakfast cake, compare its ingredients or hand it out on the go. That will help you decide which packaging and label to look at more closely.

What to consider What to look for Who it matters to
Flavour and presentation Compare the flavour varieties and choose between sliced and unsliced cake. A description such as ‘luxury’ tells you nothing about its nutritional value. If I’m serving breakfast cake as a treat, I mainly want a flavour or texture that’s different from the plain variety. For around 45% of consumers, that festive flavour would be the main reason for choosing a variety.
Ingredients Read the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g and per portion; for the variety you choose, check for wholemeal flour, fibre, sugars and any sweeteners. When I choose a variety for guests based on its ingredients, I want to know what the claims on the front mean for that product. For around 33% of consumers, checking the label would be the main consideration.
Portions and handing out Compare the number of slices, the weight of each slice and whether each portion is individually wrapped. If I need to take the cake to the procession, I want to be able to hand out portions without cutting it there and then. For around 22% of consumers, that convenience would be the main reason for choosing a product.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a luxury flavour means different nutritional values

    Ginger pieces or pearl sugar affect the flavour and texture, but on their own they tell you nothing about sugars, fibre or allergens.

    First decide what you want to serve, then compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging for that variety.

  • Assuming no added sugars means sugar-free

    The Peijnenburg wholemeal variety with no added sugars described by Albert Heijn also contains naturally occurring sugars and xylitol.

    As well as checking the front of the pack, read the ingredients list and the amount of sugars in the nutrition table.

  • Guessing which allergens a product contains from its name

    Breakfast cake made with rye contains gluten. A variety sold as gluten-free may contain other allergens: PLUS lists milk and lupin for Peijnenburg Gluten-Free Breakfast Cake.

    Check the allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety you’re handing out.

  • Choosing individually wrapped portions without considering how you’ll serve them

    Individually wrapped slices are practical when you’re out and about. If you’re serving a small group at home, you can also share a sliced cake one slice at a time.

    Decide where you’ll be handing them out, then compare the number of slices and the type of packaging.

    Once you’ve handed out the individually wrapped slices, you’ll be left with the wrappers to clear up.

Brands to compare

Peijnenburg

Peijnenburg lists plain, wholemeal and individually wrapped breakfast cake, among other options. The features vary between varieties.

  • According to Peijnenburg, the plain 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped slices of 28 g each.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; ‘wholemeal’ and ‘no added sugars’ do not describe the entire range.

AH

Albert Heijn offers its own-brand breakfast cake in plain, wholemeal and Zero varieties, alongside breakfast cake from other brands.

  • You can compare the different varieties within the same range.
  • Albert Heijn notes that ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information may change; check the packaging of the product you choose.

PLUS

PLUS offers its own-brand breakfast cake in plain, wholemeal and Zero varieties, alongside bar-shaped options and branded products.

  • You can compare different shapes and ingredients side by side.
  • Check whether the packaging you choose contains sliced or unsliced cake, or individually wrapped bars.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI Nederland lists sliced wholemeal and Zero breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker, as well as unsliced varieties with ginger or pearl sugar.

  • The varieties listed offer a choice of flavour and whether the cake is sliced.
  • When buying, check the variety and ingredients on the packaging; a luxury name doesn’t tell you anything about nutritional value.

Snack bars to hand out on the go

These individually wrapped Snelle Jelle snack bars are handy to take along and hand out during the procession. The raisin variety and spiced Natural variety each offer a different flavour.

Snelle Jelle Gingerbread With Raisins 325 g

Snelle Jelle Gingerbread With Raisins 325 g

An option if you want to hand out individually wrapped spiced bars with raisins. The product description lists five individually wrapped bars; before serving, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging, including the mention of rye and any warnings about milk and nuts.

View at Joybuy
Snelle Jelle Gingerbread Natural 325 g

Snelle Jelle Gingerbread Natural 325 g

A handy portion option if you want to take a spiced flavour along to hand out. The product description lists cinnamon, spices and five individually wrapped bars of 65 g; check the packaging for the current ingredients and allergens, including rye and any warnings about milk and nuts.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does breakfast cake always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume that it does. The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Food describes the conditions for adding iodine to bakery products via baker’s salt, but it doesn’t guarantee that every breakfast cake contains this salt. Check the ingredients list of the cake you choose.

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

No. The Peijnenburg wholemeal variety described by Albert Heijn lists no added sugars, but does contain naturally occurring sugars and xylitol. Compare the ingredients and the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion for the variety you buy.

Can I hand out any breakfast cake if someone has a gluten restriction or an allergy?

No, always check the specific product. Rye contains gluten, while PLUS lists milk and lupin for Peijnenburg Gluten-Free Breakfast Cake. So even when a variety is labelled gluten-free, check the other allergens on the current packaging.

How should I store breakfast cake until the procession?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and check the best-before date. Reseal opened packaging carefully; storage instructions can vary between products.