If you eat breakfast cake regularly
You’re looking for a pack size that suits how often you eat breakfast cake. If you choose a larger cake, consider whether you can finish it while following the storage instructions.
Who is this for?
If you’re looking for a ginger snack for an Asian night
You want a sweet cake with ginger to enjoy with tea or after a meal, without treating breakfast cake as a traditional Asian dish. ALDI and PLUS both sell a 465 g ginger variety; the PLUS version lists 10% ginger.
If you read labels carefully
You compare sugars, fibre, ingredients or allergens before choosing a variety. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides averages for different types of product; for your purchase, the values for the breakfast cake you choose are what matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether ginger flavour matters for this occasion. Then consider what size you can finish and compare the nutritional information for the varieties you’re still considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the weight in grams and the storage instructions after opening. | If I eat breakfast cake regularly, I want a pack I can finish before the quality deteriorates. This is the main consideration for around 36% of consumers. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; also read the ingredients and allergen information. | If sugars, fibre or allergens determine my choice, I want to be able to check the nutritional information for the specific product. This is the main need for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ginger flavour | Check whether ginger is listed in the ingredients, and read the label again if you choose a different variety. | For this snack occasion, I’m mainly looking for a distinct hint of ginger, even if a plain cake is more versatile. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this flavour. |
| Convenient portions | Check whether the cake is sliced, unsliced or individually wrapped. | If I want to take slices with me or serve them without cutting, convenient packaging matters most to me. This is the first thing around 14% of consumers consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ginger tells you something about the sugar content
The presence of ginger doesn’t tell you how much sugar the cake contains. The ingredients list for PLUS Ginger Breakfast Cake includes sugar and glucose-fructose syrup as well as ginger.
Choose ginger for its flavour, and check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition table separately.
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, breakfast cake with no added sugar still contains an average of 0.8 g of sugar per 30 g slice. The actual amount depends on the product.
As well as checking the claim on the pack, look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutrition information.
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Assuming an online ingredients list never changes
PLUS says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change. This is particularly important if a specific ingredient affects your choice.
Before eating it, check the information on the packaging of the product you actually bought.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes plain, wholemeal and ginger breakfast cake, as well as a choice of pack sizes.
- The different sizes let you choose between a larger cake and smaller portions.
- Check the ingredients for each variety and make sure you can finish the size you choose.
Albert Heijn
The 600 g AH Breakfast Cake is a large own-brand pack for anyone looking for plain breakfast cake.
- The size suits shoppers who regularly eat the same type of cake.
- Albert Heijn listed this variety as available in store only.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake and an unsliced ginger variety under this brand.
- You can choose between pre-sliced portions and a cake with pieces of ginger, as described by ALDI.
- Check the range at your local ALDI and note whether the cake is sliced or unsliced.
PLUS
The PLUS range includes plain sliced breakfast cake and unsliced ginger breakfast cake.
- PLUS lists 10% ginger in its ginger variety and provides ingredient and allergen information.
- PLUS notes that product specifications may change, so check the packaging of the one you buy.
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers plain, wholemeal and ginger varieties, as well as different portion packs.
- The brand describes one specific sliced wholemeal variety as having no added sugars.
- That claim doesn’t automatically apply to other Peijnenburg varieties; check the label of the product you choose.
Lidl
Lidl offers plain and luxury breakfast cake, including products under the Tastino name.
- The range includes several types of breakfast cake to browse in store.
- Lidl says products are available while stocks last, so check which variety is in your local store.
Breakfast cake at Joybuy
This sliced wholemeal breakfast cake is a good choice if you’re looking for one cake to enjoy at breakfast and as a snack. If you want a distinct ginger flavour, choose another variety based on its ingredients.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
A good option if you’d like pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for breakfast or as a snack. The pack contains 485 g; if sugars or fibre matter to your choice, compare the nutritional information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is breakfast cake suitable for an Asian night?
Breakfast cake can be served as a sweet snack with tea or after a meal, but it isn’t a traditional Asian dish. Choose a ginger variety if that flavour suits your snack occasion.
Is breakfast cake with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives an average of 0.8 g of sugar per 30 g slice for breakfast cake with no added sugar. Check the nutritional information for the product you choose, as values vary by brand.
How should I store a large breakfast cake once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the cake well after opening. For its plain sliced breakfast cake, Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dry place and keeping it in a closed tin once opened.
What should I look for in the allergen information for ginger breakfast cake?
Read the allergen statement for the specific cake. PLUS lists rye flour in its ginger breakfast cake and says that the product may also contain barley, oats, milk, almonds and hazelnuts.
Does Dutch breakfast cake always have to contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. The text from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority does not make this a requirement for every breakfast cake. The authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products through the addition of baker’s salt, with a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. Check the ingredients list if you want to know which salt a product contains.