Choose a classic rye and spice breakfast cake if you mainly want to share a spiced cake after your family dinner. If chocolate is the main attraction, look for a product that explicitly lists chocolate or cocoa as an ingredient. A dark colour doesn’t prove that a cake has a high cocoa content. If added sugars or fibre matter more to you, compare the nutrition information per 100 g: wholemeal breakfast cake can still contain added sugars, while varieties with no added sugars may contain sweeteners.
If you’d like a small piece of chocolate-flavoured cake after your meal, it’s better to check the ingredients than rely on the word ‘dark’ or the colour. Check whether chocolate or cocoa is actually listed, then choose between a cake to share and individually wrapped bars.
Regular, wholemeal and no-added-sugar varieties each involve different considerations. Check sugars, added sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion. ‘Wholemeal’ on its own tells you nothing about the amount of added sugars.
Before serving, check the current ingredients and allergen information, including rye, gluten and any possible traces of milk or nuts. For varieties containing sweeteners, check which ones have been used and what usage warning appears on the packaging.
First, decide what matters most for a treat after your family dinner: a clearly stated chocolate flavour, the nutritional information, the ingredients or how you’ll serve it. Then compare products within the type of breakfast cake that suits you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate or cocoa | Look for chocolate or cocoa in the ingredients list; check for a stated percentage if the cocoa content is a deciding factor. | If I specifically want a chocolate flavour after my meal, a dark-coloured, spiced cake isn’t enough to go on. For around 29% of consumers, a clearly stated chocolate flavour is the top priority. |
| Sugars, fibre and sweeteners | Compare sugars, added sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; if sweeteners are used, also check whether polyols are listed. | If I’m choosing between regular, wholemeal and no-added-sugar breakfast cake, I want to know what’s actually in my portion. For around 36% of consumers, this information matters most. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current allergen information, including ‘may contain’, and check any usage warning for sweeteners. | If the cake is for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the packaging for that specific variety. For around 21% of consumers, checking the ingredients is the first priority. |
| Portions and sharing | Compare the weight per portion, the number of portions and whether the cake is sliced or individually wrapped. | If I want to give everyone a small piece or slice it myself, the packaging affects how easily I can serve and store the cake. For around 14% of consumers, this is the deciding factor. |
A dark colour or spiced flavour doesn’t tell you how much cocoa a breakfast cake contains. Koninklijke Peijnenburg lists chocolate with sweetener (4%) and cocoa beans (2%) for its Tussendoor+ Choco bar; those ingredients don’t tell you the cocoa content of other varieties.
If you want a chocolate flavour, check the ingredients. If a particular cocoa content matters, look for a specific percentage on the packaging.
PLUS product information states that PLUS Ontbijtkoek Volkoren contains 41% wholemeal rye flour and 33.63 g of added sugars per 100 g. Wholemeal flour and the amount of added sugars are therefore separate factors.
Within the same product category, compare sugars, added sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion.
Product information for Peijnenburg Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers lists xylitol and 24 g of polyols per 100 g. According to the product warning, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients and warning for your chosen variety, decide on a portion size and keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
A ‘plain’ or ‘choco’ label doesn’t give you the full picture of the ingredients. The product information reviewed lists rye and gluten, among other things; some varieties may also contain traces of milk or nuts.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging every time you buy, including the information under ‘may contain’.
Compare breakfast cake by variety: the same brand name may appear on a classic cake, a wholemeal variety or an individually wrapped bar.
Koninklijke Peijnenburg describes its breakfast cake as a rye- and spice-based product. The brand also has wholemeal varieties and a Tussendoor+ Choco bar.
Albert Heijn offers sliced plain breakfast cake, as well as wholemeal and zero varieties.
Jumbo offers a 280 g plain breakfast cake with rye flour and spices in the ingredients list.
PLUS offers plain, wholemeal and zero varieties of breakfast cake. Separate nutritional information is available for the sliced wholemeal variety.
No. The label or dark colour doesn’t prove that a cake has a high cocoa content. Koninklijke Peijnenburg lists chocolate with sweetener (4%) and cocoa beans (2%) for Tussendoor+ Choco; those details apply to that specific bar. If the amount of cocoa matters to your choice, look for a specific cocoa percentage on the label.
No. According to PLUS, PLUS Ontbijtkoek Volkoren contains 41% wholemeal rye flour and 33.63 g of added sugars per 100 g. For the variety you’re thinking of buying, compare sugars and added sugars as well as fibre.
Check which sweeteners it contains and read the warning on the packaging. Product information for Peijnenburg Volkoren zonder toegevoegde suikers lists xylitol and 24 g of polyols per 100 g; according to the warning, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The product information also states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. A 2008 publication by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport about the agreement on baker’s salt describes it as iodised table salt for bread and other bakery products, but this doesn’t mean that a particular breakfast cake is made with it. Check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer if this matters to your choice.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your chosen product. Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Ontbijtkoek naturel gesneden in a cool, dark and dry place; for other varieties, and once opened, check the instructions on the product’s own label.
