Who are you choosing for?

Guests who keep an eye on fibre

You want to compare the proportion of wholemeal rye and the fibre per 100 g. The nutritional information from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS shows why you should check the sugars too.

Guests who want to limit added sugars

You’re looking for Dutch spice cake with no added sugars and want to know which sweetener it contains. The product information for Peijnenburg’s xylitol variety also includes a warning about consumption and pets.

Whoever is setting up the buffet

You want to lay out slices without having to cut the cake first. Albert Heijn, PLUS and ALDI each list a pre-sliced 485 g wholemeal Dutch spice cake. Check how much you’ll need for your guests.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide which priority matters most for your buffet. Then compare the nutritional information on the labels per 100 g and check whether the pack is suitable for sharing.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal rye and fibre Check the proportion of wholemeal rye flour in the ingredients list and the fibre per 100 g. I want to choose a Dutch spice cake for the buffet that lets me compare the wholemeal content and fibre. Around 40% of consumers put this need first.
Sugars and sweeteners Compare sugars per 100 g. For a variety with no added sugars, check the ingredients and any warnings about use. If I want to limit added sugars, I also want to know which sweetener the Dutch spice cake contains. Around 40% of consumers put this consideration first.
Easy to share Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and how much the pack contains. For a shared buffet, I want to be able to lay out enough slices without cutting them myself. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Focusing only on ‘wholemeal’

    Ordinary wholemeal Dutch spice cake isn’t automatically low in sugars. The product information from Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo lists 34 g, 34.1 g and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for the wholemeal varieties mentioned.

    Compare the wholemeal rye flour, fibre and sugars per 100 g across the Dutch spice cakes you’re considering.

  • Treating a fibre claim as the whole picture

    Fibre is just one part of a product’s nutritional value. The Dutch government says Nutri-Score is also intended to help compare products within the same category, not to label a product as healthy without further consideration.

    Alongside fibre or Nutri-Score, check the ingredients, sugars and information per serving.

  • Overlooking the xylitol warning

    The product information for Peijnenburg Wholemeal with no added sugars warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.

    Make it clear which variety you’re serving at the buffet, and keep the cake out of reach of pets.

  • Relying on an old product label

    Albert Heijn and PLUS say that product information can change. This matters if you’re choosing products based on their ingredients or nutritional information for your guests.

    Check the current packaging before buying, especially if the ingredients or allergens are a deciding factor for a guest.

Brands compared

Peijnenburg

Worth considering if you want to compare ordinary wholemeal Dutch spice cake with a variety that has no added sugars.

  • According to the product information listed by Jumbo, Peijnenburg Wholemeal with no added sugars contains 40% wholemeal rye flour, 17 g of fibre and 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This particular variety contains xylitol. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s own 280 g wholemeal Dutch spice cake is a pre-sliced variety with information listed for rye, fibre and sugars.

  • Jumbo lists 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g for this product.
  • The same product information lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g and identifies rye and wheat in the allergen information.

Albert Heijn

The pre-sliced 485 g AH Wholemeal Dutch Spice Cake is an option if you’re looking for slices to serve at a shared buffet.

  • Albert Heijn lists 41% wholemeal rye flour, 5.7 g of fibre and 34 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • Albert Heijn says that ingredient and nutritional information can change, so check the current packaging.

PLUS

The pre-sliced 485 g PLUS Wholemeal Dutch Spice Cake can be compared with other large packs.

  • PLUS lists 41% wholemeal rye flour, 5.7 g of fibre and 34.1 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The listed Nutri-Score D isn’t a judgement on anyone’s personal choice. Check the current ingredients and nutritional information on the pack too.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists a pre-sliced 485 g wholemeal Dutch spice cake, as well as a separate pre-sliced 485 g Zero variety.

  • ALDI’s product information describes the Zero variety as having no added sugars.
  • To compare sugars, fibre and ingredients, check the nutritional information on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Dutch spice cake at Joybuy

These products offer two ways to serve Dutch spice cake at a shared buffet: a pre-sliced wholemeal cake and a separate Snelle Jelle variety. When choosing, check the label if the proportion of wholemeal rye, sugars or allergens is important.

g'woon wholemeal Dutch spice cake, pre-sliced 485 g pack

g'woon wholemeal Dutch spice cake, pre-sliced 485 g

A pre-sliced 485 g cake for anyone who wants to lay out the slices themselves at the buffet. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging, and check the ingredients and allergens there too.

View at Joybuy
Snelle Jelle Dutch spice cake, Less Sugar-Free variety, 250 g

Snelle Jelle Dutch spice cake, Less Sugar-Free variety, 250 g

If you want to hand out individual portions to your guests, check the portion size on the label. Don’t rely on the variety name alone: read the ingredients and sugars per 100 g, and check the allergen information on the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is wholemeal Dutch spice cake automatically low in sugars?

No. Albert Heijn, PLUS and Jumbo list 34 g, 34.1 g and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for the ordinary wholemeal varieties mentioned. So compare both the fibre and sugars in the products you’re considering.

Is Dutch spice cake with no added sugars always the right choice?

No, it depends on what your guests are looking for and on the ingredients in the specific cake. As well as checking the ‘no added sugars’ claim, read the nutritional information, check which sweetener is used and look for any warnings.

What should I look out for in Dutch spice cake with xylitol?

Read the warnings on the packaging and keep the product out of reach of pets. The product information for Peijnenburg Wholemeal with no added sugars warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.

How should I store opened Dutch spice cake for the buffet?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the cake you choose. For its wholemeal variety mentioned here, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark and dry place. For the Peijnenburg variety with no added sugars mentioned here, the advice is to store it somewhere dry and dark, preferably in a sealed tin or container.