Who is this choice for?

Shoppers comparing labels

You want to serve Dutch spiced cake as a snack and compare the wholemeal flour, fibre and sugar content of each product. This lets you compare different options on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g.

Those who prefer regular Dutch spiced cake

You’re looking for sliced, sweet Dutch spiced cake to share. Choosing between a regular option and one containing xylitol also depends on what your guests want to eat.

Hosts who are actually looking for bread

By a white-and-wholemeal mix, you mean a type of bread to serve with the meal. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is made with a mix of wholemeal flour and plain flour; Dutch spiced cake doesn’t automatically serve the same purpose.

What should you check when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for bread to serve with the meal or Dutch spiced cake as a sweet snack. If you choose the cake, compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the options you plan to serve.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this important for?
Fibre and wholemeal flour Compare the stated proportion of wholemeal flour and the fibre per 100 g; don’t use the word ‘wholemeal’ as a substitute for those figures. I want to know how much wholemeal flour and fibre my choice contains, without confusing Dutch spiced cake with bread. Roughly 40% of consumers put this comparison first.
Sugars and sweeteners Check the sugars per 100 g and, for an option containing sweeteners, read the ingredients and warnings. If I want to serve something with less sugar, I need to decide whether a product containing xylitol is suitable for my guests and household. For around 40% of consumers, this is the most important consideration.
Taste and serving Check whether the cake is sliced and whether a regular or sweetened option suits what you want to offer. I want to share something my guests will actually enjoy eating, rather than basing my choice on nutritional values alone. For around 20% of consumers, this preference comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘wholemeal’ Dutch spiced cake is the same as wholemeal bread

    A wholemeal claim on Dutch spiced cake doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much fibre or sugar the cake contains. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is made with a mix of wholemeal flour and plain flour; it’s a different product choice.

    If you’re looking for bread to serve with a meal, compare different types of bread. If you’re choosing Dutch spiced cake as a snack, check the proportion of wholemeal flour and the nutritional information per 100 g.

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    According to Jumbo, the Peijnenburg no-added-sugar option reviewed contains 4.9 g of sugars and 24 g of polyols per 100 g. The product contains xylitol; the packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.

    Before serving the cake, check both the ‘of which sugars’ figure and the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.

  • Guessing allergens from the general product name

    The Dutch spiced cakes reviewed contain rye or other gluten-containing cereals; some products also list wheat or possible traces of other cereals.

    Before serving, read the current label on the exact option you bought, especially if a guest needs to avoid an ingredient.

Brands compared

Peijnenburg

The product range reviewed includes a regular wholemeal Dutch spiced cake and a wholemeal option with no added sugars.

  • According to Jumbo’s product information, the regular option reviewed contains 37% wholemeal rye flour, 39 g of sugars and 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The no-added-sugar option reviewed lists 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g, but contains xylitol and 24 g of polyols per 100 g. Read the warnings on the packaging.

Albert Heijn

The AH Wholemeal Dutch Spiced Cake reviewed is a sliced own-brand option.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information lists 41% wholemeal rye flour and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The same product information lists 34 g of sugars per 100 g. Compare this figure if reducing sugar is your main priority.

Jumbo

The Jumbo Wholemeal Dutch Spiced Cake reviewed is an own-brand option in a 280 g pack.

  • According to Jumbo, this option contains 35.9% wholemeal rye flour and 8.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product information lists 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g and names rye, wheat and gluten as allergens.

PLUS

The PLUS Wholemeal Dutch Spiced Cake reviewed is sliced and listed in a 485 g pack.

  • According to PLUS, this option contains 41% wholemeal rye flour and 5.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product information lists 34.1 g of sugars per 100 g, rye and gluten-containing cereals, and the possible presence of wheat, barley and oats.

Dutch spiced cake on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dutch spiced cake the same as brown bread or wholemeal bread?

No. Dutch spiced cake is a sweet, spiced cake and doesn’t automatically replace bread with a meal. According to the Voedingscentrum, brown bread is made with a mix of wholemeal flour and plain flour, white bread is made with plain flour, and wholemeal bread is made with 100% wholemeal flour.

Is Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars sugar-free?

No. According to Jumbo, the Peijnenburg no-added-sugar option reviewed still contains 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g and contains xylitol. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the label and, if provided, per serving too.

What should I bear in mind if I have pets?

Keep Dutch spiced cake containing xylitol out of animals’ reach. The Peijnenburg no-added-sugar option reviewed states that xylitol is not suitable for animals and advises contacting a vet immediately if it is ingested.

How should I store Dutch spiced cake after opening?

Follow the storage and use-by instructions on the pack you bought. The product information reviewed recommends storing it in a cool, dry, dark place; for the Peijnenburg option, it suggests keeping it in a sealed tin or container.