For your first small shop, choose an individually wrapped Dutch spiced cake bar in a portion size that suits how you’ll use it. Classic Peijnenburg Naturel is an option if you want to take one bar with you; for the no-added-sugar version, the sugar content per bar and the presence of xylitol are especially relevant. If you’d like to keep several portions handy, check how many individually wrapped bars are included. For nutritional information and allergens, read the label on the version you choose.
An individually wrapped portion is handy if you want something to eat on the go without opening a whole Dutch spiced cake. Peijnenburg lists five individually wrapped bars in its Naturel 5-pack; ALDI lists six individually wrapped Goud Gebakken Koekhappers.
Portion size, sugar and fibre content can vary between bars. Check the nutritional information per bar, and read the ingredients list if sweeteners are important to your choice.
A multipack of individually wrapped bars lets you open one portion at a time. Check how many bars it contains and the size of each one, so the pack suits how often you want to eat Dutch spiced cake.
Start by deciding whether you mainly want a portion to take with you, want to compare nutritional information or want to keep several bars in the cupboard. Then compare the packaging and label of the version you’re considering.
| What to look for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual wrapping | Check whether each bar has its own wrapper and how many portions are in the outer pack. | If I want to take one bar with me, I don’t want to have to cut a large cake. For around 40% of consumers, the individually wrapped portion would be the main reason for choosing it. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare the sugar and fibre content per bar, and check the ingredients list for sweeteners such as xylitol. | If you’re choosing between versions carefully, you’ll want to know what the portion you actually eat contains. Around 30% of consumers would consider this label information first. |
| Number of portions | Check how many individually wrapped bars there are and the weight of each one; the same number of bars doesn’t mean the portions are the same size. | For my first small shop, I don’t want to buy more bars than I expect to use. For around 20% of consumers, the pack size would be the main consideration. |
| Flavour and texture | Check whether the version you’ve chosen contains ingredients such as oats, seeds or chocolate, and check the allergen information too. | If I’d rather have a bar with grains and seeds than a classic slice of Dutch spiced cake, the ingredients will determine my choice. For around 10% of consumers, this variety would be the main reason for choosing it. |
Peijnenburg lists 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar for its Naturel version with no added sugars. According to Peijnenburg’s ingredient information, this version also contains xylitol.
Compare the nutritional information per bar, and read the ingredients list if the type of sweetener matters to your choice.
According to Peijnenburg, the regular 32.5 g Naturel bar contains 12 g of sugars and 1.0 g of fibre; the 27 g Naturel version with no added sugars lists 1.3 g of sugars and 4.6 g of fibre. The portions are therefore not the same size.
Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per bar or per 100 g, and take the ingredients into account when making your choice.
According to Peijnenburg’s product information, the Naturel bars reviewed contain rye and may also contain milk, hazelnuts, almonds and other cereals containing gluten.
Always read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact version you’re buying.
The agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 concerns encouraging the use of baker’s salt by the participating producers’ organisations. It doesn’t confirm the ingredients of an individual Dutch spiced cake bar.
If iodine is a requirement for your choice of product, check the product information and, if necessary, ask the manufacturer to confirm.
Peijnenburg lists products including a Naturel 5-pack, an individually wrapped Naturel version with no added sugars, and Tussendoor+ Choco.
ALDI describes Goud Gebakken Koekhappers as spiced or breakfast cake in a pack of six individually wrapped pieces.
PLUS lists Ontbijtkoekrepen Naturel as a 330 g 6-pack.
PLUS’s range overview includes multipacks of Snelle Jelle Kruidkoek Minder Suiker and Kruidkoek Zero.
You can’t assume that every bar does. The agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 states that, from 1 October 2008, participating producers’ organisations would encourage the use of baker’s salt containing 50–65 mg of iodine per kg of salt in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products. This doesn’t confirm the ingredients of a specific product; check the product information or ask the manufacturer.
No. According to their product information, the Peijnenburg Naturel versions and PLUS Ontbijtkoekrepen Naturel discussed here contain rye. The information also mentions the possible presence of other cereals containing gluten. Always check the current allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen.
No. According to Peijnenburg, its Naturel bar with no added sugars contains xylitol, and the nutritional information lists 1.3 g of sugars per 27 g bar. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that sweeteners are listed on the label, so check the ingredients list for the version you want to buy.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and leave the individual portions sealed until you’re ready to eat them. PLUS says its Ontbijtkoekrepen Naturel should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place; check the label separately for other versions.
