The host who wants to hand them out quickly
If every guest gets their own bar, the key thing is how many bars are actually individually wrapped. That’s not the same as simply comparing the total pack weight.
Who are individually wrapped bars useful for?
The host who pays attention to sugar information
When choosing an option with less or no added sugar, compare the nutritional information and ingredients. Also read any warnings on the pack you choose.
The host who takes allergens into account
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between flavours. Check the exact pack you plan to offer your guests, and keep the information available when handing the bars out.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how many sealed portions you want to hand out. Then choose only flavours and recipes whose ingredient information you can assess for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Count the individually wrapped bars and check the weight of each one. For example, Jumbo lists a Peijnenburg Original pack with 10 × 28 g bars; Albert Heijn and PLUS also show packs of six. | I want to give guests a sealed bar without having to cut up the cake. For around 40% of consumers, the number of portions ready to hand out is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the allergen information for each flavour you choose on the current pack. Don’t assume that different varieties from the same brand are the same. | If I don’t know which allergens guests need to avoid, I want to be able to check the information for each bar. Around 30% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Sugar options | Compare the sugars per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients and any warnings for the variety. | An alternative with a different sugar recipe is only useful to me if I can compare the label. This need comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
| Flavour variety | Decide which flavours you want to offer, and check the ingredients and allergens again for each additional variety. | If I want to serve a flavour other than Original, I want to know who the bar is suitable for. For around 10% of consumers, flavour variety is their first consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
These terms don’t mean the same thing. Even a bar with no added sugar can still contain sugars, so the amount shown in the nutrition table is relevant.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients and any warnings for the variety you choose.
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Offering a nut bar to everyone without checking
If guests have allergen concerns, a nut-flavoured variety isn’t a like-for-like alternative to an Original bar.
Check the allergen information for that specific bar and keep the packaging available if you’re handing out different flavours.
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Comparing only the pack weight
A pack might be the right weight for your plans but still contain fewer individual portions than you need.
First count the individually wrapped bars, then compare the weight per bar and the flavours.
If there aren’t enough individually wrapped bars, you’ll need to add other treats or cut up the cake after all.
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Assuming a product contains iodine based on its name
The word ‘breakfast cake’ won’t tell you whether baker’s salt has been used in a particular bar.
If a guest needs to know whether it contains iodine, check the ingredients on the current pack and ask the manufacturer if anything is unclear.
Brands to consider
Brands offer different pack sizes and flavours. Use the examples below to guide your comparison, rather than assuming every variety will be available when you shop.
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg makes Dutch spiced cake bars in Original and flavoured varieties.
- Jumbo lists an Original pack with 10 individually wrapped bars weighing 28 g each; PLUS also shows a nut variety.
- Check the ingredients and allergens again if you switch from Original to a flavoured variety.
Snelle Jelle
Snelle Jelle offers spiced cake and Dutch spiced cake bars in a range of packs and varieties.
- Albert Heijn and PLUS show Original varieties, as well as options with a different sugar recipe.
- Compare the nutritional and allergen information for each variety; the name alone isn’t enough.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s own brand includes an Original Dutch spiced cake bar in a pack of six.
- According to Albert Heijn, the six-bar Original pack weighs 330 g in total.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information separately for other spiced cake and Dutch spiced cake varieties.
PLUS
PLUS’s own brand includes Original Dutch spiced cake bars and other bar varieties.
- PLUS shows an Original pack of six bars with a total weight of 330 g.
- For a flavoured variety, check the number of portions and the label again.
Lidl
Lidl lists cake bars, including a reduced-sugar Dutch spiced cake variety and raisin spiced cake.
- Lidl lists six bars per pack for the cake bars shown.
- These varieties aren’t the same type of product or recipe, so check which one you’re choosing. Lidl describes these cake bars as in-store products.
Dutch spiced cake bars at Joybuy
This Snelle Jelle variety is worth considering for a birthday get-together if you want to compare sugar information. Before working out how many portions you need, check the pack to see how many bars it contains and whether they’re individually wrapped.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
For anyone who wants to compare this variety with other Dutch spiced cake bars for the get-together. The pack weighs 250 g. Check the label for the number of individually wrapped bars, the sugars per 100 g and per portion, and the allergens.
Frequently asked questions
How many Dutch spiced cake bars should I buy for a birthday get-together?
Allow one individually wrapped bar per expected guest if you want everyone to have their own treat. Then check the number of bars in each pack, rather than just the total pack weight, and decide whether you want to buy a few extra for additional guests.
Is a Dutch spiced cake bar with no added sugar also sugar-free?
No. No added sugar doesn’t mean a bar contains no sugars. For the variety you choose, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients list.
Can I offer a nut bar to all my guests?
Don’t assume a nut bar is suitable for everyone. Check the allergen information on the exact pack in advance, and keep it available for guests to refer to when choosing.
Does every Dutch spiced cake bar contain iodine from baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the product name. The Dutch Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foods defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt, but that doesn’t mean every Dutch spiced cake bar contains it. If you have a question about a specific product, check the current ingredients information and contact the manufacturer if necessary.
What should I look out for if there are pets at the get-together?
Keep bars containing xylitol out of pets’ reach. Check the ingredients of any zero-sugar variety you choose. If the pack lists xylitol and a pet has eaten some, contact a vet straight away.