Shoppers looking to avoid added sugar
You’re looking for Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars for baking or as a snack, and want to know how much sugar it contains in total and which sweetener has been used.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers considering wholegrains and fibre
Alongside the sugar claim, you want an explicit wholegrain label and to compare the fibre content per 100 g. Check whether rye is suitable for you, too.
Bakers looking for convenient packaging
You want to portion out Dutch spiced cake for baking, so you’re checking the pack size and whether it comes pre-sliced. A packaging feature or a ‘less sugar’ claim is no substitute for checking the nutritional information.
What should you look for when buying?
First, compare the sugar claim with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Then check which grain, ingredients and packaging best suit the way you plan to use the Dutch spiced cake.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Compare the claim on the pack with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. ‘No added sugars’ does not mean ‘sugar-free’. | I don’t want added sugar in my Dutch spiced cake for baking, but I also want to know how much sugar it still contains; around 36% of consumers prioritise the precise sugar claim. |
| Wholegrains and fibre | Look for an explicit wholegrain label and compare the fibre content per 100 g; check whether rye fits your ingredient requirements. | If I also eat Dutch spiced cake as a snack, the type of grain and fibre content are important to me. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Packaging and availability | Check the pack size and whether the Dutch spiced cake is pre-sliced. Check where the variety in question is available. | For baking, I want to be able to take out the amount I need easily; convenient packaging is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredient and allergen information, especially if you need to avoid sweeteners or cereals containing gluten. | When choosing, I need to take account of ingredients that matter in my household, such as rye or xylitol; around 14% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g per 100 g for the varieties examined that contain no added sugars.
If you need a ‘sugar-free’ product, check the nutritional values per 100 g rather than relying on the claim on the front of the pack.
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Confusing ‘less sugar’ with no added sugar
PLUS describes its Dutch spiced cake bars as containing 30% less sugar than regular bars, but the bar examined also lists glucose-fructose syrup and 22.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific bar with those of the product you would otherwise choose.
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Checking sweeteners and allergens only after buying
The Peijnenburg varieties examined contain xylitol. The wholegrain variety contains rye and may contain nuts and milk; for this variety, PLUS also warns about xylitol in households with pets.
Check the latest packaging before use and keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
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Assuming the product contains iodine based on its category
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell which type of salt has been used just from the fact that a product is Dutch spiced cake.
If the type of salt used matters to you, check the label or ask the manufacturer.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg has plain and wholegrain varieties of Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars. Both are rye-based.
- For the varieties examined, the manufacturer lists 4.9 g of sugars and 17 g of fibre per 100 g; the wholegrain variety is described as 100% wholegrain.
- Both varieties contain xylitol and, with 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, are not sugar-free. For the wholegrain variety, also check the information about rye and the possible presence of nuts and milk.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI Nederland lists a 485 g pre-sliced Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero with the claim ‘no added sugars’.
- The pre-sliced pack may be handy if you want to portion out slices for baking.
- Before deciding whether this variety meets your requirements, check the pack for total sugars, ingredients, sweeteners and allergens.
PLUS
PLUS offers Dutch spiced cake bars labelled ‘30% less sugar’ than regular bars.
- For the bar examined, PLUS lists 22.9 g of sugars per 100 g, making it easy to compare the figure per 100 g.
- PLUS also lists glucose-fructose syrup and 11.82 g of added sugars per 100 g in the bar. In this case, ‘less sugar’ does not mean no added sugars.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, these claims don’t mean the same thing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for ‘sugar-free’; Peijnenburg lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for the varieties examined that contain no added sugars.
Can I use Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars as a direct substitute in a pepernoten recipe?
Don’t assume there’s a fixed substitution ratio: choosing Dutch spiced cake doesn’t, in itself, tell you how the finished recipe will turn out. Consider how much cake you’re using and assess the other ingredients in the recipe separately.
Does Dutch spiced cake have to be made with iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the product category. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt; check the label or ask the manufacturer which type of salt is used in a specific Dutch spiced cake.
What should I look out for if Dutch spiced cake contains xylitol and I have pets?
Keep the Dutch spiced cake out of reach of pets. PLUS states that a Peijnenburg variety contains xylitol, which is not suitable for animals, and advises contacting a vet immediately if it is ingested.