When choosing gingerbread for a children’s party, don’t focus on how special it looks alone: first check which treats are allowed and whether there are any allergies or dietary requirements. Gingerbread with pearl sugar crystals makes for a festive presentation, while pre-sliced or individually wrapped gingerbread is easier to hand out. Whichever you choose, check the portion size, ingredients and nutritional information on the current packaging.
If you’re handing out treats to several children, you’ll want to know that everyone can eat them. Ask parents about any dietary restrictions in advance, then check the current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking allergies into account when choosing treats for children, as well as avoiding products that children don’t eat for religious reasons.
Pre-sliced pieces or individual packs make it easier to keep track of how much each child gets. Also compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, as this can vary between types of gingerbread.
Pearl sugar crystals or raisins can give gingerbread a different look or texture. With an unsliced loaf, you can cut the pieces to your preferred size, but you’ll need to do the preparation yourself.
Start with the children and the rules at the party venue. Then compare the portion size and nutritional information before choosing the look and packaging that best suit the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Allergies and dietary requirements | Ask about any restrictions in advance, then check both the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to choose a treat that suits their needs. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the portion you’ll actually hand out with the values per 100 g; check the sugars, fibre and any sweeteners in each variety. | I want to hand out small pieces and know what each portion contains. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
| Festive appearance | Look for specific features, such as pearl sugar crystals or raisins, and decide how large to cut the portions if you choose an unsliced loaf. | For the party, I’m looking for gingerbread with a different appearance or texture. This is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ease of handing out | Check the number of slices or bars, whether they’re individually wrapped and the storage instructions. | If I want to hand out the treats without cutting them, pre-portioned gingerbread that matches the number of children is most useful. This is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
A festive name doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fibre a gingerbread contains. For example, Albert Heijn lists 39 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Biologisch Ontbijtkoek naturel.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety, even if the packaging describes it as organic or artisan-made.
A variety with no added sugars may still contain sugars and polyols. PLUS lists 0 g of added sugars for PLUS Ontbijtkoek Zero, but it also contains 4.9 g of sugars and 21.7 g of polyols per 100 g.
Read the full nutritional information and ingredients list, not just the claim on the front of the pack.
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. Peijnenburg lists ingredients derived from milk and lupin, among others, in its gluten-free plain variety.
Choose a product that meets each child’s needs, and check the current packaging to make sure.
A large, unsliced loaf needs to be cut up and may leave you with leftovers. Individually wrapped slices make it easier to know how many portions you have in advance.
Count the children, decide how many portions you need, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging for any leftovers.
Peijnenburg offers several types of gingerbread, including plain, wholemeal, individually wrapped and gluten-free varieties.
The own-brand range includes an organic, unsliced plain variety.
Jumbo offers its own-brand plain gingerbread and a variety with raisins.
Lidl lists a zero gingerbread in a 485 g pack.
Koek & Bakker offers sliced zero and wholemeal varieties, as well as an unsliced luxury gingerbread with pearl sugar crystals.
PLUS offers several varieties, including plain, wholemeal, zero, bars and a Korenlanders Bakkers variety.
These gingerbreads are particularly worth considering if you’re looking for pre-portioned or sliced pieces. For a children’s party, check the ingredients and the actual portion size you’ll be handing out for each individual variety.
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Worth considering if you want to hand out gingerbread quickly without having to cut it yourself. The pack contains 250 g; check the label for the number of portions, the values per portion and what the claim on the front means for this variety.
If anyone has an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information before handing out the gingerbread.
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The sliced format can make it easier to prepare portions for a children’s party. The pack contains 485 g; compare the slice size with the portion you want to hand out.
Carefully check the allergen information on the current packaging, especially if a child needs to avoid gluten. Also check the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion.
No. Whether gingerbread is suitable depends on the treats allowed and the children’s needs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises serving small portions at children’s parties and taking allergies into account, as well as avoiding products that children don’t eat for religious reasons.
No. In addition to 0 g of added sugars, PLUS lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for its Ontbijtkoek Zero. Check the ingredients list for any sweeteners or polyols too.
Ask in advance which ingredients the child needs to avoid, then check the current packaging for your chosen gingerbread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking about allergies when choosing treats for children; allergens vary between products and varieties.
No. These labels don’t tell you how much sugar or fibre a product contains, or which allergens it may include. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that ‘artisan’ has no fixed product definition, so compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact variety.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your chosen gingerbread. Jumbo advises storing its plain variety in a cool, dry place; PLUS also advises keeping its Korenlanders Bakkers variety tightly sealed after opening.
