Snack makers who want to decorate their own
You want to top breakfast cake or cut it into shapes, and need slices that will work for this. Check the slices themselves if thickness and sturdiness are important.
Who is this relevant to?
Party planners checking dietary requirements and allergens
You’re serving guests with different dietary requirements. Check the ingredients and allergens for each variant you choose; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods appears on the label.
Planners working out quantities and portions
You want to know how many slices you can hand out, and whether a pack of sliced cake or individual portions would work better for serving. Check the number of slices or portions on the packaging you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you mainly want to decorate the slices or hand them out quickly. Then choose the quantity and ingredients to suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slices suitable for decorating | Check that the slices are intact and sturdy enough for your toppings; don’t infer their thickness from the pack weight. | If I want to cut out shapes or add toppings, I don’t want the slices to break. For around 33% of consumers, how suitable the slices are would be the priority. |
| Quick serving | Compare the number of pre-sliced pieces with the number of individual portions. | When I’m serving several snacks at once, I want to keep preparation at the table to a minimum. Speed and portion planning would be the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label, including the allergen information and any warnings for the variant you’ve chosen. | When guests have dietary requirements, I need to know which ingredients I’m serving. Around 20% of consumers would make this their first priority. |
| Enough slices | Check how many slices or portions the pack contains and how many you want to serve. | For a larger platter, I want to have enough breakfast cake ready without relying solely on the pack weight. This would be the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘thickly sliced’
A pack of sliced cake or a particular pack weight tells you nothing by itself about the thickness or sturdiness of an individual slice.
Look for an explicit thickness specification or check the slices before planning decorations for them.
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Judging a zero variant by its name
A variant name doesn’t tell you which ingredients and warnings apply to that specific breakfast cake. For one of its sliced variants, Jumbo lists sweeteners and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Read the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging of the variant you plan to serve.
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Assuming you know the allergens from the product name
Peijnenburg lists rye flour in its plain sliced breakfast cake. A brand or variant name is no substitute for checking the ingredients of the product you’ve chosen.
Check the current label and keep the packaging to hand if you’re serving the slices without their wrappers on a platter.
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Assuming every breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt
The product category ‘breakfast cake’ doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a specific variant.
Check the product-specific information or ask the manufacturer if this matters to your choice.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers plain sliced breakfast cake and individually wrapped portions.
- According to Peijnenburg, the plain sliced pack contains 485 g and 12 slices.
- The number of slices doesn’t confirm how thick or sturdy they are.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers its own-brand sliced breakfast cake in plain and wholemeal varieties.
- Jumbo lists a 475 g pack for both of the sliced varieties mentioned.
- Check the ingredients and warnings for each variant; the name alone isn’t enough.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI offers sliced wholemeal breakfast cake under this brand, among other products.
- ALDI describes the wholemeal variety as a 485 g pack of pre-sliced pieces.
- Check the slices themselves if their sturdiness matters for your decorations.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers its own-brand sliced breakfast cake in plain and wholemeal varieties.
- Albert Heijn lists 485 g packs for these varieties.
- The pack weight doesn’t indicate how thick a slice is.
Sliced wholemeal breakfast cake at Joybuy
This pre-sliced wholemeal variety is a good fit if you want to top the slices yourself. Check them if thickness and sturdiness matter for your Halloween decorations.
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g'woon sliced wholemeal breakfast cake, 485 g
A good option if you’re looking for pre-sliced wholemeal breakfast cake for your party.
Pack weight: 485 g.
Check the current ingredients and allergens, and see whether the slices are sturdy enough for your decorations.
Frequently asked questions
Is sliced breakfast cake automatically thick enough to decorate?
No. ‘Sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick or sturdy the slices are. Check them or look for an explicit thickness specification if they need to hold toppings or cut-out decorations.
Can I serve plain sliced breakfast cake to someone who needs to avoid gluten?
Don’t assume so: Peijnenburg lists rye flour in its plain sliced variety, and rye contains gluten. Check the current label of the specific product for each guest.
How can I keep allergen information to hand when I put the slices on a platter?
Keep the original packaging or have the ingredients information for each variety you use available. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods appears on the label. Check it before serving the slices.
How should I store an opened pack until the party?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen. For its plain sliced breakfast cake, Jumbo recommends storing it in a sealed container in a cool, dry place after opening.