Who needs to think about how it’s sliced?

Buffet planners who want thick slices

If you want to choose the thickness yourself, you can opt for an unsliced breakfast cake. The trade-off is that you’ll need to slice it while setting up.

Hotels with quick self-service

Pre-sliced cake comes in a set slice size and doesn’t need to be cut on site. This can make setting up and replenishing the buffet easier.

Hotels that provide allergen information

If unwrapped breakfast cake is served on the buffet, guests need clear information about the allergens in the chosen variety. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, businesses must inform consumers about the allergens present.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether your preferred slice thickness is worth the extra preparation. Then consider how you’ll serve the cake and what information guests will need about your chosen product.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Slice thickness Check that the cake is unsliced and try cutting it to your preferred thickness. I want to cut generous buffet slices myself, rather than being tied to a pre-sliced size. This freedom is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Allergen information Keep the latest label for your chosen variety with the buffet information, and update it if you change products. At an open buffet, I want to be able to tell guests which allergens the cake contains. This information is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Setting up and replenishing For pre-sliced cake, check the stated number of slices; consider whether individually wrapped portions suit the way you serve food. If I need to replenish several buffet stations quickly, less slicing matters more than choosing the slice thickness myself; around 21% of consumers prioritise this.
Product variety Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the varieties you’re considering, and check how each is sliced. I want to offer a specific variety as well as the plain one, but I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. This choice of range is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common purchasing mistakes

  • Assuming thick slices are a standard product size

    With pre-sliced breakfast cake, the slice size is fixed. An unsliced cake lets you choose the thickness, but you’ll need to make time for slicing during breakfast service.

    Choose a product clearly labelled as unsliced, and test before buying whether you can cut consistently sized slices as thick as you want.

  • Using an outdated product listing for your allergen information

    The information you give guests must match the breakfast cake actually being served unwrapped on the buffet. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, businesses must inform consumers about the allergens present.

    Use the latest label or product specification for the variety you’ve bought, and update the buffet information whenever the product changes.

  • Treating a variety name as complete nutritional information

    A name such as Zero doesn’t tell you which ingredients or allergens the cake contains.

    Before describing a variety to guests, check the latest packaging for its nutritional information, ingredients and allergens separately.

  • Assuming a product category tells you whether it contains iodine

    The name breakfast cake doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a particular product.

    Check the ingredients list for your chosen variety or ask the supplier which salt was used.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Peijnenburg

Jumbo lists Peijnenburg breakfast cake in both sliced and unsliced versions.

  • Peijnenburg says that a 345 g pack of sliced plain cake contains 12 slices.
  • With this sliced variety, you can’t choose the slice thickness yourself.

PLUS

PLUS lists a 550 g unsliced plain breakfast cake.

  • The unsliced format lets the kitchen choose the slice size.
  • The cake needs to be sliced on site before serving.

AH

Albert Heijn lists a sliced plain breakfast cake.

  • Albert Heijn says this variety contains 16 portions of 30 g each.
  • The pre-sliced format doesn’t allow you to serve thick slices cut to your preferred size.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero as a 485 g pre-sliced variety.

  • The cake doesn’t need slicing before serving.
  • Check the latest label before making claims about ingredients, nutritional information or allergens.

Goud Gebakken

ALDI lists Goud Gebakken snack cakes as spiced or breakfast cake, in a pack of six individually wrapped pieces.

  • Individually wrapped pieces work well for sealed service or taking away.
  • These portions aren’t a large cake that you can cut into thick slices yourself.

Breakfast cake on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Questions about breakfast cake on the buffet

Which breakfast cake should I choose if I want to cut my own thick slices?

Choose a breakfast cake clearly labelled as unsliced. Decide in advance how thick you want to serve the slices and whether you can fit the slicing into breakfast service; with pre-sliced cake, the size is already fixed.

Do I need to list allergens if I serve breakfast cake unwrapped on the buffet?

Yes. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, businesses must inform consumers about allergens in the food they offer. For unwrapped breakfast cake, use the latest information for the exact variety on the buffet, and make sure guests can access it.

Can I assume that breakfast cake contains iodine?

No. Don’t assume that from the name breakfast cake. Check the ingredients list for your chosen variety or ask the supplier which salt was used.

How should I store breakfast cake for breakfast service?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your chosen cake. PLUS says its unsliced plain variety should be stored in a cool, dry place away from light; also check the use-by date and keep the product information available at the buffet.