Festival-goers who want to pack light
If you want to pop one portion in your bag for King's Day, look for ‘individually wrapped’. Also check how many pieces are in the pack: individually wrapped portions are not necessarily sold separately.
Who are individually wrapped portions handy for?
Shoppers looking for no added sugars
If that specific claim matters to you, check the packaging of the variety you choose. Also read the ingredients and the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion; the claim does not mean the cake is sugar-free.
Anyone looking for a more substantial treat
For a more filling snack, consider a larger individually wrapped portion. Compare the grams per piece and check the label for the flavour you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what matters most to you this King's Day: convenience on the go, the sugar claim, portion size and flavour, or the ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's important to |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and portion size | Look for ‘individually wrapped’ and compare the number of pieces and the grams per portion. | If I'm out all day, I want to take one portion with me without opening a whole pack. For around 38% of consumers, convenience on the go comes first. |
| No added sugars | Check the exact claim and read the ingredients and sugars per 100 g and per portion. | When I'm specifically looking for this claim, I don't want to rely on the variety's name alone. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Flavour and portion size | Compare the grams per piece and check the ingredients for the flavour you choose. | For a treat, I'd rather choose a larger portion or a different flavour than the smallest option. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen statement on the exact packaging. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines whether that variety is suitable for me. For around 12% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Reading ‘individually wrapped’ as ‘sold separately’
This refers to how the portions inside the pack are wrapped. So you may have to buy more than one bar at a time, even if you only want to take one with you.
Compare the number of pieces in the pack and the grams per piece.
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Confusing ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’
This claim refers to added sugars. It doesn't tell you how much total sugar is listed per 100 g or per portion.
Read the full nutritional information and ingredients list for the variety you've chosen.
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Assuming all breakfast cake contains bakers' salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use bakers' salt. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine may be present in bakery products through the use of bakers' salt; this doesn't tell you what's in a specific breakfast cake.
If the use of bakers' salt matters to you, check the ingredients of the cake you've chosen.
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Relying on the label for a different flavour
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between varieties. So packaging with the same brand name doesn't automatically tell you what's in a different bar.
Before eating it, read the allergen statement on the packaging you actually buy.
Brands and ranges to compare
These examples can help you compare different types of packaging. Always check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for each individual product.
Peijnenburg
Albert Heijn lists individually wrapped portions for varieties including Original and Dubbel Lekker; PLUS lists individually wrapped breakfast cake bars from the brand.
- There are different pack sizes and portion sizes to compare. For Dubbel Lekker, Albert Heijn lists four portions of 49 g.
- Ingredients and allergens vary by variety. Check the current packaging, especially if rye, gluten, milk or nuts matter to you.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI lists koekhappers with six individually wrapped pieces.
- The individual wrappers make it easy to take one portion from the pack with you.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the variety you've chosen in store.
Lidl koekrepen-assortiment
Lidl lists packs of six cake bars, including an ‘ontbijtkoek minder suiker’ variety.
- You can compare six-bar packs with other portion packs.
- ‘Less sugar’ isn't the same as ‘no added sugars’. Check the exact variety and the information on the packaging.
Breakfast cake bars to take with you on Joybuy
This breakfast cake bar is a handy portion to take with you for King's Day. Before buying, check the packaging and nutritional information if the sugar claim or ingredients will influence your choice.
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Snelle Jelle breakfast cake bars 250 g
A breakfast cake bar to take with you as a snack. The product name and description use different wording about sugar, so check the current nutritional information and ingredients to see if this variety suits your preferences.
Also check the allergen statement on the packaging before eating the bar.
Frequently asked questions
Do I buy a single breakfast cake bar when it says ‘individually wrapped’?
No, this means that the portions inside the pack are wrapped individually. For example, Albert Heijn lists a pack of Peijnenburg Original with twelve portions and a pack of Dubbel Lekker with four portions. Check the number of pieces if you only want to take one bar with you.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the breakfast cake is sugar-free?
No. The claim ‘no added sugars’ doesn't mean the product contains no sugars. Check the sugars per 100 g and per portion on the packaging you've chosen, and read the ingredients list.
Which allergens should I check again when choosing a different variety?
Always check the full allergen statement for that variety. In the Peijnenburg varieties reviewed, rye and gluten are among the relevant allergens; information about milk and nuts may vary. Don't rely on the label for a different flavour or pack.
Does breakfast cake always contain iodine from bakers' salt?
No, you can't assume that all breakfast cake does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using bakers' salt isn't compulsory. Check the ingredients or ask the manufacturer if you want to know which salt was used in a particular cake.