Which size is right for you?

Commuters who want a ready-portioned snack

Want to grab breakfast cake from your bag without having to cut a slice first? Jumbo lists individually wrapped 28 g Peijnenburg portions, as well as a bag of individually wrapped mini cakes.

Shoppers comparing nutrition information

If sugars, fibre or sweeteners influence your choice, compare the values per portion and per 100 g. For varieties containing sweeteners, check the usage warnings too.

Shoppers avoiding certain allergens

Check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces before buying. Convenient portion packaging doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the ingredients are suitable for you.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to take a small portion with you without any preparation, or whether you can portion it at home. Then check the label for the portion you actually plan to eat.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Portability and portion size Check whether the cakes are individually wrapped and how many grams each one weighs. If I want to head straight out, I need a small cake that I don’t have to cut or wrap myself. This ready-to-go portion is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Nutrition information Compare sugars and fibre per portion and per 100 g; check the warnings too if the product contains sweeteners. When I’m choosing between bars, I want to know what’s in the portion I’ll eat. For around 30% of consumers, nutritional composition is the top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list, check which grains are used and look for any warnings about possible traces. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I first need to know whether the cake is suitable for me. For around 20% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider when choosing.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a pre-sliced piece is an individually wrapped mini

    Pre-sliced breakfast cake saves you the effort of cutting it at home, but that doesn’t mean each slice is individually wrapped for taking on the go.

    Check whether it says ‘individually wrapped’ and how many grams each portion weighs. Choose a larger pack if you want to wrap the slices yourself in advance.

  • Looking only at a sugar claim

    A variety with no added sugars may contain sweeteners and carry a usage warning. The Snelle Jelle Zero Kruidkoek described by Jumbo lists xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    As well as the nutrition information, read the ingredients and warnings for the specific variety.

  • Skipping the allergen information

    Breakfast cake bars may contain cereals containing gluten; information about possible traces may also be important when making your choice.

    Check the current label every time you buy, including the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings.

  • Assuming from the product name that it contains iodised baker’s salt

    Overheid.nl describes baker’s salt as iodised table salt used in bakery products. The name breakfast cake doesn’t tell you which salt was used in a specific product.

    If this ingredient matters to your choice, check the ingredients information for the specific product.

Brands to consider

Peijnenburg

Worth considering if you’re choosing between individually wrapped mini cakes and larger packs of breakfast cake.

  • Jumbo lists 28 g plain portions and individually wrapped Parelkandij Mini’s.
  • Check the portion size for each variety: ‘mini’ and ‘individually wrapped’ don’t necessarily mean the same size.

Snelle Jelle

Offers individually wrapped breakfast cake and spiced cake bars if you’re looking for a ready-portioned bar.

  • Jumbo lists, among other options, 55 g breakfast cake bars and 42 g Zero spiced cake bars.
  • The Zero spiced cake lists xylitol and carries a warning about excessive consumption; compare each variety using its own label.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists pre-sliced breakfast cake in 485 g packs, making it a good option if you prefer to portion it at home.

  • The pre-sliced wholemeal variety doesn’t need cutting at home.
  • A pre-sliced piece isn’t the same as an individually wrapped portion to take with you.

G'woon

Joybuy lists a G'woon breakfast cake pack containing six pieces.

  • The product information includes nutrition values per 100 g.
  • Joybuy lists possible traces of wheat, barley, oats, milk, almonds and hazelnuts; check the current packaging if this information matters to your choice.

A breakfast cake bar on Joybuy

This option is aimed at anyone looking for a breakfast cake bar to take on the go, rather than specifically the smallest mini portion. Check that the pack suits the way you want to carry a bar.

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free, 250 g pack

Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g

Worth considering if you’re looking for a breakfast cake bar to take on the go rather than a small mini. The pack contains 250 g; check how many bars it includes, whether they’re individually wrapped and which nutrition values apply to one bar.

Don’t assume from the variety name that the product is sugar-free. Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is an individually wrapped mini always a better breakfast choice than a larger bar?

No. Packaging mainly affects how easy it is to take a ready-portioned snack with you. Also compare the nutrition values for the portion you eat. For an average 30 g slice of breakfast cake, Voedingscentrum lists, among other values, 11,2 g of sugars and 1,1 g of fibre, but a specific product may differ.

What should I look for in a breakfast cake bar with no added sugars?

Read the ingredients and usage warnings too. The Snelle Jelle Zero Kruidkoek listed by Jumbo contains xylitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Should I be aware of gluten in breakfast cake made with rye?

Yes, rye is a cereal that contains gluten. Check the type of grain and the allergen information on the current label; according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients.

Can I assume that breakfast cake contains iodised baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume that based on the product category. Overheid.nl describes baker’s salt as iodised table salt used in bakery products; check the ingredients information for the breakfast cake you’re considering.