Parents who want to pack a set portion
If you don’t want to cut breakfast cake every morning, an individually wrapped slice is easy to pop into a bag or lunchbox. Peijnenburg lists ten 28 g slices in its plain 10-pack.
Who might find a mini portion practical?
Carers who need to consider allergens and school rules
You’ll want to check that the exact variety is suitable for the child’s allergies and complies with the rules at their school or after-school club. The Peijnenburg portions reviewed contain rye. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
Carers comparing varieties with no added sugars
You’re looking for a portion to take with you and want to compare the plain variety with one that has no added sugars. Peijnenburg lists the latter as an 8-pack of individually wrapped 28 g slices. Check the ingredients and nutritional information too: this claim doesn’t mean the product is sugar-free or gluten-free.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the label and the school’s rules. Then compare what you’ll actually be packing: an individually wrapped slice, a larger bar or a portion cut at home.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A set portion to take with you | Check the weight per slice and whether each slice is individually wrapped. Peijnenburg lists 10 × 28 g for its plain 10-pack. | If I want to pack something quickly, I want to be able to grab one slice without cutting a larger cake. For around 36% of consumers, having a set portion to take with them is the most important factor. |
| Allergens and school rules | Check the current label for rye and other allergens, and ask about the rules at your child’s school or after-school club. | If there’s a food allergy or a rule about what children can bring in, the breakfast cake must meet those requirements first. Around 29% of consumers put this first. |
| No added sugars | Compare the ingredients and the amount of sugars per 100 g and per portion you’ll be packing. Check which sweeteners are listed too. | If I’m choosing between two equally convenient slices, the ‘no added sugars’ claim could sway my decision. For around 21% of consumers, this is their first consideration. |
| Packaging and portion size | Check the number of pieces, the weight per piece and whether a larger cake needs to be divided up. | With an own-brand bar or larger cake, I want to decide how much to pack for each break. Packaging is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a small slice is an obvious everyday school snack
A set portion doesn’t change what kind of snack breakfast cake is. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Dutch Wheel of Five for school, and advises keeping sweet snacks small and offering them at set times.
First decide whether you want to pack breakfast cake. Then use the mini size to help you choose a suitable portion.
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Confusing ‘no added sugars’ with ‘sugar-free’
The claim doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. According to the product information, Peijnenburg’s variety with no added sugars also contains rye.
Check the nutritional information and the full ingredients and allergen details on the pack you’ve chosen, not just the text on the front.
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Relying on an old product description
If a child has a relevant allergy, the information on the pack you’re actually sending with them is what matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked products.
Check the label again each time you buy the product, and make sure it complies with the rules at your child’s school or after-school club.
Brands to compare
Compare the specific packs: a 6-pack, a pre-sliced cake and individually wrapped slices don’t necessarily give you the same portion.
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg lists individually wrapped 28 g slices in both a plain 10-pack and an 8-pack with no added sugars.
- The number of slices and the weight per slice are listed for these packs.
- Both varieties reviewed contain rye. Check the other allergen information for each variety too.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s range includes breakfast cake in packs of six.
- A multipack gives you a different type of packaging to compare with individual mini portions.
- Check the weight per piece and whether the pieces are individually wrapped for the product you choose.
PLUS
PLUS lists breakfast cake bars in 6-packs, including a 330 g pack of the plain variety.
- The pack details make it possible to compare the number of pieces and the total weight.
- Check the label for the weight per bar, ingredients and allergens for the exact variety.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI describes Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero as pre-sliced breakfast cake with no added sugars, in a 485 g pack.
- Pre-sliced pieces mean less cutting at home.
- A pack of pre-sliced cake isn’t the same as individually wrapped mini portions, so check how you’d like to pack a slice.
Breakfast cake bars to take with you
This Joybuy pick is a breakfast cake bar for anyone who wants to take an individually wrapped portion with them. Compare the weight per bar with the 28 g slices if that mini size is important to you.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
An option if you want to take an individually wrapped breakfast cake bar with you, but aren’t specifically looking for a 28 g slice. The pack states 250 g. Check the weight per bar, and use the information on the label to assess the sugar content rather than relying on the variety name.
The product information lists rye and gluten. Check the current pack for any warnings about milk and nuts too, and make sure your choice complies with the rules at your child’s school or after-school club.
Frequently asked questions
Is Peijnenburg Naturel 10-pack gluten-free?
No. The product information lists rye flour, and rye is a gluten-containing cereal. Check the pack’s label for details of any other allergens too.
Does ‘no added sugars’ mean breakfast cake is sugar-free?
No. ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars. If you’re comparing Peijnenburg’s variety with the plain one, check the nutritional information per 100 g and per slice.
Is breakfast cake meant to be an everyday school snack?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn’t recommend breakfast cake as the default choice for every school day. For food at school, it points to the Dutch Wheel of Five; for a sweet snack, it advises a small portion at set times.