If you’d like a pre-portioned snack ready while you bake, Peijnenburg says its Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices. The mini versions we looked at are smaller, at 14–15 g, but Jumbo reported that the nut and pearl sugar varieties were no longer available in its online range. Check whether they’re in stock before counting on them. Dutch breakfast cake is a snack to enjoy alongside baking, not a standard substitute for spiced biscuit dough.
Would you rather not keep cutting into a loaf of Dutch breakfast cake during an afternoon of baking pepernoten or kruidnoten? Peijnenburg says its Naturel 10-pack contains ten individually wrapped 28 g slices.
The Peijnenburg mini versions we looked at come in 14 g or 15 g portions. Jumbo reported that these varieties were no longer available in its online range, so check whether you can still get them.
If you’re buying snacks for a group, check the packaging of the variety you choose. Peijnenburg Naturel 10-pack contains rye and lists possible traces of, among other things, milk and nuts; the Zero variety we looked at contains xylitol.
Decide whether you’re looking for a snack or ingredients for your baking recipe. If you’re choosing Dutch breakfast cake as a snack, compare the portion size and ingredients of the specific variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Compare the weight of each individual cake or slice, and check whether the size you want is available. | If I want to have small snacks ready, I don’t want to keep cutting into a large cake. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the smallest individual portion. |
| Snack or baking ingredient | Follow your chosen recipe for the dough; only buy Dutch breakfast cake as an ingredient if the recipe calls for it. | If I’m baking kruidnoten, I don’t want to mistake a snack for an ingredient in the dough. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this distinction. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the packaging of the variety you choose for its ingredients, allergens and any warnings about possible traces. | If I’m buying snacks for several people, I want to check in advance that the ingredients are suitable for everyone. Around 21% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for regular varieties and those with no added sugar, paying attention to the sweeteners used. | If I’m considering a variety with no added sugar, I also want to know which sweetener it contains. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this information. |
According to Jumbo, the Peijnenburg mini versions we looked at, weighing 14 g and 15 g, were no longer included in its online range.
Check availability with your shop before choosing these sizes. An individually wrapped 28 g slice is a larger alternative.
Laura’s Bakery and Rutger bakt recipes make kruidnoten using dough ingredients; ready-made Dutch breakfast cake isn’t a substitute unless a recipe specifically says to use it.
Enjoy Dutch breakfast cake as a snack, and buy the ingredients listed in the recipe you want to follow.
The Noten Mini’s we looked at contain almonds and hazelnuts. The Naturel 10-pack lists rye and possible traces of, among other things, milk and nuts.
Before eating it, check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.
The Peijnenburg Zero variety we looked at contains xylitol. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
Check the sweeteners listed on the packaging and keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
The product ranges we looked at include both small Dutch breakfast cake minis and individually wrapped slices.
ALDI lists a 485 g sliced Zero Dutch breakfast cake from this own-brand range.
PLUS lists Dutch breakfast cake and spiced cake bars from this brand in multipacks.
This Snelle Jelle pack is a good option if you’d like Dutch breakfast cake as a snack alongside your baking. If you’re looking for a small, pre-portioned serving, check the weight of each individual piece before choosing.
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A Dutch breakfast cake snack to enjoy alongside your baking. If a smaller size or the ingredients matter to you, compare the weight per portion and check the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging.
Not as a substitute for the dough in Laura’s Bakery and Rutger bakt recipes. Those recipes use ingredients including flour or self-raising flour, sugar, speculaas spices and butter. Enjoy Dutch breakfast cake as a snack unless your recipe specifically lists it as an ingredient.
No. Rutger bakt describes traditional pepernoten as softer, gingerbread-like pieces; kruidnoten are the small, crunchy biscuits that are often also called pepernoten. Check which of the two your recipe means before buying ingredients.
Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packaging. If you open one individually wrapped piece, the others can stay in their own wrappers.
Check the ingredients and nutritional information too: no added sugar doesn’t mean there are no naturally occurring sugars or sweeteners. According to Albert Heijn, the Peijnenburg Zero variety we looked at contains xylitol. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.
According to the Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not a legal requirement. So don’t assume that a product contains iodine just because it belongs to this category; check the ingredients list for the specific Dutch breakfast cake if this matters to your choice.
