When choosing ontbijtkoek for a Christmas breakfast, don’t assume that ‘dark’ means it contains cocoa: check whether cocoa or chocolate is actually listed on the label. Choose a plain or layered variety if flavour and presentation are your priorities; compare wholegrain varieties with no added sugars if sugars and fibre matter more. In either case, check the serving size, sweeteners and allergens on the specific pack.
For a Christmas brunch or sharing platter, you might want an ontbijtkoek with a pronounced cocoa flavour. A dark appearance or a plain-flavoured coating doesn’t confirm that it contains cocoa, so check the ingredients of the product you choose.
If sugars, fibre or sweeteners will determine your choice, compare the same values per 100 g, then check how much you’ll be serving. This makes it easier to see the difference between a slice and an individually wrapped portion.
If you’re serving ontbijtkoek to guests who need to avoid certain ingredients, check each pack individually. Rye and other gluten-containing cereals appear in the varieties described; a layered variety also lists milk and may contain nuts.
First decide whether cocoa is essential or simply an expected flavour. Then compare the nutritional information and check which ingredients your guests can eat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa and flavour | Check the ingredients list for cocoa or chocolate; if you want a particular cocoa content, look for it on the packaging. | If you want a pronounced cocoa flavour for your Christmas brunch, don’t rely on the word ‘dark’ or the cake’s colour. Around 40% of consumers put this flavour requirement first. |
| Sugars and fibre | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g, and check whether the product contains sweeteners such as xylitol. | If nutritional information determines my choice, I also want to know what’s behind a claim such as ‘no added sugars’. This is the most important factor for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and portions | Check the allergens and warnings on each pack; for sliced and individually wrapped products, also check the weight per portion. | When I’m hosting a brunch, I want to know which ingredients my guests need to avoid and how much cake I’m serving per person. Around 30% of consumers say this is their priority. |
A dark colour or a plain-flavoured coating doesn’t tell you whether the ontbijtkoek contains cocoa.
If you’re specifically looking for cocoa or chocolate, check the ingredients on the current pack. Only rely on a stated percentage if you want a particular cocoa content.
An individually wrapped portion may be larger than the slice you’d cut yourself. For example, Peijnenburg lists 19 g of sugars per 49 g portion of Dubbel Lekker.
Use the values per 100 g to compare products, then check the nutritional information for the portion you’ll actually serve.
A variety with no added sugars may contain sweeteners. The product information for the varieties described that contain xylitol warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As well as checking the sugar content, read the ingredients and usage warnings. Keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
Ingredients vary between ontbijtkoek varieties. A layered Peijnenburg variety lists milk and warns that it may contain hazelnuts and almonds.
Check each pack before buying and keep the packaging available at the buffet, so guests can read the information for the product being served.
Peijnenburg offers plain ontbijtkoek, a wholegrain variety with no added sugars and individually wrapped layered portions, among other options. Compare each variety separately: their ingredients and portion sizes differ.
The sliced own-brand variety, AH Ontbijtkoek zero, is worth considering if you want to check the sugars, fibre and ingredients in a pre-portioned ontbijtkoek.
The plain and wholegrain Jumbo ontbijtkoek varieties described here show which nutritional values you can compare within one range. That comparison doesn’t tell you anything about cocoa flavour.
No, the label alone tells you nothing about the cocoa content. Check whether cocoa or chocolate appears on the ingredients list, and look for an explicit percentage if the amount of cocoa matters to your choice.
No, compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the specific varieties you’re considering. The Peijnenburg and AH varieties described contain xylitol; their product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings about traces on each pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on labels. As well as gluten-containing ingredients, the layered Peijnenburg variety described lists milk and may contain hazelnuts and almonds.
No, don’t assume that all ontbijtkoek is made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the product you choose, or ask the manufacturer which salt they use if this matters to your purchase.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the ontbijtkoek you buy. The product information described from Albert Heijn and Jumbo recommends storing it in a cool, dark, dry place; also check the date and instructions on the pack.
