For cake or pie, choose plain porridge oats with oats as the only ingredient if you don’t want to add sugar through the oats. No added sugar doesn’t mean sugar-free: Quaker Netherlands lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Original Porridge Oats. Check the packaging of the variety you choose, and grind the oats if you’d prefer fewer visible flakes in your batter.
If you want to choose the ingredients in your cake or pie yourself, start by checking the ingredients list on the porridge oats. Plain oats with oats as the only ingredient are different from a flavoured mix or sweetened variety.
If you’re using oats in your batter, you can choose fine flakes or grind the oats first. Lidl shows how to grind porridge oats in a food processor in one of its oat recipes; the final result will also depend on the rest of your cake recipe.
The name ‘porridge oats’ alone isn’t enough to confirm that a product is gluten-free. Check that the specific pack you choose is explicitly labelled gluten-free, and read the allergen information.
For cake or pie, first check the ingredients and nutritional information for the porridge oats you’ve chosen. Then decide which type of flake suits your recipe, and check for a gluten-free label if you need one.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Read the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; don’t treat them as the same claim. | I want to decide for myself what makes the cake sweet, without adding a flavoured oat mix. For around 44% of consumers, this choice of ingredients comes first. |
| Flake type | Check whether the flakes are fine or coarse, and consider grinding them if you’d like a finer oat base. | I want fewer visible flakes in my batter, even if that means an extra preparation step. Around 33% of consumers give texture top priority. |
| Gluten-free label | Check the specific pack for a gluten-free label and allergen information. | If my cake needs to be gluten-free, I can’t rely on the product name ‘porridge oats’ alone. For around 23% of consumers, this label is the first thing they look for. |
Porridge oats can contain sugars even when no sugar has been added. Quaker Netherlands lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Original Porridge Oats.
Read the exact wording on the pack, as well as the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information.
These products don’t necessarily have the same ingredients. Added ingredients can make a difference if you want to decide for yourself what goes into your cake or pie.
Check the full ingredients list for the variety you’ve chosen rather than relying on the product category on the front of the pack.
The product name ‘porridge oats’ doesn’t confirm that a product is suitable for a gluten-free diet. For example, Albert Heijn says that Brinta Porridge Oats may contain traces of wheat and rye.
If you need a gluten-free product, choose one that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the allergen information on the pack.
Quaker Netherlands says that Original Porridge Oats are made from 100% wholegrain oats and contain no added sugar.
Albert Heijn lists 100% oat flakes as the ingredient in Brinta Porridge Oats 450 g.
Jumbo lists several types of porridge oats, including fine flakes, as well as a separate variety labelled gluten-free.
ALDI Netherlands lists Golden Bridge Fine Wholegrain Porridge Oats in a 500 g pack.
Lidl Netherlands lists coarse oat flakes in a 500 g pack.
These porridge oat products are worth considering if you want to choose the ingredients in your cake or pie yourself. Check each variety’s packaging for added ingredients, sugars per 100 g and flake type; this selection doesn’t confirm that any product is suitable for a gluten-free diet.
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An option if you’re looking for an oat base with no other ingredients for baking: Albert Heijn lists Brinta Porridge Oats 450 g as containing 100% oat flakes. The product information mentions possible traces of wheat and rye, so don’t choose this product based on the ingredients list alone if you need a gluten-free option.
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Consider this variety if you’re looking for a fine oat base for your batter. Check the ingredients and product type on the pack of this Express variety before using it in a cake or pie recipe.
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If you want to control the sweetness of your cake or pie, check the ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g for this variety. Also check the flake type on the pack if the texture of your batter matters.
No. Quaker Netherlands says that Original Porridge Oats contain no added sugar, but also lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g. So check the exact wording and nutritional information on the pack you buy.
Choose fine flakes or grind the porridge oats before adding them to your batter. One of Lidl’s recipes uses a food processor to grind the oats; the final result will also depend on the other ingredients and how you prepare the cake.
Don’t assume that ordinary porridge oats are gluten-free. If you need a gluten-free product, choose a pack that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the allergen information for that specific variety.
Yes, check the pack you’re actually using. Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you want to avoid added sugar or need a gluten-free label.
