If you mainly want to cut down on added sugar with your coffee, start with a plain rice cake and check the nutritional information for the exact variety. Albert Heijn and PLUS list 0 g of added sugars per 100 g for the plain varieties mentioned here. A thicker multigrain variety may be worth considering if you’re also looking for more fibre or a different texture, but compare the salt content and allergens too. A chocolate coating is less suitable if you’re trying to limit added sugar.
You’re after something crunchy with your coffee, without automatically reaching for a sweet, coated variety. Compare the amount of added sugars with the total sugars, and read the ingredients list for the rice cake you’re thinking of buying.
If a thin, plain rice cake doesn’t feel filling enough, compare the thickness, grain mix and fibre content. Remember to consider the salt content and portion size too.
A vegan or gluten-free variety, organic ingredients or a particular ingredients list may be important to you. Check the label on the exact variety: multigrain products may contain gluten-containing grains, and even a gluten-free product may carry a warning about traces of allergens.
First, compare rice cakes based on what matters most to you during your coffee break. Then use the nutritional information per 100 g to compare varieties like for like, and check how much you’re actually having per portion.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Added sugar | Compare total and added sugars per 100 g. If there’s a coating, check the ingredients list too. | I want something crunchy with my coffee, but without a sweet coating. Around 42% of consumers prioritise less added sugar. |
| Texture and fibre | Check the fibre and salt content per 100 g for thicker or multigrain varieties. | If a thin rice cake doesn’t feel substantial enough, I look for a different texture or check the fibre content. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Sweet flavour | For coated rice cakes, compare the total and added sugars with those in a plain variety. | Sometimes I want a sweet treat with my coffee, even if it contains more added sugar. Taste is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and dietary requirements | Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about traces on the exact product packaging. | A rice cake first needs to meet my ingredient or dietary requirements. For around 16% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
Albert Heijn lists 24 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Rijstwafels pure chocolade, compared with 0 g per 100 g for AH Rijstwafels naturel. So the rice cake underneath the coating tells you little about the sugar content of the product as a whole.
For a coated variety, compare both total and added sugars with those in a plain rice cake.
A different grain mix also means you should check the salt content and allergens. Jumbo lists 4.9 g of fibre and 0.65 g of salt per 100 g for its thick multigrain rice cake. The Albert Heijn multigrain variety mentioned here contains rye and oats.
Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, and check the grains if you need to avoid gluten.
These labels relate to different characteristics and don’t tell you how much sugar a rice cake contains. Smaakt Rijstwafels gezouten biologisch also carries a warning that the product may contain traces of soya.
Assess the characteristic you’re looking for separately from the sugar content. If allergens are a concern, check the packaging for the exact variety.
As a precaution, the Voedingscentrum advises against giving children rice or rice products every day because of possible exposure to arsenic.
For children, alternate rice cakes with other types of snacks and grain products.
Among the AH varieties mentioned here, you can compare plain rice cakes, thick multigrain rice cakes and a dark chocolate variety.
This comparison includes a plain variety and a thick multigrain variety from Jumbo.
The PLUS Rijstwafels Naturel mentioned here are a straightforward option to compare with other plain rice cakes.
The organic plain variety mentioned here may be worth considering if you’re also interested in how it’s grown and what it contains.
Smaakt Rijstwafels gezouten biologisch is an option to consider if you have specific ingredient or dietary requirements.
The sea salt rice cakes mentioned here are a separate option to compare if you’re looking for something similar to a plain variety.
Lidl includes rice cakes in its Sondey range, with varieties that include coatings or sea salt.
No. A rice cake can still contain sugars even if it lists 0 g of added sugars. Check both the total sugars and added sugars, and don’t treat ‘no added sugars’ as another way of saying ‘sugar-free’.
Use the figures per 100 g to compare the nutritional values of different rice cakes on the same basis, then check how much you’re having per portion. Read the ingredients list too: according to the Voedingscentrum, ingredients are listed in order of quantity.
If so, compare the coated variety with a plain one first: Albert Heijn lists 24 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Rijstwafels pure chocolade, compared with 0 g per 100 g for AH Rijstwafels naturel. This makes the chocolate variety less suitable for this particular goal.
As a precaution, the Voedingscentrum advises against giving children rice or rice products, including rice cakes, every day because of possible exposure to arsenic. So alternate them with other types of snacks and grain products.
No. Check the nutritional information and ingredients for the exact variety too. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that nutrition claims must be accurate; a claim about one characteristic is no substitute for comparing sugar, fibre, salt and allergens.
