If you want to hand out rice cakes in sealed portions during Sinterklaas evening, check how many individual packets are inside and how many cakes each contains before choosing a pack. A portion pack, multipack or roll doesn’t automatically mean that each rice cake is individually wrapped. Then choose a flavour to suit your guests, and check the label for the exact variant if you’re catering for allergies or children.
If you plan to serve rice cakes throughout the evening, it’s worth considering small, sealed portions. Albert Heijn lists a rice cake portion pack, while some Jumbo variants are shown as 3 × 3 pieces. Check the packaging to see whether this also means there are separate inner packets.
For children, the flavour and ingredients you choose matter, as does how these snacks fit in with other treats. As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day, as rice products can contain relatively high levels of arsenic.
If you’re buying for guests with allergies or different dietary needs, read the latest label for each flavour you choose. Albert Heijn and PLUS point out that product information can change, so keep the packaging handy for guests to check for themselves.
First, decide whether you need sealed portions for serving the rice cakes. Then choose the flavours and total quantity to suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed portions | Check how many inner packets there are and how many rice cakes each contains. A description such as ‘portion pack’ or ‘3 × 3 pieces’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether each rice cake has its own wrapper. | If I’m handing out rice cakes throughout the evening, I want to know which portions will stay sealed until serving. For around 33% of consumers, serving them in separate portions is the top priority. |
| Choosing for children | Read the ingredients and nutritional information for your chosen variant, and bear in mind the need to vary rice products. | For children, I want to choose a snack that fits in with the other treats, without making rice cakes an everyday staple. This is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Flavour and allergens | Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for each flavour. Don’t rely on the label for plain rice cakes when serving a coated or seasoned variant. | If guests want different flavours or have allergies, I need to be able to check what’s in each one I serve. Flavour and allergens are the top concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Right-sized quantity | Compare the total weight and portion sizes with the number of guests and the other snacks on the table. | For a small group, I don’t want to open more than we’ll eat during the evening. That’s why around 20% of consumers prioritise choosing the right quantity. |
A roll or pack containing several portions may have more than one rice cake in each inner packet. If you’re expecting sealed individual portions, this can make a difference when serving them.
Before buying, check how many inner packets there are and how many rice cakes each contains. Don’t rely on the product name or the number of pieces alone.
Chocolate, yoghurt and savoury varieties may contain different ingredients and allergens from plain rice cakes.
Read the latest label for each variety you serve, and keep the packaging handy for guests with allergies.
As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day, because rice products can contain arsenic.
Consider rice cakes for Sinterklaas evening alongside what else the children eat, and make sure they have a varied diet with other foods too.
The number of pieces doesn’t tell you how the contents are divided up. You could end up opening more rice cakes at once than your guests need.
Compare both the total contents and the inner packaging, especially if you want to serve a small portion at a time throughout the evening.
These brands offer different rice cakes or packaging descriptions. Always compare the specific variant: a product range won’t tell you how each rice cake is wrapped inside.
Albert Heijn lists an AH rice cake portion pack, as well as plain and chocolate varieties.
Jumbo lists 130 g packs of plain rice cakes and describes some coated varieties as 3 × 3 pieces.
PLUS lists 130 g rolls of plain rice cakes, as well as flavoured varieties, including yoghurt-coated rice cakes.
ALDI lists Goud Gebakken rice cakes with sea salt, as well as varieties with yoghurt or chocolate coating.
Lidl lists rice cakes among its Sondey products.
These rice cakes offer a choice of caramel and savoury flavours for your snack table. The product names and weights help you tell the varieties apart; check the packaging if individually sealed portions are essential for you.
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A caramel-flavoured rice cake for anyone looking to add a sweet option to the table.
140 g pack. Check how many rice cakes and any inner packets are included, and read the latest label for allergen information.
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A cheese-flavoured rice cake for guests who prefer a savoury option.
104 g pack. Check how the rice cakes are divided into inner packets, and if you’re catering for allergies, read the label for this cheese variety.
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A barbecue pepper-flavoured rice cake for anyone looking to serve something different alongside the cheese flavour.
103 g pack. Check the inner packaging, and use the latest label for this variety to check its ingredients and allergens.
No, the name ‘portion pack’ doesn’t prove that. A description such as ‘3 × 3 pieces’ doesn’t automatically tell you how many individual wrappers there are either. Before relying on sealed individual portions, check the packaging for the number of inner packets and how many rice cakes each contains.
Yes. If you’re catering for allergies, check the label for every flavour you serve. Plain, chocolate, yoghurt and savoury rice cakes can have different ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information on food labels is important for safe use.
Think about the variety you choose and how it fits in with other foods. As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day, as rice products can contain relatively high levels of arsenic. Also read the ingredients for the variety you’re serving.
Follow the storage advice on your chosen pack and only open portions when you’re ready to serve them. Jumbo says its plain rice cakes should be stored in a cool, dry place; instructions may differ for other varieties.
