Who is this for?

If you want one treat per compartment

If you don’t want to cut and wrap the cake yourself, an individually wrapped bar is a handy option. Check how many bars are in the pack and whether one will fit in a compartment.

If you’re specifically looking for seeds

The words ‘breakfast cake’ or ‘wholemeal’ don’t tell you whether a product contains seeds. Check the ingredients list for the exact variety to see which seeds or kernels it contains.

If you’re filling a calendar for other people

Allergens and sweeteners need extra attention when you’re buying for several people. Read the information on the current packaging and compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving if they matter to your choice.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you need both seeds and an individually wrapped portion. Then check the label of the product you’re actually planning to hand out.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Portion size Count the individually wrapped pieces and check that one will fit in an advent calendar compartment. I want to fill each compartment without cutting or rewrapping the cake myself. Portion convenience would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers.
Seeds and nutritional information Look for the seeds or kernels in the ingredients list. Compare fibre and sugar per 100 g and per serving on the label of the exact variety. I want to make sure the bar contains seeds and compare its nutritional information, rather than relying on the word ‘wholemeal’. This would be the main priority for around 40% of consumers.
Allergens and sweeteners Read the current allergen information and ingredients list, especially if anyone receiving the treats needs to avoid certain ingredients. If I’m giving the calendar as a gift, I want to know whether the ingredients are suitable for the recipient. For around 20% of consumers, checking this would be the first priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means it contains seeds

    Breakfast cake comes in several varieties; the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t mean that it contains seeds or kernels.

    Look for the seeds you want in the ingredients list on the specific pack. For example, Jumbo lists sunflower seeds (9%) for Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ Granen + Pitten & Fruit.

  • Looking only at the front of the pack

    You could miss allergens or sweeteners. Jumbo’s product information for the Peijnenburg bar lists cereals containing gluten and xylitol, and says that the bar may contain milk, nuts and almonds.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information before handing the bars out. Keep products containing xylitol out of pets’ reach.

  • Choosing a large cake without factoring in the wrapping

    A whole or sliced breakfast cake won’t automatically give you one sealed treat for each compartment.

    Decide in advance whether you’re happy to portion and wrap the cake yourself. If not, check how many individually wrapped bars are in the pack.

Brands and ranges compared

Peijnenburg

The range includes breakfast cake in different sizes, as well as Tussendoor+ bars.

  • For Tussendoor+ Granen + Pitten & Fruit, Jumbo lists sunflower seeds (9%) and four individually wrapped bars.
  • Those ingredients and packaging details don’t automatically apply to Peijnenburg Naturel or other varieties.

Albert Heijn

The breakfast cake range includes own-brand and other brands, as well as slices and bars.

  • The choice of sizes lets you compare a bar with cake that you portion yourself.
  • Check the ingredients list for each AH variety before choosing it as a seeded breakfast cake.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for products including Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ and Jumbo Naturel Ontbijtkoek.

  • For the Peijnenburg bar mentioned above, the product information includes details about seeds, packaging and allergens.
  • Jumbo Naturel Ontbijtkoek is a different variety, so don’t assume it has the same ingredients as the bar.

PLUS

The range includes plain and wholemeal varieties, as well as bars.

  • You can choose a format based on how much cutting and wrapping you’re willing to do.
  • Check the ingredients list for the specific variety to see whether it contains seeds or kernels.

Koek & Bakker

This ALDI brand includes a pre-sliced Ontbijtkoek Zero.

  • Pre-sliced pieces can make portioning easier if you plan to wrap them yourself.
  • The name Zero doesn’t confirm that the product contains seeds or that it’s suitable for every recipient. Read the full label.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What size of breakfast cake works well for an advent calendar?

An individually wrapped bar is a good fit for a calendar where each compartment contains one sealed treat. Check how many bars there are, the size of the compartments and how many days you want to fill.

Does Peijnenburg Tussendoor+ Granen + Pitten & Fruit really contain seeds?

Yes. Jumbo’s product information lists sunflower seeds (9%) for this specific bar. Check the current label when you buy it; you can’t assume other breakfast cake varieties have the same ingredients.

Can I give seeded breakfast cake to everyone?

First check whether the ingredients are suitable for each recipient. According to Jumbo, the Peijnenburg bar mentioned above contains cereals with gluten and may contain milk, nuts and almonds. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergen information for prepacked foods appears on the label.

Is a no-added-sugar variety also a substitute for a seeded bar?

Not if you need both seeds and an individually wrapped portion. Check for these features separately, and also compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact products.

Can I assume that breakfast cake contains iodine-enriched baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume that a specific breakfast cake does. Industry information from brood.net says that using iodine-enriched baker’s salt isn’t a legal requirement. Check the packaging or ask the manufacturer about the product in question.