If you want to decorate or share out breakfast cake with children, a pre-sliced version saves you the effort of cutting it up. Check how many slices are in the pack, then compare the sugar, fibre and portion size of each option. Check the ingredients and allergens too: ‘wholemeal’ and ‘no added sugar’ answer different questions.
With pre-sliced breakfast cake, you don’t have to cut up a whole cake first. If you want to give each child a slice or cut out shapes, check the number of slices and their size. For example, Peijnenburg lists 18 slices in its 550 g Naturel Gesneden pack.
If you’re choosing based on sugar, fibre or portion size, the nutritional information per 100 g and per slice is more useful than the ‘wholemeal’ or ‘no added sugar’ label alone. For the latter options, check the ingredients for sweeteners too.
When several children are taking part, it’s important to read the label on the pack you’ve chosen. The listed allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings differ between the Jumbo and PLUS options reviewed.
Choose this if: you mainly want ready-cut slices to share out or decorate.
Bear in mind: Peijnenburg lists 38 g of sugar per 100 g for its Naturel Gesneden option; being pre-sliced says nothing about its nutritional value.
Choose this if: you’re particularly interested in fibre when comparing nutritional information.
Bear in mind: Peijnenburg lists 5.1 g of fibre and 39 g of sugar per 100 g for its wholemeal option, compared with 3.1 g of fibre and 38 g of sugar for its plain option. So, in this comparison, wholemeal doesn’t mean less sugar.
Choose this if: you’re specifically looking for no added sugar and are taking the other ingredients into account too.
Bear in mind: the Peijnenburg option reviewed contains xylitol. For products containing sweeteners, check the pack for any warnings too.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing out slices | Check whether the cake is pre-sliced and how many slices are in the pack. Consider the slice size if you want to cut out shapes. | If each child is getting a slice to decorate, I don’t want to have to stop and cut up a whole cake. For around 42% of consumers, ease of sharing is the top priority. |
| Sugar, fibre and portion size | Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per slice; for no-added-sugar options, check the ingredients too. | When choosing a slice, I want to know how the sugar and fibre content relates to the portion I’ll actually serve. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this nutritional comparison. |
| Allergens | Check both the allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack. | Before sharing breakfast cake with children, I want to know whether the pack I’ve chosen is suitable for the allergens I need to consider. For around 25% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
The wholemeal option listed by Peijnenburg contains 39 g of sugar and 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g; its plain option lists 38 g of sugar and 3.1 g of fibre per 100 g. In this comparison, more fibre doesn’t mean less sugar.
Check both figures on the label, and also look at the amount per slice.
One sliced Jumbo option reviewed carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.
Check the ingredients, warnings and portion size of the option you choose.
The Jumbo Naturel option reviewed states that it may contain milk and nuts; PLUS Naturel says it may contain wheat, barley and oats. These statements vary from product to product.
Check the current pack before serving, even if you’ve bought the same type of breakfast cake before.
The total weight or the word ‘sliced’ doesn’t necessarily tell you whether a slice is big enough for the shape the children want to make.
Before choosing a pack for cutting out shapes or decorating, check the number of slices and, where possible, their dimensions.
The brand offers sliced plain, wholemeal and no-added-sugar options.
The sliced breakfast cakes reviewed include several 475 g options.
The PLUS Naturel option reviewed is a 485 g sliced breakfast cake.
ALDI Nederland lists pre-sliced wholemeal and zero breakfast cakes under this brand, both in 485 g packs.
These two g'woon products are 485 g sliced breakfast cakes for anyone who wants to share out or decorate slices. The option with ‘Wholemeal’ in its name is easy to identify; compare the packs for the features that matter for your activity.
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This pre-sliced option is handy for an activity where you want to share out slices among children.
The pack contains 485 g. Check the number and size of the slices if you want to cut out shapes or decorate them, and read the current allergen information before serving.
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This pre-sliced breakfast cake is another option when each child will be decorating a slice.
The pack contains 485 g. Check how many slices it contains, and look at the nutritional information and allergens on the pack if these affect your choice.
No, don’t automatically choose breakfast cake as a replacement for wholemeal bread every day. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal or brown bread as a snack option for children aged 4 to 12. When choosing breakfast cake, check the nutritional information and the size of the slice you’re serving.
No, that label alone shouldn’t determine your choice. The Peijnenburg option reviewed contains xylitol, and a sliced Jumbo option reviewed carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Compare the ingredients, nutritional information and portion size of the specific product.
Check the allergens and ‘may contain’ statements on every pack you choose. The Jumbo Naturel option reviewed lists rye and wheat, among other ingredients, and says it may contain milk and nuts; PLUS Naturel lists rye and says it may contain wheat, barley and oats. Don’t rely on the name ‘breakfast cake’ alone.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you’re using. For its Naturel Ontbijtkoek Gesneden, Jumbo recommends storing the cake in a cool, dry place and putting it in a sealed tin after opening.
