If you’re serving coffee to several guests, choose a pre-sliced pack to save yourself the effort of cutting it, and match the number of slices or portions to your group. Then compare the nutritional information for the exact product: wholegrain and fibre content don’t tell you how much sugar there is in a slice. If any guests have dietary restrictions, ask them in advance what they can eat and check the allergen information on every pack.
If you’re expecting several guests, a pre-sliced pack saves you time when it comes to serving. Check the number of slices or portions too: Peijnenburg lists 12 slices in a 345 g pack of Naturel Gesneden, while Albert Heijn lists 16 portions of 30 g for AH Naturel Gesneden.
If sugar, fibre or the type of grain used will influence your choice, compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per portion for the products you’re considering. A wholegrain or fibre claim doesn’t replace the ‘of which sugars’ figure.
If you’re serving Dutch breakfast cake to guests with dietary restrictions, ask them in advance what they can eat. Rye is a gluten-containing grain, so check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on each pack you buy.
Decide how many slices you want to serve and which ingredients are suitable for your guests. Then compare pack sizes and nutritional values for the options that remain.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving and portions | Check whether the breakfast cake is pre-sliced and how many slices or portions are listed on the pack. | I want to get things ready for several guests without having to cut the cake on the spot, and I want to know how much I can offer. Ease of serving is the top priority for around 37% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare ‘of which sugars’, fibre and salt per 100 g and per portion for the exact product. | When choosing between plain and wholegrain, I want to compare the nutritional values of the slices. For around 27% of consumers, comparing labels is the main priority. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Match the weight and number of slices to your guests, and think about how you’ll store an opened pack. | I want to buy enough, but not be left with a large opened pack. This is the deciding factor for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on every pack. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know whether the cake I’ve chosen is suitable before serving it. This check is the top priority for around 9% of consumers. |
The type of grain and the sugar content are two different things. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 11.2 g of sugars per 30 g slice as a general figure for Dutch breakfast cake; check the product’s own label for the value of a specific variety.
Compare plain, wholegrain and other varieties on the same basis: per 100 g and, if the portion size is known, per slice you plan to serve.
A large pack may contain more slices than you need for your coffee get-together. Any leftovers need to be stored properly once the pack has been opened.
Plan the quantity based on the number of slices listed on the pack. Store any leftovers in a cool, dark, dry place in a well-sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
So an opened pack also needs storage space and attention after your guests have left.
Sliced or wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake isn’t automatically suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten. Product information from AH and PLUS lists rye; references to other grains can vary by product.
Ask guests which restrictions they have and check the current packaging of every product you serve. If necessary, choose a separate product that meets their requirements.
You can’t tell from the product category whether a particular Dutch breakfast cake contains baker’s salt with iodine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory.
If iodine is relevant to your product comparison, check the information on the exact pack or ask the manufacturer.
These examples can help you compare pack formats and labels; the features of one product don’t necessarily apply to the rest of the brand’s range.
Peijnenburg offers sliced plain varieties, among other products. A pack with a stated number of slices is useful if you want to plan how much to serve in advance.
AH Naturel Gesneden is an example of a larger pre-sliced pack for which Albert Heijn also provides portion information.
Jumbo’s range includes a sliced plain variety and a wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake. These give you different product types to consider separately.
PLUS lists a 485 g pack of plain, sliced Dutch breakfast cake. Consider this product separately if a standard pre-sliced pack suits your serving plans.
ALDI describes a sliced wholegrain Dutch breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker. It’s an option to consider if you’re looking for a pre-sliced wholegrain variety.
For this coffee get-together, the two options below offer different ways to serve: individual bars and a pack of sliced Dutch breakfast cake. Choose the format you’d like to offer, and check the current label for both products if nutritional values or allergens will influence your choice.
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An option if you want to offer individual portions rather than slices from one pre-sliced pack. The pack contains 250 g; check the nutritional information per 100 g and per bar before comparing the sugar claim with other varieties.
According to the product information, this variety contains rye and gluten and may contain nuts and milk. If anyone has dietary restrictions, always read the current label.
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The pre-sliced format is handy for serving without any cutting, and the pack contains 485 g. Check the pack to see how many slices it contains, and compare the nutritional values per 100 g if you’re also considering other varieties.
The product information lists rye and gluten. If guests have dietary restrictions, check the current allergen information before serving.
Plan based on the number of slices or portions you want to offer, not just the pack weight. Peijnenburg lists 12 slices for its 345 g pack of Naturel Gesneden; Albert Heijn lists 16 portions of 30 g for its 485 g pack of AH Naturel Gesneden. Also decide whether you want to keep some slices back for a second round.
Not automatically: rye is a gluten-containing grain and is found in Dutch breakfast cake. Ask your guest what they need and only choose a suitable product after checking the current ingredients and allergen information on that pack.
No. ‘Wholegrain’ doesn’t describe the sugar content of the variety you’ve chosen. Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and per portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 11.2 g of sugars per 30 g slice as a general figure for Dutch breakfast cake, but for the product you buy, the label on that specific pack is what matters.
No, don’t assume that based on the product name. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory. If this matters to your choice, check the information for the exact product or ask the manufacturer.
Store an opened pack in a cool, dark, dry place in a well-sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve bought.
