If you’re specifically looking for sourdough
An explicit mention of sourdough in the breakfast cake’s product information is essential for you. An artisanal look or a long baking time isn’t enough to confirm it.
Who might find these choices relevant?
If you want something easy to share on the go
You want to take portions with you and share them without having to cut a large cake during the journey. Individually wrapped portions and pre-sliced pieces each offer a different kind of convenience.
If you want to compare labels
You look beyond the front of the pack: the nutrition information per 100 g, the ingredients and the allergen information all help you decide what to take with you.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether sourdough is a must-have. Then compare the packaging and labels of the breakfast cakes you’re considering for your car journey.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough | Check whether the information for that specific cake mentions sourdough or a sourdough starter; if necessary, ask the manufacturer. | If I specifically want to take a sourdough cake with me, an artisanal name alone isn’t enough. Verifiable sourdough is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Portions and packaging | Check whether the cake is individually wrapped, pre-sliced or unsliced, and how much each portion contains. | When travelling, I want to share the cake without cutting it or having to open the rest straight away. Convenient portions come first for around 42% of consumers. |
| Nutrition information and allergens | Compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g; also read the ingredients and allergen information for the version you’ve chosen. | If the ingredients or allergens determine my choice, I don’t want to rely on a claim on the front of the pack. Around 33% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming an artisanal name means sourdough
A long baking time or a spicy flavour doesn’t tell you which raising agent was used in the breakfast cake. You could end up choosing a standard version when sourdough is your main priority.
Look for an explicit mention of sourdough or sourdough starter in the product information, or ask the manufacturer how the cake is made.
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Relying only on a sugar or fibre claim
The front of the pack doesn’t show the full nutritional picture. A statement such as ‘no added sugars’ doesn’t replace the sugar content shown in the nutrition table.
Compare similar breakfast cakes per 100 g, then check the figures per portion if you want to work out how much to take with you.
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Skipping the allergen information
Ingredients vary between versions. For example, the product information for Bolletje sliced plain breakfast cake lists rye, wheat and lupin, and warns that it may contain nuts.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact version you’re buying.
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Leaving an opened cake in the sun
An improperly sealed pack and warm conditions can be inconvenient if you want to spread a large cake over several days of travel.
Seal the pack after use, store the cake somewhere dry and out of the sun, and don’t eat it if it has gone mouldy.
Brands to compare
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers breakfast cake in portion packs, among other options.
- According to Peijnenburg, its 5-pack Naturel zonder toegevoegde suikers contains five individually wrapped bars of 27 g each.
- That packaging doesn’t tell you whether it’s sourdough; check separately for an explicit mention of sourdough.
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes several types of breakfast cake, including sliced versions and varieties with different ingredients or flavours.
- You can compare the packaging and ingredients of individual Jumbo products.
- Don’t assume that a specific cake is made with sourdough just because it’s part of the range.
Koek & Bakker
This ALDI own brand offers pre-sliced breakfast cake, among other products.
- ALDI describes its sliced zero version as pre-sliced and containing no added sugars.
- For this version too, check the full nutrition table and ingredients.
PLUS
The own-brand range includes a larger pack of sliced plain breakfast cake.
- Pre-sliced pieces mean there’s no need to cut the cake during your journey.
- PLUS’s product information lists 36 g of sugars per 100 g for this plain version. If sugar content matters to you, compare the nutrition information on the specific pack.
Bolletje
Bolletje offers a 500 g pack of sliced plain breakfast cake.
- The cake is already sliced before you take it with you.
- The product information lists rye, wheat and lupin, and says it may contain nuts; a long baking time doesn’t confirm that it’s sourdough.
Breakfast cake for the road at Joybuy
These breakfast cakes offer different packaging options for a car journey. Don’t consider any of the three a sourdough breakfast cake unless the product information explicitly says so.
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Snelle Jelle Breakfast Cake Less Sugar-Free 250 g
An option if you want to take breakfast cake with you on the go. Check the pack to see whether the cake is individually wrapped, what the nutrition information per 100 g says and whether sourdough is mentioned.
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g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g
The sliced format suits anyone who wants to take pieces with them without cutting the cake during the journey. Check the allergen information on the pack and compare the nutrition information per 100 g if the ingredients matter to your choice.
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g'woon breakfast cake, 6 pieces
The pack of six suits anyone who wants to divide the cake between fellow travellers before setting off. Check whether the pieces are individually wrapped, and read the allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen.
Frequently asked questions
Does a long baking time mean breakfast cake is sourdough?
No. Baking time doesn’t confirm that sourdough was used to make the breakfast cake. Look for an explicit mention of sourdough or sourdough starter in the product information, or ask the manufacturer.
Does breakfast cake in the Netherlands have to contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the NBC’s explanation of the Baker’s Salt and Iodine Covenant, using iodised baker’s salt isn’t a legal requirement. So don’t assume that a product contains iodised salt just because it’s in this category; check the product information or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.
Can I assume standard breakfast cake is gluten-free?
No, not unless the specific version is explicitly labelled gluten-free. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
How should I store opened breakfast cake during a multi-day car journey?
Seal the pack tightly after use and store the cake somewhere dry and out of the sun. Follow the storage instructions on the pack, and don’t eat the cake if you see mould.