Choose sourdough ontbijtkoek only if the baker can confirm that the ontbijtkoek itself is made with sourdough; selling sourdough bread doesn’t tell you anything about how it’s made. If what matters most is a treat to share on Sinterklaas Eve, you can also choose a regular ontbijtkoek based on its flavour and size. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients and allergens for that exact product.
You want an ontbijtkoek for Sinterklaas Eve that’s demonstrably made with sourdough, and you can ask a baker about the recipe beforehand. A mention of sourdough bread doesn’t confirm how the ontbijtkoek is made.
You want to serve slices of ontbijtkoek with coffee or tea. In that case, the flavour, pack size and choice of sliced or unsliced loaf all matter.
You pay attention to ingredients, allergens or nutritional information. Check the details on the exact pack: a product name such as ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you everything about its ingredients.
Choose this option: if the sourdough method is essential and the baker can confirm it’s used for the ontbijtkoek itself.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to ask about the recipe, allergens and availability of that specific ontbijtkoek.
Choose this option: if flavour, ease of serving and being able to read the pack information matter more to you than sourdough.
Bear in mind: without product-specific confirmation, plain, wholemeal and luxury varieties can’t be considered sourdough ontbijtkoek.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough in the ontbijtkoek | Ask the baker whether the ontbijtkoek itself is made with sourdough and what ingredients it contains. | If sourdough is the reason I’m choosing this ontbijtkoek, I don’t want to draw conclusions from the bread selection. Around 33% of consumers put confirmation of sourdough first. |
| Flavour and sharing | Check the flavour and whether the ontbijtkoek is sliced or unsliced. | If I’m serving slices at Sinterklaas Eve, I want a flavour and cut that suit the people I’m sharing it with. This sharing occasion is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information and, if needed, compare sugars, fibre and salt per 100 g on the exact pack. | I want to know in advance what I’m serving my guests, especially when ingredients or allergens matter. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Size and availability | Check the pack size, slice size and whether the variety is available at the shop in question. | If I want to serve the ontbijtkoek without any extra preparation, I need to be able to choose a suitable size. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
A baker who sells sourdough bread doesn’t necessarily use sourdough in their ontbijtkoek. A bakery search tool with a sourdough bread filter doesn’t confirm the recipe either.
Before buying, ask how the ontbijtkoek itself is made and what ingredients it contains, including allergens and any baker’s salt used.
These words don’t replace the ingredients list or nutritional information. For example, Jumbo lists rye, wheat and gluten as allergens in its Ontbijtkoek Naturel 280 g.
Check the allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen, including any ‘may contain’ statement, and compare nutritional values on the same per-100 g basis.
Lidl describes its luxury ontbijtkoek as an in-store-only item. You’ll need to plan your purchase differently than you would for a product you can order online.
Check availability at the shop in question and read the label of the variety you choose when you buy it.
Otherwise, you may need to make an extra trip to the shop or choose an alternative.
These brands and own-label ranges offer a starting point for comparing regular ontbijtkoek; a brand name alone doesn’t confirm that a specific product is made with sourdough.
A branded ontbijtkoek range with a variety of flavours and sizes at Albert Heijn and PLUS.
An own-label range that includes plain unsliced and organic plain ontbijtkoek in the selection shown.
An own-label brand whose product information for Ontbijtkoek Naturel 280 g lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Offers luxury ontbijtkoek in varieties such as apple and cinnamon, and nut.
Koek & Bakker offers, among other things, sliced wholemeal ontbijtkoek and unsliced luxury varieties with pearl sugar or ginger.
An own-label range that includes sliced and unsliced plain ontbijtkoek, wholemeal varieties and ontbijtkoek bars.
No. Sourdough bread tells you nothing about the recipe for a separate ontbijtkoek. Ask the baker specifically how that ontbijtkoek is made and what ingredients and allergens it contains.
You can’t assume that every ontbijtkoek does. The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the pack or ask the baker which salt was used in the ontbijtkoek in question.
For pre-packed ontbijtkoek, read the allergen information on the label. For unpackaged ontbijtkoek, the seller must make this information available in another way, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority; ask before buying. Also check for any ‘may contain’ statements for the exact variety.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your ontbijtkoek. For Jumbo Ontbijtkoek Naturel 280 g, Jumbo advises storing it in a cool, dry place; seal an opened pack tightly to help prevent it drying out.
