Individually wrapped slices are a practical choice for an advent calendar if you want to fill each compartment straight away. If wholemeal ingredients and sugar content matter more to you, compare the nutrition information per 100 g and bear in mind that a pack of pre-sliced cake still needs to be divided up and wrapped. You could also alternate regular and wholemeal varieties across the compartments, as long as you check the ingredients in both.
If you’re filling lots of compartments, individually wrapped slices save you the time and effort of portioning and wrapping them yourself. Peijnenburg lists packs of eight or ten individually wrapped slices for its Naturel varieties. Check that each slice will fit in your calendar compartment.
If you’re choosing between a regular and a wholemeal variety, compare the ingredients and nutrition information per 100 g. The word ‘wholemeal’ alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar a spiced breakfast cake contains.
If you have allergies, it’s important to check the latest allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings. For varieties with no added sugar, check which sweetener has been used, especially if pets could get near the calendar.
First, decide whether you need a treat that will fit in the compartment without any preparation. Then compare the ingredients and nutrition information for the varieties that meet your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individually wrapped portions | Count the individually wrapped slices and check that they’ll fit in the compartments. | I want to fill each compartment without wrapping the slices myself. Around 31% of consumers prioritise individually wrapped calendar treats. |
| Wholemeal ingredients and sugar | Compare ingredients, sugar and fibre per 100 g; also check whether sweeteners have been used. | The ingredients matter more to me than a ready-to-use portion. Around 31% of consumers put wholemeal ingredients and sugar first. |
| Allergens and sweeteners | Read the latest allergen information, ‘may contain’ warnings and details of any sweeteners. | If the ingredients determine whether I can give someone a treat or keep it at home, I want to read the label first. Around 19% of consumers put this check first. |
| Pack size and where to buy | Check how many slices you need, where the variety you want is available and whether you’ll need to wrap it yourself. | I’m filling several calendars and want to know whether a larger pack will be practical. For around 19% of consumers, planning is the main consideration. |
Wholemeal tells you about the grain used, not necessarily how much sugar the product contains. PLUS lists 33.63 g of added sugar per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal spiced breakfast cake.
Compare similar varieties per 100 g and read the ingredients list as well as the nutrition information.
Pre-sliced pieces aren’t necessarily wrapped individually. If you want one treat per compartment, you may need to prepare them yourself.
Count the compartments in advance and choose a pack that suits your portioning plan.
Wrapping the slices yourself takes time and may require extra packaging.
The Peijnenburg Volkoren variety with no added sugar described here contains xylitol. PLUS includes a warning for this variety about a laxative effect if consumed in excess and a warning about animals.
Read the warnings on the latest packaging and keep any variety containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So don’t assume that spiced breakfast cake is made with iodised baker’s salt.
Check product-specific information if this ingredient matters to your choice.
Worth considering if you’re choosing between individually wrapped Naturel slices and sliced wholemeal varieties.
A retailer where you can compare regular, wholemeal and individually portioned packs.
A retailer with different types of spiced breakfast cake and related spiced cake products.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a larger pack of sliced wholemeal spiced breakfast cake.
Worth considering if you’re comparing pre-sliced wholemeal spiced breakfast cake with a separate Zero variety.
A retailer where you can compare the nutrition information for a sliced wholemeal own-brand variety.
Choose slices that the packaging says are individually wrapped. Peijnenburg lists ten 28 g slices for Naturel and eight 28 g slices for Naturel with no added sugar. Also check that the slices will fit in your calendar compartments.
No. The wholemeal label alone doesn’t determine the sugar content. PLUS lists 33.63 g of added sugar per 100 g for its sliced wholemeal spiced breakfast cake, so compare the nutrition information and ingredients of the specific products you’re considering.
Don’t assume so: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check product-specific information if this matters to your purchase.
Read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the latest packaging for the spiced breakfast cake you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires allergens to be clearly listed on the label of prepacked foods. Information for one variety doesn’t automatically apply to another.
Check whether your chosen variety contains xylitol and keep any product containing xylitol out of reach of pets. PLUS states that xylitol isn’t suitable for animals in its information about the Peijnenburg Volkoren variety with no added sugar described here. It advises contacting a vet immediately if an animal eats it.
