Who is this choice for?

Sourdough fans

If the starter used is the reason you’re looking for spiced breakfast cake, ask what raising agent was used. A spiced flavour or artisanal appearance won’t tell you how the cake was leavened.

Label checkers

If you choose a sweet evening snack based on wholemeal ingredients, fibre, sugars, salt or slice size, compare the nutritional information for the exact varieties.

Convenience seekers

If you want to share the cake straight away during your TV evening, sliced or individually wrapped regular varieties are worth a look. Convenience alone tells you nothing about whether sourdough was used.

What should you look for when choosing?

Spiced breakfast cake made with confirmed sourdough

A good fit if: you’re specifically looking for a cake whose baker or product information confirms that a sourdough starter was used.

Trade-off: you may need to ask the baker; according to Uit Paulines Keuken, building your own starter takes up to two weeks, depending on the conditions.

Regular spiced breakfast cake

A good fit if: you’re mainly looking for a packaged cake, perhaps pre-sliced, that’s ready to share.

Trade-off: a regular variety, or one with an artisanal appearance, isn’t necessarily made with a sourdough starter.

First decide whether sourdough is essential for you. Then, for a cake that meets that requirement, check the serving size, label and packaging format.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Confirmed sourdough Look for a clear mention of a sourdough starter as the raising agent, or ask the baker how the cake was leavened. If I’m choosing sourdough specifically, I want to know whether a starter was actually used. This certainty is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Nutritional information and serving size Compare sugars, salt and fibre per 100 g; also check the weight of a slice or serving. For a sweet evening snack, I want to be able to judge how much I’m having per slice and how the varieties differ. Nutritional information is the main priority for around 33% of consumers.
Easy to share Check whether the cake is sliced, unsliced or individually portioned. If the cake needs to go straight on the table, I don’t want to have to slice it first. This convenience matters most to around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Taking an artisanal appearance as proof of sourdough

    Albert Heijn describes sourdough as a starter containing natural yeasts and lactic acid bacteria. A dark colour or spiced flavour won’t tell you which raising agent is in the cake.

    Check the product information for a mention of sourdough, or ask the baker which starter was used.

  • Reading only the front of the packaging

    A claim such as wholemeal or no added sugars doesn’t give you the full nutritional picture or serving size by itself. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises checking the back of the packaging for ingredients and nutritional values.

    Compare the nutritional information for specific varieties side by side, both per 100 g and per serving.

  • Assuming rye or a dark colour means a cake is gluten-free

    The plain variety from PLUS that was checked contains rye flour and states that it may contain wheat, barley and oats. Colour isn’t an indication of a product’s allergens.

    If you need a gluten-free variety, check the claim and allergen information on the exact packaging.

  • Assuming all spiced breakfast cake contains iodine

    According to the Dutch Bakery Centre, using iodised baker’s salt isn’t a legal requirement. So the name spiced breakfast cake doesn’t tell you which salt was used.

    Check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer which salt was used if this matters to your choice.

Brands and shops to explore

These names are useful starting points for regular spiced breakfast cake and comparing labels; always check any sourdough claim for the specific variety.

Peijnenburg

A spiced breakfast cake brand with plain, wholemeal and ginger varieties, among others.

  • For the sliced wholemeal variety checked, Peijnenburg states that it is 100% wholemeal and contains 5,1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The product information for this variety lists raising agents and doesn’t confirm that a sourdough starter was used.

Albert Heijn

A supermarket with own-label and branded varieties, including sliced and unsliced spiced breakfast cake.

  • The range includes wholemeal and organic varieties, among others, so you can compare different packaging formats.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging of the cake you choose.

Jumbo

A supermarket with regular spiced breakfast cake in different varieties and packaging formats.

  • Jumbo stocks wholemeal spiced breakfast cake and individually portioned varieties, among others.
  • For the variety you want, check the ingredients and availability at your local shop or in your delivery area.

Koek & Bakker

An ALDI brand with sliced wholemeal spiced breakfast cake, among other products.

  • ALDI lists a pre-sliced wholemeal variety weighing 485 g.
  • The packaging format doesn’t confirm that this variety was made with sourdough.

PLUS

A supermarket with own-label spiced breakfast cake, including plain, wholemeal and sliced varieties.

  • The sliced plain variety checked lists 36 g of sugars per 100 g, so you can compare this figure with the nutritional information for another specific variety.
  • The same variety lists rye flour and raising agents E500/E450; this doesn’t confirm that a sourdough starter was used.

Spiced breakfast cake to share straight away on Joybuy

This sliced spiced breakfast cake is a good fit if you want to share it during your TV evening without having to cut it yourself. If you’re specifically looking for a cake made with a sourdough starter, first check whether the product information confirms this.

g'woon wholemeal spiced breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

g'woon wholemeal spiced breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

This sliced cake is an option if you want to share pieces straight away during your TV evening.

If you need a confirmed sourdough starter, check which raising agent was used before choosing. Compare the nutritional information on the packaging for the serving size you want.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if spiced breakfast cake is made with sourdough?

Check whether the product information lists a sourdough starter as the raising agent, or ask the baker. According to Albert Heijn, a sourdough starter is made from flour and water with natural yeasts and lactic acid bacteria; a dark colour or the word artisanal doesn’t confirm that one was used.

Is a variety with no added sugars automatically suitable for my TV evening?

No, that claim doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value or the size of your portion. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the exact varieties, including sugars per 100 g and how much you plan to have.

Where can I check for gluten and other allergens in spiced breakfast cake?

Read the allergen information on the exact packaging. The plain spiced breakfast cake from PLUS that was checked contains rye flour and states that it may contain wheat, barley and oats; the ingredients of another variety may differ.

Is iodised baker’s salt required in Dutch spiced breakfast cake?

No, according to the Dutch Bakery Centre, using iodised baker’s salt isn’t a legal requirement. If you want to know which salt a particular spiced breakfast cake contains, check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer.

How should I store spiced breakfast cake after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your cake and seal it well after opening. For a plain variety that was checked, PLUS advises storing the cake in a cool, dry, dark place.