Strict sugar checkers
You only want to choose Dutch spiced cake as sugar-free if its sugars per 100 g meet the threshold. A name featuring ‘zero’ isn’t enough.
Who is this for?
Hosts who want to hand out portions
You want to be able to put something out quickly while the game is in progress. Individually wrapped slices take less serving effort than a whole cake; with a sliced pack, you portion out the slices yourself.
Shoppers choosing where to buy
You’re looking for a pack that suits your usual supermarket and comparing the nutrition information per 100 g, even when the portion sizes differ.
What should you look for when choosing?
If sugar-free is a must, check the sugars per 100 g first. Then look at the ingredients and choose a pack that suits the number of players and how you want to serve it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free or just a sugar claim | Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the sugar-free threshold at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If I genuinely want a sugar-free option, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘zero’. Around 30% of consumers put this sugar check first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and warnings for the variant you’ve chosen. For its plain variant with no added sugars and 9 slices, Peijnenburg lists ingredients including rye flour, chicory root fibre and xylitol. | If certain ingredients matter to my guests, I want to know what I’m putting on the table. Around 30% of consumers prioritise checking the ingredients. |
| Handing out portions | Check whether the slices are individually wrapped or come in a sliced pack, and how many portions you need. | Once the game is under way, I want to be able to hand out portions without having to cut up the cake first. Around 20% of consumers put ease of serving first. |
| Pack and shop | Check the pack size and whether the product is available at your chosen shop; read the label for the variant you’ve selected there too. | I want to find a pack that’s large enough for my group and available at my usual shop. Around 20% of consumers put this first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘zero’ means ‘sugar-free’
‘No added sugars’ doesn’t automatically mean that a Dutch spiced cake falls below the sugar-free threshold either.
If you have a strict requirement, compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s sugar-free threshold of no more than 0.5 g.
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Reading only the front of the pack
Different variants may contain different ingredients. A sugar claim doesn’t tell you which sweeteners or grains have been used.
Check the current ingredients list, allergen information and nutrition information for the exact variant you’re buying.
Brands to consider
Peijnenburg
Peijnenburg offers Dutch spiced cake variants with no added sugars, including sliced and individually wrapped options.
- For its plain variant with 9 slices, Peijnenburg lists rye flour, chicory root fibre and xylitol.
- Check the sugars per 100 g for your chosen variant before calling it sugar-free.
Snelle Jelle
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list the Zero spiced cake as a 4-pack.
- A 4-pack gives you a set number of portions for the game table.
- Spiced cake isn’t the same product as Dutch spiced breakfast cake; check the product type and nutrition information if you’re looking for a specific option.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists a sliced AH Ontbijtkoek zero.
- The sliced format lets you serve as many slices as you like.
- Albert Heijn advises checking the pack, as ingredients and nutritional values may change.
Koek & Bakker
ALDI lists a sliced 485 g Koek & Bakker Ontbijtkoek Zero.
- ALDI describes this version as pre-sliced and containing no added sugars.
- ‘No added sugars’ doesn’t confirm that the cake contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Lidl
Lidl lists 485 g Ontbijtkoek zero as an in-store product.
- The stated pack size helps you work out how much cake to buy for your group.
- When buying, check the pack’s nutrition information and ingredients if the sugar content or a particular ingredient is important to your choice.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No, that claim doesn’t prove that the cake is sugar-free. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the sugar-free threshold at no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, so check ‘of which sugars’ on the pack.
Can I rely on ‘zero’ if I’m looking for sugar-free Dutch spiced cake?
No, use ‘zero’ to identify a variant, not as a substitute for checking the nutrition information. Check how much sugar per 100 g the cake you want to buy contains.
Why do the ingredients matter in Dutch spiced cake with no added sugars?
Because the grains and sweeteners used may still affect your choice, even in this variant. For its plain variant with 9 slices, Peijnenburg lists rye flour, chicory root fibre and xylitol; if you’re catering for guests with specific dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re serving.
Does all Dutch spiced cake contain iodine from baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the product category alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt, but that doesn’t tell you anything about the composition of a particular Dutch spiced cake. Check the label or ask the manufacturer which salt is used if this is relevant to your choice.