Homemade loaf cakes for an office breakfast or afternoon break: which to choose and how many to plan
Marble, pear, raspberry, chocolate chip, lemon, pistachio, carrot cake or gluten-free banana bread: which loaf cake to choose, how many to plan per person, and the best travel cakes in Paris.
For an office breakfast or afternoon break, plan one slice of loaf cake per person, i.e. one loaf cake of 5 to 6 portions for 5 people. Mix at least one chocolate flavour, one fruity flavour and, if someone avoids gluten, a gluten-free banana bread. At L'Écrin Traiteur, each homemade loaf cake costs €13.90 excl. VAT, and delivery to the office is from 6:30 am in Paris and Île-de-France.
Which loaf cake to choose for a breakfast or an afternoon break?
| Loaf cake | What it brings | Price excl. VAT (5 to 6 portions) | Allergens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate chip | The most requested at the office; 64% cocoa dark chocolate, denser | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs |
| Marble | Vanilla and cocoa; the classic everyone agrees on | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs |
| Lemon poppy seed | Fresh lemon zest and poppy seeds; the lightest on the palate | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs |
| Pear | Pieces of fresh pear; the least sweet on the palate | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs |
| Raspberry | Tangy; livens up a sweet tray | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs |
| Pistachio | Pistachio paste and crushed pieces; for a polished welcome | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs, tree nuts |
| Carrot cake | Grated carrot and mild spices; a change from chocolate | €13.90 | Gluten, milk, eggs |
| Gluten-free banana bread | Ripe bananas, rice flour and ground almonds; not very sweet | €21.90 | Milk, eggs; contains almond |
All our loaf cakes are vegetarian and arrive sliced on a tray: they are served without a knife or plate.
Which assortment for which moment?
- Breakfast: marble and lemon poppy seed, which go well with pastries and coffee.
- Team afternoon break: chocolate chip, raspberry and carrot cake.
- Client welcome: pistachio, to avoid if a guest is allergic to tree nuts.
- Team with someone who avoids gluten: add a gluten-free banana bread, served like the others.
How many loaf cakes to plan and for what budget?
At breakfast, our quote rules plan 2 mini pastries and 1 petit four per person; above 20 people, the petit four becomes 1 to 2 loaf cakes of 5 to 6 portions. For an afternoon break where the loaf cake is the main sweet treat, allow 1 slice per person, so 1 loaf cake for 5. Calculation with loaf cakes at €13.90 excl. VAT and delivery at €29 excl. VAT, with a minimum order of €50 excl. VAT of products:
| People | Loaf cakes | Portions | Calculation | Total excl. VAT, delivery included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 4 | 20 to 24 | 4 × 13.90 = €55.60 + €29 | €84.60 |
| 20 | 4 | 20 to 24 | 4 × 13.90 = €55.60 + €29 | €84.60 |
| 50 | 10 | 50 to 60 | 10 × 13.90 = €139 + €29 | €168 |
For 10 people, 2 loaf cakes are enough in number of portions (€27.80) but remain below the €50 excl. VAT minimum: 4 loaf cakes make 2 slices per person and four flavours, or the 2 loaf cakes are added to a breakfast. Replacing a loaf cake with the gluten-free banana bread adds €8 excl. VAT.
The best travel cakes in Paris
The "gâteau de voyage" (travel cake) is a cake that keeps and travels well. A few benchmarks in the Paris region:
- Pierre Hermé: six cakes of 6 to 8 portions at €28 on his website, including the Ispahan (rose sponge, raspberries and lychees), the Infiniment Citron and the Mogador (passion fruit and milk chocolate).
- Yann Couvreur: several shops in Paris; on his website, the marble cake and the lemon cake at €24, the hazelnut and chocolate tonka cakes at €28.
- Nicolas Bernardé: Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF), France's top craftsman title, based at 2 place de la Liberté in La Garenne-Colombes (92), known for his travel cakes, including a "pocket cake" format in lemon-poppy seed or chocolate-caramel, according to Gault&Millau.
These houses sell in shops and online. For delivery to the office at a fixed time with a company invoice, a caterer remains simpler. And to make it yourself, here is our homemade marble cake recipe.
With L'Écrin Traiteur
Our homemade loaf cakes are delivered sliced from 6:30 am in Paris and Île-de-France, on their own or as part of an office breakfast. Order until 2 pm the day before (48 hours from 50 people), €50 minimum order (excl. VAT), quote within 24 hours with a company invoice. All our prices are on the Prices page; to order, request your quote.
Sources
- Pierre Hermé: Cakes page of the official website, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Yann Couvreur: official website, accessed 17 October 2026.
- Nicolas Bernardé: Gault&Millau, "Cakes de voyage, prêts pour l'embarquement" (Travel cakes, ready for boarding), 31 March 2022, and Time Out listing, accessed 17 October 2026.
- L'Écrin Traiteur prices, composition and quantity rules: menu and quote rules in force on 17 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many loaf cakes for 20 people?
For an afternoon break where the loaf cake is the main sweet treat, 4 loaf cakes of 5 to 6 portions, i.e. 1 slice per person. At L'Écrin Traiteur, 4 loaf cakes cost €55.60 excl. VAT, i.e. €84.60 excl. VAT delivery included. At breakfast, with pastries, 1 to 2 loaf cakes are enough above 20 people.
Which loaf cake should I choose for an office breakfast?
A marble and a lemon poppy seed go well with pastries. Add a gluten-free banana bread if someone avoids gluten, and avoid the pistachio in case of tree nut allergy.
Do you have a gluten-free loaf cake?
Yes, L'Écrin Traiteur's gluten-free banana bread, made with rice flour and ground almonds, 5 to 6 portions for €21.90 excl. VAT. It contains milk, eggs and almond.
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