An egg cake can provide carbohydrates around a long training session, but it may not be practical to eat while running. Choose a chocolate version mainly for its flavour, and try it at a time you’ve tested. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per cake. According to product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn, the chocolate versions discussed are not confirmed as containing dark chocolate or a high cocoa content.
If you’re training for a marathon, you’ll want to know how many carbohydrates an egg cake adds to your nutrition plan and whether it’s comfortable to eat at the time you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses carbohydrate intake during prolonged exercise.
You’re looking for an egg cake with a dark chocolate flavour and want to be able to tell from the packaging whether it contains dark chocolate, cocoa powder or a differently formulated coating.
You want to choose a suitable portion before running, or you need to check the ingredients and allergens, such as wheat, egg, milk and soya, on the label.
First, decide when you want to eat the egg cake. Then check the amount per cake, the ingredients and the nutritional information per 100 g. A chocolate name alone doesn’t tell you whether the flavour actually comes from dark chocolate.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates and timing | Compare the carbohydrates per cake with your tested nutrition plan. Jumbo lists 24.5 g of carbohydrates per 39 g chocolate egg cake. | When I’m running for a long time, I want to work out in advance whether I can eat a cake easily and how it fits into my carbohydrate plan. For around 42% of consumers, this planning comes first. |
| Digestion and allergens | Check the portion size and read the current label for ingredients and relevant allergens. Try a new eating routine during training first. | Just before running, I don’t want to choose a portion that doesn’t agree with me, and if I have an allergy, I need to be able to check the ingredients. Digestion or allergens are the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Dark chocolate flavour | Look for an explicit mention of dark chocolate and check the cocoa information. Also compare sugars and fats per 100 g. | If I’m looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour, I want to know what the chocolate coating actually contains. Around 25% of consumers say this clarity is their top priority. |
Jumbo’s product information describes its chocolate egg cake as having a cocoa-based decoration and low-fat cocoa powder, without specifying a high cocoa percentage. Albert Heijn also describes the cocoa coating on Gulden Krakeling’s chocolate-filled egg cake as cocoa-based; the stated 1.55% low-fat cocoa powder refers to the product as a whole.
If a dark flavour is essential, check that the packaging explicitly mentions dark chocolate and gives a suitable cocoa percentage.
One cake may be considerably smaller than another. Jumbo lists its Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met Melklaagje at around 15.5 g per piece, compared with 39 g for the Jumbo chocolate egg cake discussed here. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g first.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check what’s in the portion you plan to eat.
A chocolate or wholemeal version may differ from the egg cake you’re used to in its fat, fibre and portion size. What feels comfortable before exercise varies from person to person.
Try the cake, portion and timing during a training session before relying on them in a race.
Jumbo’s product page says that the chocolate egg cake discussed is no longer part of its online range. The ingredients and nutritional information on an older product page may also differ from those on a pack you buy now.
Check the current packaging and product listing when you buy.
Jumbo provides product information for plain, wholemeal and chocolate egg cakes. The chocolate version on the product page consulted isn’t described as a dark chocolate or high-cocoa egg cake.
Albert Heijn lists its own wholemeal egg cakes, as well as a separate chocolate-filled egg cake from Gulden Krakeling. These products offer different points of comparison for nutritional information and chocolate flavour.
Bolletje’s Brosse Eierkoek met Melklaagje is a crunchy egg cake with a milk coating, not a confirmed dark chocolate version.
An egg cake can be part of a nutrition plan you’ve tested in advance, but it doesn’t automatically replace a sports gel. For endurance exercise lasting 1 to 2.5 hours, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 30 to 60 g of rapidly absorbed carbohydrates per hour. During training, try eating and digesting a cake on the move, and see how it works with your drinks.
No, the name alone doesn’t confirm that it contains dark chocolate or has a high cocoa content. Jumbo’s product information describes its chocolate egg cake as having a cocoa-based decoration, without specifying a high cocoa percentage. Albert Heijn lists a cocoa-based coating and 1.55% low-fat cocoa powder in the product as a whole for Gulden Krakeling’s chocolate-filled egg cake. Check the ingredients and any stated cocoa percentage on the packaging.
Choose a time and portion you’ve tried during training. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises having a meal with around 500 ml of fluid about two to three hours before exercise. If you eat closer to your session, pay particular attention to the portion size and how well you tolerate the cake.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that 14 allergens must be declared on the label. Wheat, egg, milk and soya may be relevant in egg cakes.
