Who is this choice relevant to?

Dark chocolate lovers

Want to choose chocolate with a stated cocoa percentage for their Advent treats, rather than relying on the word ‘chocolate’.

Makers of little Advent treats

Want to cut egg cakes into smaller pieces or decorate them, and don’t mind an extra preparation step. Recipes from Jumbo and Albert Heijn show how to finish egg cakes with dark chocolate or a dark chocolate topping.

Shoppers who need to check allergens

Need to check both the egg cake and the chosen topping. For the egg cakes and chocolate products described, egg, wheat, milk and soya are among the allergens to look out for; always refer to the labels on the specific products.

What should you look for when choosing?

Decorate a plain egg cake yourself

Choose this option: if you want to select the chocolate separately and the stated cocoa percentage matters to you. Jumbo suggests using melted dark chocolate to decorate egg cakes.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to buy the chocolate separately and allow time to decorate the egg cakes. If you use dark chocolate sprinkles or chocolate spread, as in an Albert Heijn recipe, the ingredients will depend on the topping you choose.

Ready-made chocolate egg cake

Choose this option: if you don’t want to decorate the egg cakes yourself and the ingredients in the specific product suit your preferences.

Bear in mind: the word ‘chocolate’ doesn’t necessarily mean the product has a high cocoa content. For example, Albert Heijn describes one chocolate-filled option as an egg cake with a cocoa-based chocolate substitute and cream filling.

What to consider What to check when buying Who does this matter to?
Choosing the cocoa content Compare the stated cocoa percentage of the chocolate or topping; don’t rely on the name alone when buying a filled egg cake. I want to choose dark chocolate for my treats with care, and know what cocoa percentage is stated on the packaging. For around 42% of consumers, being able to check the cocoa content would be the top priority.
Making smaller portions Check the number and size of the egg cakes, and decide whether you want to cut or decorate them. For an Advent occasion, I want to be able to make little treats without preparing a new recipe for each portion. For around 33% of consumers, making portions like these would come first.
Ingredients and allergens Read the latest labels on both the egg cake and the topping, including allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination. If certain ingredients aren’t suitable for me, I need to be able to check both components before combining them. For around 25% of consumers, checking the labels would be their main priority when shopping.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘chocolate’ or ‘extra dark’ tells you the cocoa percentage

    A flavour or product description isn’t a substitute for the percentage on the packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, no specific cocoa percentage is set for the terms ‘bitter’ and ‘extra bitter’.

    Compare the percentage on the chocolate you actually choose. For a filled egg cake, check the ingredients in the filling or decoration too.

  • Reading only the egg cake’s label

    The topping is a separate product with its own ingredients and possible allergens. The egg cakes and chocolate products described show that what you need to look out for varies from product to product.

    Check both packages before use, even if you’ve made the same combination before.

  • Using an old product page as your shopping list

    Jumbo says that two specific chocolate egg cakes are no longer part of its online range. Albert Heijn notes that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change.

    Check the current product page and packaging before planning your treats. If your preferred ready-made option isn’t available, you can use plain egg cakes and choose a separate topping instead.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn describes plain egg cakes and shares a recipe for treats with dark chocolate sprinkles and dark chocolate spread.

  • Plain egg cakes give you a separate base if you want to choose the topping yourself.
  • One chocolate-filled option is described as an egg cake with a cocoa-based chocolate substitute and cream filling; check the packaging if the cocoa content matters to you.

Jumbo

Jumbo suggests decorating egg cakes with melted dark chocolate in one of its egg cake recipes.

  • The recipe gives you a practical way to decorate a plain egg cake yourself.
  • Two specific pages for Jumbo chocolate egg cakes say that the products are no longer part of its online range.

Verkade

Verkade is relevant here as an example of dark chocolate sold separately, rather than as an egg cake brand.

  • Verkade states that its cooking chocolate contains 71% cocoa and Verkade Puur contains 52%. The brand provides melting instructions for its cooking chocolate.
  • These percentages apply to the chocolate products mentioned, not to every Verkade bar or to the finished Advent treat.

Bolletje

Bolletje is a possible egg cake base if you want to choose the chocolate topping separately.

  • For its Brosse Eierkoek, Bolletje provides product information to help you assess the base separately.
  • For this product, Bolletje lists egg, cereals containing gluten, milk, wheat and soya among the allergens. Check the label on your chosen topping too.

Chocolate on its own at Joybuy

These bars are options for the chocolate part of Advent treats you put together yourself, not for the egg cake base. Choose your egg cakes separately and check that the chocolate you select is suitable for the way you want to decorate them.

Lindt Excellence 78% Cocoa, 100 g bar

Lindt Excellence 78% Cocoa, 100 g

If you want to choose the chocolate for egg cakes bought separately, this bar states that it contains 78% cocoa.

Size: 100 g. Check that the bar is suitable for the finish you want, and read the latest label if you have allergies.

View on Joybuy
Lindt Excellence dark chocolate with 70% cocoa, 100 g bar

Lindt Excellence dark chocolate, 70% cocoa, 100 g

This bar is sold separately and states that it contains 70% cocoa, so you can choose the chocolate to go with a separate egg cake base.

Size: 100 g. Check the usage instructions before decorating, and if you have allergies, read the latest packaging, including any warnings about possible traces.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘dark’ tell you how much cocoa a chocolate contains?

No. If you’re choosing based on cocoa content, you’ll need the percentage for the specific product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says there is no set cocoa percentage for descriptions such as ‘bitter’ and ‘extra bitter’, so compare the packaging rather than relying on the flavour name alone.

How do you decorate plain egg cakes with dark chocolate?

You can decorate them with melted dark chocolate, as Jumbo suggests in its egg cake recipe. Choose chocolate with ingredients that suit your preferences and follow the melting instructions for that specific product; don’t assume every bar melts or handles in the same way.

Which labels should you check for an Advent treat made with egg cake and chocolate?

Check the packaging for both the egg cake and the chocolate or other topping. For the products described, egg, wheat, milk and soya are among the things to look out for. Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the products you’re actually using.

Can you rely on the ingredients and availability shown on an old product page?

No. Check the current packaging and product page before you shop. Albert Heijn says that product information can change, while Jumbo notes that two specific chocolate egg cakes are no longer part of its online range.