Choose a ready-made chocolate egg cake if a chocolate accent is all you need. But don’t rely on the name alone if you need demonstrably dark chocolate or a specific cocoa percentage. Finishing the cakes yourself with separately selected dark chocolate gives you control over the chocolate component, but it takes preparation and you’ll need allergen information for the finished cakes.
If the type of chocolate or a minimum cocoa content is part of your catering plan, check the chocolate component itself. Jumbo suggests finishing the cakes with melted dark chocolate; a chocolate decoration alone doesn’t prove a particular cocoa percentage.
When you have a set number of guests, the number of items and portions per pack can help you work out what to order. Albert Heijn lists 12 portions in its 360 g pack of plain egg cakes; Jumbo shows packs of 10 plain or 10 mini egg cakes.
If you take the cakes out of their packaging to serve them unpackaged, make sure allergen information is accessible for every variety on offer. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what information must be provided to guests for unpackaged foods.
First decide whether ‘dark’ means a chocolate accent or a verifiable dark chocolate component. Then choose how you’ll serve the cakes and check the quantities and allergen information for each finished portion.
Best when: you want to serve an egg cake with a chocolate accent without finishing it yourself, and a specific cocoa percentage isn’t a requirement.
Consider: cocoa or chocolate decoration doesn’t necessarily mean the chocolate is dark. Check the current packaging and availability; Jumbo says its chocolate egg cake is no longer part of its online range.
Best when: you want to specify the type of chocolate or the minimum cocoa content in advance. Jumbo suggests finishing egg cakes with melted dark chocolate.
Consider: finishing the cakes takes time, and the information for the cakes you serve must include the chocolate you use.
Best when: you mainly want straightforward serving with a pre-countable number of items, and chocolate isn’t essential.
Consider: this option won’t give you the dark chocolate flavour you’re after. You’ll still need product-specific allergen information for plain egg cakes.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate flavour | Check the type of chocolate and, if required, the stated minimum cocoa content of the chocolate used. | I want to be able to explain to guests why the egg cake has a dark chocolate finish, rather than just a chocolate decoration. For around 40% of consumers, being able to verify the type of chocolate is the top priority. |
| Portions and serving | Compare the number of items or portions per pack with the number of guests expected, and check that the product will be available for your serving date. | For a busy coffee break, I want to know in advance how many cakes I can hand out, without having to do much finishing on site. Around 30% of consumers give this kind of portion planning top priority. |
| Allergens at the buffet | Check the latest information for the exact egg cake and any toppings. If you’re serving them unpackaged, make allergen information accessible. | If I take cakes out of their packaging and put them on a platter, guests need to be able to find out which allergens are in the variety being served. This information matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
Jumbo describes its chocolate egg cake as containing low-fat cocoa powder and cocoa-flavoured compound decoration. This doesn’t establish a minimum cocoa content or mean that the cake is labelled as containing ‘dark chocolate’.
Check the current packaging for the type of chocolate and cocoa percentage if these details are important to your choice.
A product page doesn’t confirm that you can order the quantities you need. Jumbo says its chocolate egg cake is no longer part of its online range.
Check availability for the relevant location and serving date before finalising your quantities.
The egg cakes reviewed list several allergens. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about relevant allergens must be available to guests when unpackaged foods are served.
Keep accessible information for every variety you serve and follow the NVWA’s requirements if you provide the information verbally.
Adding chocolate yourself changes the ingredients of the egg cake as served. The allergen declaration or warnings on the chocolate you choose may differ from those for the cake itself.
Keep the information for both products and prepare allergen information for the finished portion.
Plain AH egg cakes can be a good base if you want to choose and add the chocolate yourself.
Jumbo offers plain and mini egg cakes, and suggests finishing them with melted dark chocolate.
Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek as a light, sugar-dusted egg cake.
No. A chocolate accent doesn’t confirm that dark chocolate has been used. Jumbo lists cocoa powder and cocoa-flavoured compound decoration for its chocolate egg cake. Check the current description for the exact variety to confirm the type of chocolate and, if it matters to your catering plan, the minimum cocoa content.
Yes, provided you arrange the required allergen information for the egg cakes on offer. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the information that must be provided about 14 allergens for unpackaged foods. If you provide the information verbally, certain conditions apply, including having the information immediately available and displaying a clear notice for guests.
Check the current packaging for the allergens in each exact product variety, even if you’re serving several types of egg cake together. Plain AH egg cakes list egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya, among other allergens. The chocolate egg cake described by Jumbo lists egg, gluten, milk, soya and wheat, and carries a warning that it may contain nuts.
Keep the product information for both the egg cake and the chocolate you choose, and record the allergens in the finished portion. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority provides an allergen checklist for this purpose; also check the information on the packaging you actually use.
