Vegan multipack shopper
You’re looking for snacks to keep at home, or to take to school or work. Egg and milk rule a product out for you, so check the ingredients before considering pack size.
Who is this relevant to?
Lunchbox planner
You want to divide snacks between several lunchboxes or sharing occasions without compromising on your vegan requirements.
Dutch egg-cake fan
You’re mainly after the shape and texture of a Dutch egg cake, and may be happy to bake your own so you can choose the ingredients.
What should you look for when choosing?
If you’re shopping vegan, check the ingredients first. Then decide whether to make egg-cake-style snacks yourself or choose a different ready-made product. Only once you’ve found a suitable product should pack size and the number of portions determine what works for lunchboxes or sharing.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Vegan ingredients | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information; look out for egg and milk ingredients in particular. | When I shop vegan, I want to rule out egg and milk before thinking about the number of portions. Around 42% of consumers put this ingredients check first. |
| Number of pieces and portions | Compare the number of pieces, net weight and storage instructions after opening. | For several lunchboxes, I want to know how many snacks I can portion out without buying more than I’ll use; around 33% of consumers prioritise portioning. |
| Egg-cake-style texture | Decide whether the egg-cake shape matters enough to bake your own, or whether a different kind of snack would work too. | I mainly want something that looks and feels like a Dutch egg cake, and may be willing to put in the effort to bake it myself. Around 25% of consumers say this egg-cake-style experience is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a vegetarian egg cake is vegan
The egg cakes from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Bolletje that we looked at contain egg and/or milk ingredients. So even a pack with several pieces doesn’t meet this vegan requirement.
Use the ingredients list as your first filter, and only then compare pack sizes.
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Confusing wholegrain with vegan
According to Jumbo, its wholegrain Jumbo egg cakes contain free-range egg, milk protein and whole milk powder, as well as wholemeal wheat flour.
Consider wholegrain and vegan as separate product features; check the ingredients to see whether a product is vegan.
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Relying only on older online information
Ingredients and allergen information can change. So if egg or milk rules out a product for you, an older product page isn’t enough.
Check the label on the pack you actually receive, too.
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Choosing a large pack without a plan for using it
More pieces are only useful if the quantity suits your lunchboxes and sharing occasions. Once opened, the storage instructions on the pack also matter.
Count how many portions you need and follow the instructions for sealing and storing the pack.
Brands and product examples
These examples show why a convenient pack size or a different kind of egg cake doesn’t necessarily mean a product is suitable for vegans.
Albert Heijn
AH Dutch egg cakes are an example of a pack labelled as containing 12 portions of 30 g.
- The stated number of portions makes it easier to plan for sharing.
- According to Albert Heijn, this product contains 20% free-range egg, whole milk powder and milk protein, so it isn’t suitable for a vegan shop.
Jumbo
The Jumbo Dutch egg cakes we looked at include a pack of four and a 300 g wholegrain version.
- The four-piece pack and the wholegrain pack labelled as containing ten portions give you different quantities to compare.
- Jumbo lists free-range egg and milk protein in its standard version; the wholegrain version also contains whole milk powder. These products don’t meet the vegan requirement.
Bolletje
Bolletje Crispy Cinnamon Dutch Egg Cake is a crisp version, not a soft vegan egg cake.
- The crisp texture described by Bolletje shows that Dutch egg cakes can vary in texture, too.
- Bolletje lists free-range eggs and a milk coating for this product, so it isn’t a vegan alternative.
Joybuy products: snacks other than Dutch egg cakes
These ready-to-eat products are alternatives in other snack categories for snack breaks and lunchboxes, from bars and crackers to sweets. They aren’t vegan multipacks of Dutch egg cakes, so check the current ingredients for each product and whether the portions are suitable for taking with you or sharing.
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Zonnatura Organic Nut Bar with Apple and Cinnamon, 3 × 25 g
A nut bar to consider if you’re looking for another type of snack in several portions, rather than something specifically like a Dutch egg cake.
The product name states that the pack contains three 25 g bars. Check whether they’re individually wrapped if you need them for lunchboxes.
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Bolletje spinach vegetable crackers, 16 pieces
These crackers are a savoury option to share, but they don’t have the soft texture of a Dutch egg cake.
The product name states that the pack contains 16 pieces. The product information warns that it may contain egg and milk; check the current packaging and decide whether it fits your vegan choices.
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Leev organic lentil wafers, 100 g
Lentil wafers are a savoury snack option, not a sweet or soft alternative to Dutch egg cakes.
The product name states that the pack contains 100 g. Consider how you’ll portion the wafers and whether you can take them with you individually.
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Hollandia Natural Matzo Crackers, 16 pieces
These crackers could work if you mainly want several pieces to share, but they aren’t sweet, soft Dutch egg cakes.
The product name states that the pack contains 16 pieces. Check the label for the current ingredients and allergen information.
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Autodrop Vegan Cadillacs, 280 g
These sweets are another option if you’re looking for a pack to share; they aren’t biscuits or a substitute for the texture of a Dutch egg cake.
The product name states 280 g and identifies the sweets as vegan. Check the current ingredients and whether you’ll need to portion them out yourself for lunchboxes.
Frequently asked questions
Are standard multipacks of Dutch egg cakes vegan?
The multipacks we looked at aren’t: Albert Heijn and Jumbo list egg and milk ingredients in their Dutch egg cakes, and Bolletje also lists egg and milk in the Crispy Cinnamon Dutch Egg Cake we checked. Always check the current ingredients list for any other product you’re considering.
Is the front of the pack enough to help me make a vegan choice?
No. Check the current ingredients list and allergen information on the label as well. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are clearly listed in the ingredients list; Albert Heijn also points out that product information can change.
What if I specifically want egg-cake-style snacks for lunchboxes?
Making your own vegan version is an option if the egg-cake shape is your priority; Koopmans suggests vegan Dutch egg cakes as something you can make yourself. If you’d rather not bake, compare other ready-made snacks by their ingredients, number of pieces and how easy they are to take with you.
Does ‘may contain egg’ mean the same as egg being listed as an ingredient?
No. Egg listed as an ingredient rules a product out for this vegan shop, while ‘may contain egg’ warns of possible accidental presence. Decide whether a product with this warning fits your own vegan choices; don’t treat it as confirmation that egg is an ingredient.