Choose a plain Dutch egg cake if you want a soft cake with your coffee, a wholemeal egg cake if you mainly want to compare fibre content within that category, or a digestive if you’re after a smaller, crisp wheat biscuit. The weight of each piece varies between products, so compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
If you’ll only have a few coffee breaks in your room, it’s useful to check the weight per biscuit and the number in the pack before you buy. The serving sizes listed for egg cakes and digestives vary between the product examples from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and Verkade.
Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g first, then look at the serving you plan to eat. Albert Heijn lists more fibre per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cakes than for its plain ones, while both product listings state 31 g of sugars per 100 g.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen. Product information from brands including Bolletje, Jumbo and Albert Heijn shows that the allergens listed vary by type of biscuit and variety.
First decide whether you want a soft egg cake or a crisp biscuit. Then check the weight of each piece and only compare nutritional values shown on the same basis.
A good fit for: anyone who wants a soft cake and takes the weight of each one into account.
Keep in mind: the serving weight listed for plain egg cakes differs between Jumbo and Albert Heijn, so the product name alone won’t tell you how much you’re eating per piece.
A good fit for: anyone who wants to compare fibre content within the egg cake category.
Keep in mind: compare sugars and ingredients too. According to Albert Heijn’s product listings, both its plain and wholemeal egg cakes contain 31 g of sugars per 100 g.
A good fit for: anyone who’d rather have a crisp wheat biscuit with their coffee than a soft egg cake.
Keep in mind: a smaller piece doesn’t in itself tell you anything about the nutritional value per 100 g. Check both figures on the packaging you choose.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving size and type of biscuit | Check the weight per piece and the number of pieces in the pack. | If I want one biscuit with a cup of coffee, I want to know how much that one piece weighs. Around 31% of consumers prioritise serving size and type of biscuit. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g, then compare them per serving you’ve chosen. | If you’re choosing between plain and wholemeal egg cakes, you’ll want to compare the values on the same basis. This comparison is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Packaging and storage | Check whether the pieces are individually wrapped and follow the storage instructions. | For a short stay, I want to be able to keep the remaining biscuits for another coffee break. This convenience is the top priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Quantity and availability | Check the pack size and confirm current availability at your chosen shop. | If I’m shopping for a single stay, I don’t want to choose a pack that doesn’t suit my plans. Around 15% of consumers prioritise quantity and availability. |
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists 230 kcal and 28.6 g of sugars for an extra-large egg cake weighing 75 g. Jumbo lists a serving of 75 g for its plain egg cake, while Albert Heijn gives a serving of 30 g for its plain egg cake. These servings aren’t directly comparable as equal-sized pieces.
Start with the weight of the cake you want to eat, then check the nutritional information per serving and per 100 g.
A higher fibre content doesn’t tell you how much sugar a variety contains. Albert Heijn’s product listings state that both its plain and wholemeal egg cakes contain 31 g of sugars per 100 g.
Check sugars and the rest of the nutritional information alongside fibre, using the same basis for comparison throughout.
‘Egg cake’ and ‘digestive’ don’t give you the full picture of the ingredients in a specific variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory allergen information required on labels for pre-packed foods.
Before eating, check the product’s current ingredients and allergen information.
Albert Heijn’s product listing marks Verkade Digestive Original as no longer part of its range. That doesn’t tell you whether the same biscuit is available elsewhere.
Check the product’s current status with the shop you plan to buy from, especially if you need it for a planned stay.
Worth considering if you’d like to look at a crisp egg cake as well as a plain one.
Worth considering if you want to compare a biscuit with egg cakes.
Worth considering if you want to compare plain and wholemeal egg cakes within the same own-label range.
Worth considering if you also want to see the difference in listed serving sizes.
Worth considering if you’re looking at a pack of several free-range egg cakes.
These products are biscuits and spiced biscuits to enjoy with coffee, not the plain or wholemeal egg cakes compared above. Pay particular attention to the pack size and check the weight of each biscuit if you’re choosing a single serving for your hotel room.
Image unavailable
Biscuits to consider alongside an egg cake as something to enjoy with coffee. The pack contains 250 g; check the weight of each biscuit if you want to work out a serving for each coffee break.
Image unavailable
Spiced biscuits to consider if you’d prefer something with warm spices rather than an egg cake with your coffee. The product name lists 8 pieces and 200 g; check the packaging for the serving weight and nutritional information.
Image unavailable
Mini biscuits to enjoy with coffee if you’re after a biscuit rather than an egg cake. The pack contains 160 g; check the packaging to see how many biscuits it contains and how much each one weighs.
Yes. Check the allergen information on the specific packaging before eating the biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on the labels of pre-packed foods; ingredients vary between varieties.
No. The wholemeal label doesn’t answer every question about nutritional value or ingredients. Albert Heijn lists more fibre per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cakes than for its plain ones, but both varieties contain 31 g of sugars per 100 g. Also compare the weight of the serving you plan to eat.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the biscuit you choose. The product information for the Jumbo egg cakes and Verkade Digestive Original mentioned above advises storing them in a cool, dark place. Also check the best-before date and seal an opened pack as instructed.
Check availability again when you’re ready to buy. Albert Heijn marks its listing for Verkade Digestive Original as no longer part of its range; this doesn’t say anything about other shops or availability at a later date.
