Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want to grab an egg cake for later

You’re looking for a soft egg cake and comparing the number in the pack, the packaging and the shelf life before choosing one.

If you start with the label

You want to check the ingredients, sugars, fats, fibre, portion size or allergens for the exact variant, without assuming that one label gives you the full picture.

If by digestive you mean a biscuit

You’re looking for a crunchy wheat biscuit and want to avoid a search for egg cakes leading you to the wrong type of product.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether you want an egg cake or a digestive biscuit. Then compare the exact pack on the points that matter most for when you plan to eat it.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Product type Read the product name: egg cake or digestive wheat biscuit. For egg cakes, also check for variants described as crisp. If I’m expecting a soft cake, I don’t want to get home with a crunchy biscuit. Around 27% of consumers put choosing the right product type first.
Nutritional information Compare sugars, fats and fibre per 100 g and per portion; check the ingredients too if you’re considering a wholegrain variant. If I’m choosing based on wholemeal flour or fibre, I want to know what I’m getting per cake. Nutritional information is the priority for around 27% of consumers.
Allergens Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the exact pack. If I’m buying for someone with an allergy, the specific variant needs to be suitable, whatever the product is called. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this check.
Portion and storage Check the number of pieces, whether they’re individually wrapped and the storage advice after opening. When I’m out and about, I want to be able to take a portion with me; at home, I want to store an opened pack as directed on the label. This practical consideration matters most to around 13% of consumers.
Pack size and availability Compare the quantity with what you need and check whether your chosen variant is currently available. If I only need a few cakes, I don’t want to choose a bigger pack than I’ll use. For around 13% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a digestive is another name for an egg cake

    Jumbo describes McVitie's Digestives Original as wheat biscuits. That’s a different type of product from an egg cake; if you’re considering a crisp egg cake variant, check its description separately too.

    Before buying, read the product name, then choose the portion or pack you want.

  • Assuming one label tells you everything

    Wholemeal flour alone doesn’t tell you about all the other nutritional values. A gluten-free egg cake may also contain other allergens: Albert Heijn lists egg, milk and soya among the ingredients in AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken.

    Compare the nutritional information and, if you have allergies, check the ingredients and warnings for the exact variant.

  • Treating an old product page as the definitive label

    A chosen variant may no longer be sold as you expect. For example, Jumbo says that its Meergranen Eierkoeken are no longer available in its online range.

    Check the current product page and read the pack when it arrives, especially if an allergen or a specific nutritional value affects your choice.

  • Choosing a large pack without considering how much you’ll use

    A pack with lots of pieces isn’t automatically convenient if you only need a small top-up. ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken as 12 pieces and 360 g, while digestive biscuits are also available in a 400 g pack.

    Consider how much you expect to use and follow the storage advice on the chosen pack once it’s open.

Brands to consider

Bolletje

Bolletje’s Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel is a crisp variant for anyone looking for a different texture from a soft egg cake.

  • Jumbo says this variant is individually wrapped.
  • The cinnamon variant has a milk coating; check the ingredients and allergens if they’re important to your choice.

Jumbo

At Jumbo, you can look at a wholemeal egg cake and a wholemeal digestive biscuit as two separate product types.

  • The product information for Jumbo Eierkoeken Volkoren lists the ingredients and nutritional values for that exact variant.
  • Check which variants are currently available; a previous multigrain egg cake is no longer part of the online range.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers plain, wholemeal and gluten-free egg cakes, among other varieties, as well as digestive biscuits.

  • AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken is a specific egg cake variant labelled as gluten-free.
  • According to the product information, this variant contains egg, milk, soya and lactose, and may contain sesame and nuts.

ALDI / Heerlijck Banket

This is a useful option if you’re looking for a pack of barn egg cakes with several pieces.

  • ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken as 12 pieces and 360 g.
  • Check the current pack, ingredients and allergens in store before choosing this variant.

Verkade

Verkade is worth considering on the biscuit side of the choice, with products including Digestive Cream.

  • Verkade describes Digestive Cream as a biscuit product.
  • For details of ingredients, allergens and nutritional values, check the information on the exact pack.

Digestive biscuits on Joybuy

This product is for anyone choosing a digestive biscuit rather than an egg cake. In particular, consider whether a 400 g pack is the right size for the top-up you need.

McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g pack

McVitie's Digestive Original 400 g

For anyone looking for a digestive biscuit rather than a soft egg cake. The pack contains 400 g, so check that the quantity suits how much you’ll use.

Jumbo describes this variant as wheat biscuits and lists wheat, with the possibility of milk being present. If you have allergies, read the label on the exact pack.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a digestive the same as an egg cake?

No. Jumbo describes McVitie's Digestives Original as wheat biscuits, while egg cakes are sold as a separate product type. First decide which kind of bake and texture you’re looking for, then compare portions and nutritional values.

Can I ignore other allergens in gluten-free egg cakes?

No. Albert Heijn also lists egg, milk, soya and lactose in AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken, which may also contain sesame and nuts. When you buy them, check the allergen label on the exact pack.

Does wholegrain automatically make an egg cake a suitable everyday snack for children?

No. Wholemeal flour is just one ingredient; consider the portion and the rest of the nutritional information too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that foods from the Wheel of Five should be the basis of snacks for children aged 4 to 12.

How should I store egg cakes and digestive biscuits?

Follow the storage advice on the pack you choose. Jumbo says to store its Volkoren Eierkoeken in a cool, dry, dark place, and to reseal Jumbo Digestive Volkoren carefully after opening and keep it in a dark place. Don’t assume the same advice applies to another variant.