Shoppers looking for a sugar-free biscuit
You want to check the sugar claim against the nutritional information and are happy to choose a different type of biscuit instead of an egg cake.
Who is this relevant to?
Shoppers looking to limit added sugars
You’re looking for a product with no added sugars, but also want to know how much sugar it still contains and which ingredients give it its sweet taste.
Fans of a classic egg cake
You mainly choose egg cakes for their soft texture and shape. In that case, the nutritional information, packaging and allergens of the exact variety matter more than the general impression that it’s light and airy.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free | Read the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Also check that the product is actually an egg cake. | If I want a sugar-free biscuit after visiting a doughnut stall, the nutritional information matters more to me than the egg cake shape. This is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| No added sugars | Compare the ingredients with the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, and read any sweetener warnings. | If I want to avoid added sugars, I don’t want to overlook sugars that the product still contains. Around 33% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Classic egg cake | Check the sugars per 100 g, the number of cakes in the pack and the allergens in the variety you choose. | For me, the familiar egg cake is what matters most as a snack, even if it contains sugars. This preference is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’
These are different claims. For Peijnenburg Wholegrain Breakfast Cake with no added sugars, Jumbo still lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.
As well as checking the claim, read the ‘of which sugars’ figure and see what the cake has been sweetened with.
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Assuming a light, airy egg cake is automatically a lower-sugar choice
Texture doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains: Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for its AH Egg Cakes.
Choose a classic egg cake if that’s the type of product you want, but use the nutritional information to make a choice based on sugar content.
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Skipping the ingredients and warnings
An alternative containing sweeteners may come with other things to consider. The Peijnenburg breakfast cake we looked at contains xylitol, and the packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect and that the product should be kept away from pets.
Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings for the exact variety, and keep products containing xylitol out of reach of pets.
Brands and retailers to consider
A brand name doesn’t tell you whether the biscuit you choose is an egg cake or how much sugar that exact variety contains.
Céréal
A different type of biscuit for anyone who doesn’t need an egg cake.
- Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Sugar-Free Coconut Flavour biscuits.
- These are coconut biscuits, not egg cakes. They contain wheat, so check the packaging for other allergens too.
Peijnenburg
An option for anyone considering breakfast cake with no added sugars instead of an egg cake.
- Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for the wholegrain breakfast cake we looked at.
- The breakfast cake isn’t sugar-free. It contains xylitol, and the packaging includes warnings about excessive consumption and pets.
Albert Heijn
A retailer selling its own-brand classic egg cakes as well as other biscuits with sugar claims.
- AH Egg Cakes are available in a 360 g pack.
- Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for these egg cakes. A different biscuit marketed as a lower-sugar choice isn’t necessarily an egg cake.
Jumbo
A retailer where egg cakes and alternative biscuits are listed in different categories.
- Jumbo’s egg cake category includes classic, mini, wholegrain and gluten-free varieties.
- A sugar claim on a biscuit in a different category doesn’t apply to egg cakes. Check the packaging of the product you choose.
Bolletje
Worth considering if you’re looking for a crisp egg cake but don’t need it to be sugar-free.
- Bolletje describes its Crisp Egg Cake as light and airy, thanks to whipped egg.
- Bolletje says the cakes are dusted with sugar and lists egg, milk, wheat and soya among the allergens.
HEERLIJCK BANKET
A classic egg cake variety sold at ALDI.
- ALDI lists 12 free-range egg cakes per pack, weighing 360 g in total.
- If you’re choosing based on sugar content, check the nutritional information on the current packaging.
Sondey
A classic egg cake variety sold at Lidl.
- Lidl lists Sondey Egg Cakes in a pack of 12 weighing 360 g.
- Before choosing this variety to meet a lower-sugar preference, check the ingredients and ‘of which sugars’ figure on the current packaging.
A muesli bar as an alternative
If you don’t need to choose an egg cake after visiting a doughnut stall, you could also consider a muesli bar. Check the sugar claim and nutritional information for the exact bar against your preference.
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Hero B'Tween Muesli Bar Zero White Chocolate, 120 g
If you’re considering a muesli bar instead of an egg cake and want to limit added sugars, the claim and ‘of which sugars’ figure on the packaging are key.
This is a 120 g muesli bar. The word Zero in the name doesn’t, by itself, mean that a product is sugar-free. Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings too.
Frequently asked questions
Is a biscuit with no added sugars also sugar-free?
No. Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg Wholegrain Breakfast Cake with no added sugars. So check the ‘of which sugars’ figure for the product you choose.
Can a classic egg cake be part of a sugar-free choice?
Not if you’re basing your choice on the nutritional information for AH Egg Cakes: Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g. Check other egg cakes separately using their current packaging.
Which allergens should I check in an egg cake?
Always check the allergens for the exact variety. Albert Heijn lists egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya among the allergens in AH Egg Cakes. Bolletje lists these allergens for its Crisp Egg Cake too.
How should I store the homemade biscuits with no added sugars from Albert Heijn’s recipe?
For this specific recipe, Albert Heijn recommends keeping the baked biscuits in a sealed container for 4 to 5 days. This storage time doesn’t automatically apply to other homemade biscuits or egg cakes.