If you want to serve a chocolate accent with coffee without any preparation, a ready-made chocolate egg cake could be a good choice. However, a description such as ‘cocoa-flavoured coating’ doesn’t mean the egg cake has a high cocoa content. If you’d rather choose the type of chocolate yourself, you can top plain egg cakes with melted dark chocolate, as Jumbo suggests; remember to check the allergen information on both packs before serving your guests.
You’re looking for an egg cake with a clear chocolate accent, but don’t want to mistake an ingredient description for evidence of a high cocoa content. Topping the cakes yourself lets you choose the type of chocolate separately.
You’re buying for guests with different needs, so you check the latest labels on both the egg cakes and any topping you plan to use. Ingredients and warnings can vary from one product to another.
You want enough egg cakes for everyone and check how many come in a pack. If you have a particular chocolate variety in mind, check whether it’s available from your chosen shop or ordering service.
Choose this when: You want to serve chocolate without making a topping yourself.
The trade-off: The chocolate description doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the product contains.
Choose this when: You want to pick the type of chocolate for the egg cakes yourself.
The trade-off: You’ll need an extra ingredient and will have to top the egg cakes before serving.
Choose this when: You’re happy to serve egg cakes without a chocolate accent with your coffee.
The trade-off: You’ll need to add something yourself for a dark chocolate flavour.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most important for |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate accent | Check which chocolate or cocoa ingredients are listed. If you’re looking for a particular cocoa percentage, check the label on the chocolate you choose. | When I want a clear dark chocolate accent with coffee, I like to be able to choose the type of chocolate myself. Around 29% of consumers put this flavour choice first. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and warnings on both the egg cakes and any topping you plan to use. | When guests have a relevant allergy, I want to know what’s in each individual pack. For around 29% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
| Number of cakes | Compare the number of egg cakes in the pack with the size of your group, and follow the storage advice on the pack. | For coffee with friends, I want to put out enough cakes without having too many left over. Getting the quantity right is a top priority for around 24% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether the variety you want is available from your chosen shop or ordering service. | If I want to pick up a particular chocolate variety, it needs to be available when I do my shopping. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn describes Gulden Krakeling Choco filled egg cakes as egg cakes with a cocoa-flavoured coating and cream filling. That description alone doesn’t tell you whether the egg cake has a high cocoa content.
If you’re looking for a particular cocoa percentage, compare the information on the current packaging of the chocolate you choose. Don’t treat a chocolate description as a substitute for that information.
A filling or a topping you add yourself may contain different ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Ask which ingredients your guest needs to avoid, and check the latest ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on every product you serve.
Jumbo’s page for chocolate egg cakes says the product is no longer available, while Albert Heijn lists the Gulden Krakeling variety shown as an in-store product. So just because a page is visible doesn’t mean you can order the product through your preferred channel.
Check availability shortly before you shop, and consider which plain egg cake you could use as an alternative.
Shopping through another retailer could mean an extra trip.
Albert Heijn lists its plain AH Eierkoeken and shows Gulden Krakeling Choco filled egg cakes as an in-store product.
Jumbo suggests decorating plain egg cakes with melted dark chocolate as a serving idea.
Albert Heijn describes Gulden Krakeling Choco filled egg cakes as having a cocoa-flavoured coating and cream filling.
Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as a variety with a milk coating and cinnamon.
Verkade Duo’tjes Chocolade are oat biscuits with a dark chocolate cream filling.
ALDI lists a 12-pack of Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken.
No, the name alone doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the egg cake contains. Albert Heijn describes the Gulden Krakeling variety as an egg cake with a cocoa-flavoured coating and cream filling. Check the latest packaging if the exact ingredients are important to your choice.
Check the latest ingredients lists and any ‘may contain’ warnings for both the egg cakes and the topping. Ask which ingredients your guest needs to avoid; don’t rely on the product name or a picture alone.
Follow the storage advice and use-by date on the pack, and seal any opened pack securely. This also helps you make the most of a multipack if you’re not serving all the cakes at once.
Availability varies by product and ordering service, so check before you shop. Jumbo says the chocolate egg cake shown is no longer available, while Albert Heijn lists the Gulden Krakeling variety shown as an in-store product.
