Shoppers looking for soft cakes to keep in stock
You want a soft, light cake for a snack, not a crisp biscuit. The standard egg cakes from Albert Heijn and Jumbo included in this comparison are sold as individual portions.
Who is this choice relevant to?
The texture you want and how you plan to portion your snacks will determine which products are worth comparing.
Shoppers comparing fibre or crunch
You’re considering a wholemeal egg cake or a digestive, but don’t want to lose sight of the type of product. As well as fibre, compare sugars, fat and allergens on the packaging.
Shoppers looking for snacks to take out or share
You want to be able to take or hand out individual cakes. Jumbo describes the Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met melklaagje included in this comparison as individually wrapped. They’re crisp cakes, not classic soft egg cakes.
What should you look for when choosing?
For your snack cupboard, first decide between a soft egg cake and a crunchy biscuit. Then compare the portions, nutritional information and allergens of the varieties that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Most relevant if |
|---|---|---|
| Soft cake | Check the product type, number of cakes and portion size. Albert Heijn lists the AH Eierkoeken included in this comparison as 30 g per cake. | I want to grab a soft cake as a snack, so a crunchy biscuit isn’t what I’m looking for. For around 38% of consumers, a soft cake would be the main reason for choosing it. |
| Fibre or crunch | Compare fibre, sugars and fat per 100 g, and decide whether you want a wholemeal egg cake or a digestive. | I mainly want to compare fibre, or I’m looking for a biscuit with a satisfying crunch, even if that means choosing a different type of cake. This would be the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Taking snacks out or sharing them | Check whether the cakes are individually wrapped, and compare the weight per cake with the figures per 100 g. | For a journey or sharing, I want to be able to take a portion without opening the whole pack. This would be the main priority for roughly 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen information on the packaging, including warnings about possible cross-contamination. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines which variety I can consider; texture comes second. For an estimated 12% of consumers, this check would be their main purchasing priority. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing a lower figure per cake without checking its weight
Jumbo lists the Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met melklaagje included in this comparison at 58 kcal per cake, weighing around 15.5 g. Albert Heijn lists the AH Eierkoek included in this comparison at 94 kcal per 30 g cake. These portions don’t weigh the same.
Use the figures per cake to compare portions, and those per 100 g to compare the products’ nutritional composition.
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Assuming ‘wholemeal’ means low in sugars
The Jumbo Volkoren Eierkoeken included in this comparison list 3.9 g of fibre and 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g. So the higher fibre content of this variety doesn’t, by itself, tell you how its other nutritional values compare.
Read the nutritional information per 100 g, and also check the ingredients and allergens of the variety you want to buy.
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Treating online allergen information as the definitive label
Ingredients and packaging can change. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Check the current packaging when you buy, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient.
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Relying on a promotional variety as a regular option to keep in stock
The Lidl egg cakes included in this comparison were listed for a limited time in store. Bolletje describes its crisp cinnamon variety as a promotional product, rather than part of its permanent range.
Check the current range at your chosen store before planning to stock up on a variety like this.
If the variety isn’t available, you may need to make an extra trip or choose a different product.
Brands to compare
These brands offer examples of the product types discussed. Always check the nutritional information and packaging for the specific variety you’re considering.
Bolletje
Worth considering if you’re looking for a crisp egg cake with a milk coating in individual portions, rather than a classic soft egg cake.
- Jumbo says the crisp egg cakes included in this comparison are individually wrapped.
- The variety included in this comparison contains milk, egg, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. Also check the label for warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Albert Heijn
The own-brand products included in this comparison offer both soft egg cakes and a crunchy digestive, making it easy to compare the different product types.
- For the AH Eierkoeken included in this comparison, Albert Heijn lists a weight of 30 g and 94 kcal per cake.
- The AH Digestive included in this comparison is labelled vegan and lactose-free, but it’s a wheat biscuit, not a soft egg cake.
Jumbo
Worth considering if you want to compare standard and wholemeal egg cakes.
- Jumbo lists 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for the wholemeal variety included in this comparison, compared with 1.9 g per 100 g for the standard variety.
- The wholemeal variety also lists 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the allergens for each variety separately.
Heerlijck Banket
The ALDI own-brand range includes a pack of barn egg cakes featured in this comparison, for anyone looking at how many portions they’ll have in stock.
- ALDI lists 12 cakes and a total weight of 360 g for this pack.
- Before choosing based on ingredients, allergens or nutritional value, read the label on the packaging.
Verkade
The Digestive Original included in this comparison is a wheat biscuit to compare with egg cakes, not a soft egg cake variety.
- Albert Heijn’s product description calls the Verkade Digestive Original included in this comparison a wheat biscuit.
- Check current availability before choosing this particular variety as a regular option to keep in stock.
Digestives on Joybuy
These products suit the crunchy biscuit option for your snack cupboard. Compare the plain variety with the milk or dark chocolate varieties. If you want a soft egg cake, you’ll need a different type of product.
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McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive for when you fancy a crunchy biscuit rather than a soft egg cake.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the current packaging for allergen information.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate 266 g
A milk chocolate digestive for anyone comparing different varieties of crunchy biscuits.
Pack size: 266 g. This is a different variety from the plain digestive; check the current packaging for allergen information.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate 266 g
A dark chocolate digestive for anyone looking for a crunchy biscuit with a chocolate coating.
Pack size: 266 g. Compare the nutritional information with the other varieties, and check the current label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is a digestive the same as an egg cake?
No. The Albert Heijn digestive included in this comparison is a crunchy wheat biscuit, while the classic egg cakes included are soft. First decide which texture you want for your snack cupboard, then compare portions and nutritional information.
How do I compare fibre in an egg cake and a digestive?
Compare the fibre per 100 g for the specific varieties. Jumbo lists 3.9 g per 100 g for the wholemeal egg cakes included in this comparison and 1.9 g for the standard variety; Albert Heijn lists 3.2 g for the AH Digestive included. Also check the other nutritional values and the type of product.
Can I choose egg cakes if I need to avoid certain allergens?
Only choose an egg cake if the current ingredient and allergen information on the packaging is suitable for what you need to avoid. The varieties included in this comparison contain different combinations of egg, milk, soya and gluten-containing cereals. A different flavour or pack doesn’t guarantee a different ingredient list.
How should I store egg cakes and digestives in my snack cupboard?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for your chosen variety. The AH and Jumbo egg cakes included in this comparison say to store in a cool, dry, dark place. For the AH Digestive included, Albert Heijn advises storing it in a cool, dark, dry place and keeping it in a sealed tin after opening. Protect the Bolletje variety with a milk coating from heat, as directed in the product information.