Choose egg cakes for New Year’s Eve that are explicitly individually wrapped if guests want to take a sealed portion at different times. Jumbo states that Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are individually wrapped, but these are crisp biscuits with a milk coating, not ordinary soft egg cakes. If you’re serving everything together on a platter, compare standard multipacks too, and check the pack you buy to see whether the cakes are individually wrapped.
If guests are helping themselves at different times during the evening, individual wrappers are practical. Jumbo describes Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje as individually wrapped; bear in mind that these are crisp biscuits.
Compare the number of cakes with everything else you’re serving. Albert Heijn lists twelve portions for AH Eierkoeken, Jumbo lists four portions for Jumbo Eierkoeken 4 Stuks, and Lidl and ALDI each list twelve cakes for the packs mentioned. Check separately whether the cakes have their own wrappers if you need them.
Keep the label from each pack you buy to hand so guests can check the ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods.
First, decide whether every guest should be able to take a sealed portion. Then compare the quantity and type of egg cake: a crisp biscuit with a milk coating isn’t automatically a substitute for a soft egg cake.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed portions | Look for the words ‘individually wrapped’ and check whether each cake has its own wrapper. | If guests are helping themselves at different times during the evening, I want to be able to hand out sealed cakes. Around 36% of consumers prioritise sealed portions. |
| Number of cakes | Compare the number of cakes in each pack with the size of your group and the other snacks. | For a well-stocked snack table, I want to serve enough egg cakes without having lots left over; around 29% of consumers prioritise quantity. |
| Texture and type | Check whether you’re buying an ordinary soft egg cake or a crisp variety with a milk coating. | If my guests are expecting a soft egg cake, I don’t want to serve only a crisp variety. The type they prefer is the deciding factor for around 21% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on each pack you buy. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to show them the label before serving. For around 14% of consumers, this is their top priority when buying. |
The number of cakes on a pack doesn’t tell you whether each one has its own wrapper. So a box of twelve isn’t automatically suitable for handing out sealed portions.
Look for the words ‘individually wrapped’ or check the packaging itself before you buy.
According to Jumbo’s product information, Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are individually wrapped, but their texture and style differ from those of ordinary soft egg cakes.
If you want to offer both types, choose one pack for sealed portions and another pack of soft egg cakes. Check the ingredients of both.
The name ‘egg cake’ doesn’t tell you which other ingredients and allergens a particular variety contains. According to Jumbo, the Bolletje variety with a milk coating lists egg, milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, and may also contain nuts and sesame.
Read the label on the pack you buy and keep it available for guests who want to check the information.
If a pack doesn’t have individual wrappers, you’ll need to take care when storing any leftover cakes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping egg cakes in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container.
Also follow the best-before date and storage advice on the packaging.
Compare the specific egg cake and packaging, not just the brand name: the number of cakes alone tells you nothing about individual wrappers.
Jumbo lists Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje as a pack of ten small, individually wrapped cakes.
Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken in a 360 g pack, with twelve 30 g portions.
Jumbo lists its own-brand egg cakes in packs of four and ten, as well as mini and wholemeal varieties.
Lidl lists twelve egg cakes per pack and states that the product is available in store only.
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken in a pack of twelve, with a total weight of 360 g.
Yes, if guests want to take a sealed portion at different times; the packaging alone doesn’t tell you anything about taste or nutritional value. Jumbo states that Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are individually wrapped, but these are a crisp variety rather than ordinary soft egg cakes.
Store leftover egg cakes in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the best-before date and instructions on the pack you buy.
Before serving the cakes, read the ingredients list, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the pack you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods; the information must relate to the specific product.
Use the website to prepare, but check the label on the pack you bought before serving. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients and allergen information can change when products are updated.
