Who is this choice for?

Host with a clear Fairtrade requirement

You want to be able to point to the product that carries the Fairtrade label. Check whether it’s on the egg cake itself or on the chocolate you’re serving separately.

Treat buyer mindful of guests

You’re buying for several people and want to check the ingredients and allergens for each option you choose. The egg cakes we looked at include ingredients such as egg, milk, wheat and soya; the current packaging is the best guide to what you’re serving.

Practical shopper planning for a festive evening

You’re looking for an easy-to-serve treat and want to distinguish between a plain egg cake, a chocolate egg cake and separate Fairtrade chocolate. Check that the products you actually want to combine are available.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether the Fairtrade label needs to be on the egg cake itself, or whether separate Fairtrade chocolate served alongside the egg cakes will meet your needs. Then check the ingredients and availability of the products you’ve chosen.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Fairtrade label Check the label on the exact product and make sure it applies to the egg cake or to separate chocolate. I want to be able to say exactly which product is Fairtrade, without mistaking another certification for it. For around 36% of consumers, being able to check the Fairtrade label is the priority.
Chocolate with the treat Check whether the chocolate is in or on the egg cake, or served as a separate product. For my St Nicholas table, I want to serve egg cakes with a chocolate element, even if it’s separate from the cake. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this combination.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for each option. When I’m buying for guests, I want to know what’s in the egg cake I’ve chosen and any chocolate I’m serving with it. Around 21% of consumers give this check top priority.
Availability Check the current product page or in-store stock shortly before buying the option you want. I want to be able to buy the treat in time and, if necessary, choose a plain egg cake with chocolate on the side. For around 14% of consumers, practical availability matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming UTZ or Rainforest Alliance is the same as Fairtrade

    Jumbo’s chocolate egg cake that we looked at stated UTZ Certified Cocoa. According to Rainforest Alliance, UTZ is now part of Rainforest Alliance; that label does not prove that the egg cake is Fairtrade-certified.

    If Fairtrade is a requirement, look for the Fairtrade label on the product that needs to meet it.

  • Treating an old product page as proof that something is available

    The pages we looked at for two Jumbo chocolate egg cakes still showed product information, but also stated that the products were no longer available online.

    Check availability again before your festive evening and choose another combination in advance if necessary.

  • Assuming every egg cake contains the same allergens

    The options we looked at have different ingredients and allergen information. For its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel, Bolletje lists ingredients including wheat, egg, soya and milk, and notes that other allergens may also be present.

    Check the current packaging for every option you choose, even if you’ve bought the product before.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to pair plain egg cakes with a separate chocolate product.

  • The ingredients list for AH Egg Cakes includes free-range egg and no cocoa.
  • Albert Heijn says the cocoa in its own-brand products is Rainforest Alliance- or Fairtrade-certified. This does not make an egg cake without cocoa Fairtrade-certified; check the claim on the separate chocolate product.

Jumbo

Useful for understanding the difference between a chocolate egg cake and a Fairtrade label.

  • The product information we looked at for Jumbo Chocolate Egg Cakes stated UTZ Certified Cocoa.
  • UTZ is not a Fairtrade label. Jumbo also said that the chocolate egg cakes we looked at were no longer available online.

Bolletje

Worth considering if you’d like to serve a crumbly cinnamon egg cake.

  • Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as an option with cinnamon and a milk coating.
  • This option has no Fairtrade cocoa claim. Check the allergen information on the packaging too.

HEERLIJCK BANKET

Worth considering if you’re looking for plain barn-egg cakes.

  • ALDI describes HEERLIJCK BANKET’s barn-egg cakes as a pack of 12.
  • A Fairtrade label on another ALDI biscuit product does not automatically apply to these egg cakes.

Chocolate to serve separately with egg cakes

This Joybuy pick is a chocolate bar that you can serve alongside egg cakes. It isn’t an egg cake; if the Fairtrade label is important to your choice, check that it appears on the bar itself.

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

Tony's Chocolonely Milk Pecan Caramel chocolate bar, 180 g

A chocolate bar to serve separately with egg cakes. Before buying, check the Fairtrade label and the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging; a label on this bar does not automatically apply to the egg cakes.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether an egg cake itself contains Fairtrade cocoa?

Check whether the packaging for that exact egg cake mentions Fairtrade and which ingredient the label applies to. A general sustainability claim or a UTZ label on a chocolate egg cake is not a substitute.

Can I serve egg cakes with separate Fairtrade chocolate?

Yes, you can serve egg cakes with separate Fairtrade chocolate if the chocolate product carries that label. In that case, describe the chocolate as Fairtrade, not automatically the egg cake or the combination as a whole.

Which allergens should I check when serving egg cakes to guests?

Read the allergen information for each option you choose on its current packaging. The egg cakes we looked at include ingredients such as egg, milk, wheat and soya; for its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel, Bolletje also notes that allergens including nuts and sesame may be present.

Is an online product page enough to help me choose?

Use a product page to make an initial comparison, but also check current availability and the packaging when you buy. The Jumbo pages we looked at showed that product information can remain visible even when a chocolate egg cake is no longer available online.