If you want to serve a soft biscuit
If you’re putting out a platter of biscuits with coffee or tea, the soft, airy texture of a plain egg cake fits the bill. Jumbo describes its egg cakes as soft and airy.
Which biscuit is right for you?
If you compare portion sizes and nutritional values
Plain and wholemeal egg cakes don’t necessarily come in the same portion size. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per biscuit, rather than relying on the word ‘wholemeal’ alone.
If you’re catering for guests with allergies
Check the packaging of your chosen product for every guest who needs to avoid an allergen. The egg cakes described here list ingredients including egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya; a digestive isn’t automatically a suitable alternative.
What should you look for when choosing?
First choose the texture you want, then compare the portion size and nutritional information. Before serving, check the allergen information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Soft texture | Check that you’re buying a soft egg cake rather than a crumbly biscuit or crunchy digestive, and think about how many you want to serve. | I want to put out a platter of familiar, soft biscuits for New Year’s Eve. For around 40% of consumers, that soft texture is the priority when serving. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre and sugar per 100 g and per portion. Jumbo lists portions of 75 g for its plain egg cake and 30 g for its wholemeal one. | If I’m choosing between plain and wholemeal, I want to know what the difference means per biscuit. Comparing nutritional values is the first priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Small, crunchy portion | Check the weight per biscuit and whether it’s individually wrapped or coated. | For a table with a selection of snacks, I’d prefer a small biscuit that I can serve individually. Around 20% of consumers prioritise that portion size and crunchy texture. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients list and any warnings about traces on the current packaging of each product. | If a guest needs to avoid an allergen, I want to know before serving which biscuit is suitable for them. For around 10% of consumers, this check is the most important condition when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming egg cakes and digestives are the same
A soft egg cake and a crunchy wheat biscuit have very different textures. The ingredients and nutritional values of the Jumbo egg cake and Verkade Digestive Original described here also differ.
First decide which texture you want to serve. Then compare the nutritional values for the same quantity, such as per 100 g.
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Assuming wholemeal means less sugar
According to Jumbo’s product information, its wholemeal egg cake contains 3,9 g of fibre and 33,6 g of sugar per 100 g; the plain version lists 1,9 g of fibre and 29,5 g of sugar per 100 g. So, for these products, more fibre doesn’t mean less sugar.
Check both the nutritional values per 100 g and the portion size on the current label.
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Putting the packaging away before guests have chosen
Once the biscuits are on a shared platter, it may no longer be clear which ingredients or allergens are in each one. This is especially important if a guest needs to avoid an allergen.
Check the label before serving and keep the packaging to hand so guests can read the information for themselves.
Relevant brands and supermarket ranges
Jumbo
Jumbo stocks plain and wholemeal egg cakes.
- The product information lists ingredients, allergens, portions and nutritional values for both varieties.
- The plain and wholemeal egg cakes have different portion sizes, so compare sugar and fibre per 100 g too.
Bolletje
Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek met Melklaagje is a small, individually wrapped, crisp biscuit—not a standard soft egg cake.
- The Jumbo product listing states that the pack contains ten biscuits weighing 155 g in total, at around 58 kcal each.
- Check the label if you have allergies: Bolletje lists ingredients including egg, cereals containing gluten, milk, wheat and soya.
Heerlijck Banket / ALDI
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket free-range egg cakes in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.
- The number of biscuits and pack weight can help you work out how many packs you’ll need for a platter.
- Check the packaging you buy for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Lidl
Lidl has listed packs of 12 egg cakes in a limited-time in-store offer.
- The stated number of biscuits can help you plan a platter for your guests.
- Check what’s currently available in store and read the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Verkade
Verkade Digestive Original is a wheat biscuit for anyone looking for a crunchy alternative, not an egg cake.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists, among other things, 16% wholemeal wheat flour and 3,6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The same listing gives 21 g of fat and 481 kcal per 100 g. Don’t assume the biscuit is a lighter version of an egg cake just because it’s called a digestive.
Digestive biscuits on Joybuy
These products are a good fit if you’re looking for a crunchy biscuit for New Year’s Eve. They aren’t soft egg cakes, so choose between the plain and chocolate-coated options based on what you’d like to serve.
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McVities Digestive Original, 400 g
A plain digestive to consider if you’d like to serve a crunchy biscuit with coffee or tea instead of a soft egg cake.
400 g pack. Check the current label if you have allergies.
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McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g
For anyone who’d rather serve a milk chocolate digestive than a plain biscuit or soft egg cake.
266 g pack. Check the current label if you have allergies.
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McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
For a platter where you’d like to offer a dark chocolate digestive instead of a plain biscuit or soft egg cake.
266 g pack. Check the current label if you have allergies.
Frequently asked questions
Are egg cakes and digestive biscuits the same?
No. Jumbo describes its egg cake as soft and airy, while Verkade Digestive Original is sold as a wheat biscuit. First choose the texture you want for your platter, then compare nutritional values for the same quantity.
Does a wholemeal egg cake contain less sugar?
Not necessarily: Jumbo lists 33,6 g of sugar per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cake, compared with 29,5 g for the plain version. The portions also differ, so check both the values per 100 g and per biscuit on the current label.
Which allergens should I check when serving egg cakes to guests?
Check the current packaging of every biscuit for any allergens the guest needs to avoid. The plain and wholemeal egg cakes described here list ingredients including egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly listed in the ingredients list for prepacked foods; check for any warnings about traces too.
How should I store egg cakes until New Year’s Eve?
Follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the packaging you buy. The Jumbo plain and wholemeal egg cakes described here should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place; the Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek should be protected from heat.
Is the information on the front of the pack enough to compare biscuits?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the ingredients list and nutrition table too. When comparing egg cakes and digestive biscuits, for example, look at the values per 100 g and per portion. If you have allergies, read all the label information.