Who is this choice relevant to?

A guest with coeliac disease

Look for the ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging. After buying the egg cake, keep it separate from crumbs and products containing gluten.

A host who wants to serve something soft without baking

A ready-made egg cake is ideal for a coffee break when you don’t want to use the oven. Just check the current ingredients and allergen information for your guest.

A home baker catering for additional dietary requirements

Baking your own gives you the chance to check the gluten-free mix and other ingredients individually, for example if milk or lactose is also a concern.

What should you look for when choosing?

Ready-made gluten-free egg cake

Choose this when: you want to serve a soft egg cake with coffee without spending time baking.

The trade-off: the varieties described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain egg, milk and soya. Here, gluten-free does not mean free from other allergens.

Bake your own gluten-free egg cakes

Choose this when: you want to select the mix and other ingredients yourself.

The trade-off: baking takes preparation, and in a shared kitchen you’ll need to keep ingredients separate and use clean utensils, as the Dutch Coeliac Society advises.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Serving gluten-free Check the current packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ label, and keep the cake away from crumbs containing gluten when serving. For a guest with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check that the cake is gluten-free and is served that way too. Around 42% of consumers say this is their top priority.
Other allergens and nutritional information Read the ingredients and allergen information; compare the nutritional information per 100 g if needed. If a milk or soya allergy is also a concern, a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough. For around 33% of consumers, other allergens or nutritional content come first.
Convenience, portion size and texture Check the number of cakes or portions and the shelf life; choose between a soft egg cake and another type of biscuit or cake. For a small coffee gathering, I want something I can serve straight away in a suitable quantity. Convenience, portion size or texture is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens

    Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information also lists egg, milk and soya in their gluten-free egg cakes. So a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether these ingredients, or lactose, are present.

    Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, even if you’ve bought the product before.

  • Serving a gluten-free cake alongside crumbs containing gluten

    The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that residues in a shared kitchen can come into contact with gluten-free food, for example through utensils or an opened jar of spread.

    Store the cake separately and use clean utensils and other equipment that have been kept apart when spreading or serving it.

  • Assuming every egg cake is gluten-free

    The name ‘egg cake’ tells you nothing about whether it contains gluten; recipes may use ordinary flour.

    If the cake is for someone with coeliac disease, choose one with an explicit gluten-free label on the specific product rather than relying on the product category.

  • Assuming a soft texture makes it suitable for someone with swallowing difficulties

    Jumbo describes its egg cakes as soft and light, but this general description doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable for someone with individual chewing or swallowing difficulties.

    If someone is known to have swallowing difficulties, don’t rely on the cake’s description alone; individual assessment is still needed.

Brands to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn describes a 100 g gluten-free egg cake for a convenient coffee break.

  • Albert Heijn says this variety is made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • The product information also lists egg, milk, soya and lactose, and says it may contain sesame and nuts. Check the current packaging.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

Jumbo describes a pack containing two gluten-free egg cakes, weighing 100 g in total.

  • The product information includes the ingredients, nutritional values and storage advice for these egg cakes.
  • According to Jumbo, the egg cakes contain egg, milk and soya, and may contain nuts and sesame. This doesn’t apply to other products from the brand.

Maître Mathis

Albert Heijn has described a gluten-free egg cake from this brand, but marks the product page as ‘Discontinued’.

  • The product information lists a 100 g gluten-free egg cake.
  • Don’t count on this particular variety being available to buy without checking current availability and packaging.

Verkade

Verkade describes Oaties as gluten-free, crunchy oat biscuits: a different type of treat from a soft egg cake.

  • An option if you don’t specifically need the texture of an egg cake.
  • For a guest with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and allergen information on the current packaging. Don’t treat Oaties as a like-for-like egg cake.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for in an egg cake for someone with coeliac disease?

Start by checking for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to Regulation (EU) No 828/2014 for this label. When serving, also take care to avoid contact with products containing gluten.

Are gluten-free egg cakes also free from milk, egg or soya?

Not necessarily: the gluten-free egg cakes described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo both contain egg, milk and soya. Albert Heijn also lists lactose in its variety. If you have additional dietary requirements, check the current packaging of the product you’re buying.

What should I do if I bake gluten-free egg cakes myself?

Use a baking mix labelled gluten-free and check the other ingredients too. The Dutch Coeliac Society advises keeping gluten-free ingredients separate and working with clean hands, a clean worktop and clean utensils.

Can a gluten-free oat biscuit replace an egg cake with coffee?

Only if you don’t specifically want a soft egg cake. Verkade describes Oaties as crunchy gluten-free oat biscuits. They’re a different type of treat, so check the current packaging separately if you’re serving them to someone with coeliac disease.