Who is this choice relevant to?

Visitors with coeliac disease

You want to be able to check the gluten-free label on the egg cake itself, rather than judging by its appearance or relying on the ingredients list alone. Check for any other allergens that may be relevant to you, too.

Hosts and Christmas market organisers

You want to offer a treat that’s easy to identify and make it clear which cake is intended for each guest. Keeping the packaging to hand and serving gluten-free cakes separately can help avoid confusion.

Home bakers and stallholders

You may want to make your own egg cakes or offer them unpackaged. In that case, you need to consider not only the ingredients, but also contact with products containing gluten. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says information about allergens present must be available before purchase when selling unpackaged cakes.

What should you look for when buying and serving?

First check the egg cake’s gluten-free label, then look at the other allergens and how you plan to offer the cakes at the Christmas market.

What to check What to look for when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free label Read the ‘gluten-free’ label and ingredients on the current packaging, and check that it’s the specific egg cake variety you intend to buy. If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I want to be able to check the gluten-free status of this particular egg cake. Around 36% of consumers put this product identification first.
Allergens and serving Check the information about other allergens and keep gluten-free cakes separate from standard ones when setting them out and serving them. When sharing a treat, I want to be able to say which allergens the cake contains without mixing up the packaging; around 29% of consumers put this first.
Availability Check local stock and the use-by date shortly before the Christmas market, and see whether the listing is for a product page or a category page. I want to be able to buy a genuinely gluten-free egg cake in good time, rather than having to find a different type of cake on the day. Availability is the main concern for around 21% of consumers.
Baking your own or choosing an alternative Decide whether you need an egg cake or whether another gluten-free cake will do; if baking your own, check the ingredients and consider possible contact with gluten during preparation. For my stall, I want to make my own egg cakes, or choose another type of cake if the soft texture of an egg cake isn’t essential. Around 14% of consumers prioritise having that choice.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a standard egg cake is gluten-free

    Ingredients vary from one product to another. Bolletje lists wheat flour and wheat starch, among other ingredients, for Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel, and identifies wheat and gluten-containing cereals as allergens.

    If you have coeliac disease, don’t rely on the type of product as proof. Check the gluten-free label on the current packaging of the exact variety.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. For AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken, Albert Heijn lists egg, milk and soya, and warns that sesame and nuts may also be present.

    Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and keep the current packaging to hand when serving.

  • Offering unpackaged cakes without allergen information

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says sellers of unpackaged food must tell customers about the allergens present. Food at markets must also be prepared, sold and stored hygienically.

    For home-baked cakes, keep a record of the ingredients and allergens, make the information available before purchase, and prevent contact with standard cakes.

    Baking your own cakes and offering them unpackaged takes extra time: you’ll need to keep track of ingredients, prepare allergen information, and store and serve the cakes separately.

  • Assuming a previous product listing guarantees stock

    A product listing doesn’t tell you whether a particular shop will have the egg cakes in stock on the day of the Christmas market. Albert Heijn lists a gluten-free egg cake from Maître Mathis that was previously sold, but is now no longer in its range.

    Check local availability and the use-by date shortly before the event. If another gluten-free cake will do, check its current packaging separately.

Brands and product ranges to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn describes its 100 g AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken as being made in a completely gluten-free environment.

  • The product listing links the gluten-free label to this specific egg cake.
  • Check the other allergens on the packaging too; gluten-free doesn’t mean free from egg, milk or soya.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

Jumbo lists Gluten Free Bakery Holland Eierkoeken in its egg cake category as a pack of 2, weighing 100 g.

  • This is a specific egg cake variety to compare when you’re shopping.
  • Before serving the cakes to someone with coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.

Bolletje

Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel is a standard, crisp egg cake with cinnamon and a milk coating.

  • The official product information makes it possible to check the ingredients in this variety.
  • According to Bolletje, this variety contains wheat flour and wheat starch, so it isn’t a gluten-free option. This doesn’t say anything about other Bolletje products.

Verkade

Verkade describes Oaties as a gluten-free, crunchy oat biscuit.

  • An alternative type of biscuit to consider if you don’t specifically need an egg cake; check the current packaging.
  • Oaties aren’t egg cakes, so they won’t have the same soft texture.

Heerlijck Banket (ALDI)

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket free-range egg cakes in a pack of 12, weighing 360 g.

  • The pack size is a practical option to consider if there’s no requirement for gluten-free cakes.
  • Don’t treat these egg cakes as gluten-free unless the exact packaging has a gluten-free label.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is an egg cake with no wheat in the ingredients list automatically gluten-free?

No. The absence of wheat from an ingredients list isn’t enough to make that judgement. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ label may be used when the food, as sold, contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, check the label on the current packaging.

Are standard egg cakes suitable as a gluten-free treat?

Not without checking the exact variety. Bolletje lists wheat flour, wheat starch and gluten-containing cereals for Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel, so don’t choose this variety when a gluten-free egg cake is needed.

Which allergens should I check in addition to gluten?

Check all allergens that are relevant to your guests. For AH Glutenvrij Eierkoeken, Albert Heijn lists egg, milk and soya, and says sesame and various nuts may also be present. Check the current label on the packaging you’ve chosen every time you buy.

What allergen information must a stall provide for unpackaged egg cakes?

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says sellers of unpackaged food must tell customers about the allergens present before purchase. Make sure the information is available for the exact cakes you’re selling, and prepare, store and sell food hygienically at the market.