If you want to serve Dutch egg cakes and be able to check whether the chocolate is Fairtrade, pair plain egg cakes with a separate chocolate bar that is explicitly labelled Fairtrade. According to Jumbo, the Jumbo Choco Eierkoeken we looked at contained UTZ Certified cocoa, and they were no longer in its online range; a Fairtrade label on separate chocolate does not make the egg cake itself Fairtrade.
You want to be able to check the label on the chocolate product itself. Verkade says the cocoa in its chocolate bars and chocolate letters is Fairtrade; Lidl describes its Way To Go chocolate as fully Fairtrade-certified. Check the packaging of the bar you choose.
You’re looking for a treat that takes little preparation. Albert Heijn lists a pack of 12 plain egg cakes; the Jumbo page we looked at showed that the 4 Choco Eierkoeken were no longer in its online range. Check what’s currently available before counting on a particular variety.
You want to know what you’re serving your guests. The egg cakes we looked at list ingredients including egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya. Check both the egg cakes and any chocolate, and keep the packaging available when serving.
Start by deciding whether egg cakes need to be part of the treat. The label on the specific chocolate product then determines what you can say about its Fairtrade status.
When: When minimal preparation is the priority and the current product label meets your requirements.
Trade-off: Jumbo listed UTZ Certified cocoa, not Fairtrade, for its 4 Choco Eierkoeken; the product page we looked at also said they were no longer in its online range.
When: When you want to serve egg cakes and check the Fairtrade label on the chocolate separately.
Trade-off: You’re buying and serving two components; the label on the chocolate does not automatically apply to the egg cake or the combined treat.
When: When a chocolate bar labelled Fairtrade matters more to you than having egg cakes on the table.
Trade-off: Lidl describes Way To Go chocolate as fully Fairtrade-certified, but a chocolate bar is a different kind of treat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label | Check whether the current chocolate product is labelled Fairtrade, and whether the label applies to the product or specifically to the cocoa. UTZ Certified on the Jumbo Choco Eierkoeken is not a Fairtrade label. | I want to be able to say exactly which chocolate component is Fairtrade at the party. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a verifiable label. |
| Quick to serve | Check the number of items per pack and current availability. Albert Heijn lists 12 egg cakes per 360 g pack. | If I’m short on time to get the treat ready, I want to know whether the pack is ready to serve. Serving convenience is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the labels on both the egg cakes and chocolate, including warnings about possible traces. The egg cakes we looked at list ingredients including egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to tell them what’s in both components before handing them out. Allergen information is a top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Portions and leftovers | Compare the number of egg cakes with the portions you need, and check the storage instructions and date on the packaging. | For a small party, I don’t want to buy more egg cakes and separate chocolate than I can use. Around 17% of consumers give portion planning the highest priority. |
The Jumbo Choco Eierkoeken we looked at listed UTZ Certified cocoa. This does not mean you can claim that the product carries a Fairtrade label.
Look for Fairtrade on the packaging of the specific product and check what the label applies to.
ALDI says that cocoa in its own-brand products may be certified by Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or the EU Organic logo. This does not tell you which label appears on an individual egg cake.
Use general cocoa policies as a guide, but check the packaging of the product you’re buying.
Egg cakes and chocolate can contain different ingredients and carry different warnings about possible traces. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, pre-packed products must show allergen information on the label.
Read both packs before serving, and keep them available in case guests have questions.
The Jumbo product page we looked at said that the 4 Choco Eierkoeken were no longer in its online range. If you’re planning a party for a set date, it’s important to have an alternative.
Check current availability and decide in advance whether plain egg cakes with separate chocolate would also work.
Jumbo had a ready-made chocolate variety: 4 Choco Eierkoeken.
The AH Eierkoeken we looked at are a plain base to serve with chocolate separately.
Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek is a variety of egg cake; according to the manufacturer, it uses free-range eggs.
Verkade is relevant for the separate chocolate, not as a brand of the egg cakes discussed here.
Lidl describes Way To Go chocolate as an option if you want to serve a chocolate bar.
This chocolate bar works for a Halloween party as a separate chocolate option alongside egg cakes, or as an alternative if you don’t want to serve egg cakes. Check the Fairtrade label on the current packaging; the bar itself is not an egg cake.
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If you want to serve egg cakes with separate chocolate, the product description says this bar is Fairtrade; check the label on the current packaging.
Milk chocolate with pecan and caramel, 180 g. This is a chocolate bar, not an egg cake. Before serving, read the allergen information for both the bar and the egg cakes.
No, not based solely on the label on the chocolate. The label applies to the component it appears on; check separately what claims are made on the egg cake and the chocolate packaging.
Check the current labels on both components, especially for egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya, which are listed for the AH and Bolletje egg cakes we looked at. Also read any warnings about possible traces, including nuts or sesame, on the products you’re actually serving.
Use the packaging of the product you buy as your final check. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change; this is especially important when putting together a treat for several guests.
Follow the storage advice and date on the packaging of your egg cakes. For the AH Eierkoeken we looked at, Albert Heijn advises storing them in a cool, dry place away from light, closing the pack properly after use and checking the best-before date on the side.
