Who are these options suitable for?

People who need a strictly sugar-free option

You’re looking for a product with no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, and you’re happy for a suitable alternative not to be an egg cake.

People who want egg cakes for Christmas breakfast

You’d like to serve soft, airy egg cakes and want to know how the sugar content of a regular variety compares with what you’re looking for.

People who want to avoid added sugars

You’re looking for a product with no added sugars, while bearing in mind that it may still contain naturally occurring sugars or sweeteners.

What should you consider when choosing?

Before your Christmas breakfast, decide whether meeting the sugar-free threshold is essential or whether having an egg cake matters more. According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, sugar-free means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘no added sugars’ is a different claim.

Regular egg cake

Suitable if: you mainly want a soft egg cake for Christmas breakfast.

The trade-off: the egg cakes from Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain 31 g and 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g respectively, so they don’t meet the sugar-free threshold.

Sugar-free biscuit

Suitable if: sugar content is your priority and you’re happy to have a biscuit instead of an egg cake.

The trade-off: Céréal Zonder Suikers Kokos is listed by Jumbo as containing 0 g of sugars per 100 g, but it doesn’t have the texture of an egg cake and contains maltitol.

Breakfast cake with no added sugars

Suitable if: you mainly want to avoid added sugars and would like to serve slices of breakfast cake.

The trade-off: Peijnenburg volkoren ontbijtkoek zonder toegevoegde suikers is still listed by Jumbo as containing 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, and it isn’t an egg cake.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Strictly sugar-free Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g: according to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, the sugar-free threshold is a maximum of 0.5 g. I want a product for Christmas breakfast that meets this threshold, even if that means going without egg cake. This strict requirement is the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
No added sugars Read both the ingredients and the sugars per 100 g; check which sweetener has been used too. I want to avoid added sugars and don’t mind if a different type of biscuit still contains naturally occurring sugars. This is the main priority for around 30% of consumers.
The egg cake itself Compare the sugars per 100 g and read the allergen information if you’re buying for guests. For my Christmas table, the most important thing is having soft egg cake, even if the regular variety isn’t sugar-free. Around 20% of consumers give this preference priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘sugar-free’

    A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Peijnenburg volkoren ontbijtkoek zonder toegevoegde suikers is listed by Jumbo as containing 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g.

    If you need a sugar-free option, compare the figure per 100 g with the maximum of 0.5 g specified by the Dutch Nutrition Centre.

  • Assuming an airy egg cake is low in sugar

    Texture tells you nothing about sugar content. Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken as containing 31 g of sugars per 100 g; Jumbo lists Jumbo Eierkoeken as containing 29.5 g per 100 g.

    Before buying, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information, even if an egg cake looks light.

  • Overlooking the packaging on biscuits with sweeteners

    The Céréal and Peijnenburg products checked carry warnings that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Ingredients and allergens also vary from product to product.

    Check the current packaging before serving biscuits to guests. Peijnenburg also warns that the xylitol used is not suitable for animals.

  • Relying on a shop listing for sugar information

    A listing for egg cakes in a shop’s range doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in the pack you choose.

    For Lidl/Sondey and ALDI/Heerlijck Banket egg cakes, check the nutritional information on the current packaging before choosing them for someone who needs a sugar-free option.

Relevant brands and where to shop

Albert Heijn

AH Eierkoeken are a regular egg cake option; biscuits are a different product category.

  • Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken as containing 31 g of sugars and 27 g of added sugars per 100 g.
  • These egg cakes aren’t suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.

Jumbo

Alongside Jumbo Eierkoeken, you’ll find biscuits with different sugar claims.

  • Jumbo lists Céréal Zonder Suikers Kokos as containing 0 g of sugars per 100 g and Peijnenburg ontbijtkoek zonder toegevoegde suikers as containing 4.9 g per 100 g.
  • Neither is an egg cake. Jumbo Eierkoeken themselves are listed as containing 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Bolletje

Bolletje offers a crisp egg cake variety, including Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel.

  • The crisp variety has a different texture from a soft egg cake.
  • Bolletje lists sugar in Brosse Eierkoek. Don’t choose this variety for a sugar-free diet based on the product name alone; check the current packaging.

Lidl / Sondey

Lidl lists a pack of 12 Sondey egg cakes weighing 360 g.

  • The pack size can help you plan breakfast for several guests.
  • Check the sugars per 100 g on the current packaging before choosing these egg cakes for someone who needs a sugar-free option.

ALDI / Heerlijck Banket

ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket free-range egg cakes in a pack of 12.

  • The number of cakes in the pack is useful when planning your Christmas table.
  • Check the nutritional information on the current packaging to see whether the product meets a sugar-free requirement.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be called sugar-free?

According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, a solid food can be called sugar-free if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. The Dutch Nutrition Centre sets a different limit for low-sugar foods: no more than 5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. A product with no added sugars may still contain naturally occurring sugars. Peijnenburg volkoren ontbijtkoek zonder toegevoegde suikers is listed by Jumbo as containing 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g, so check the nutritional information as well.

Can I serve regular AH or Jumbo egg cakes as sugar-free?

No, the regular varieties mentioned don’t meet the sugar-free threshold. Albert Heijn lists AH Eierkoeken as containing 31 g of sugars per 100 g, while Jumbo lists Jumbo Eierkoeken as containing 29.5 g per 100 g.

What should I look out for in biscuits containing maltitol or xylitol?

Read the usage warnings and ingredients on the current packaging. The Céréal and Peijnenburg products mentioned warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect; Peijnenburg also states that xylitol is not suitable for animals.

Are these egg cakes and biscuit alternatives suitable for guests with allergies?

Don’t assume a product is suitable based on its name or sugar claim. The AH and Jumbo egg cakes mentioned list ingredients including egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya; check the current ingredients and allergen information for each product before serving it.