Who is this choice relevant to?

People with a strict sugar-free requirement

You’re looking for a late-night snack that genuinely meets the threshold for ‘sugar-free’. A small portion or the words ‘no added sugar’ aren’t enough.

People open to trying a different type of biscuit

Your main aim is to avoid added sugar, so you’re also considering a biscuit other than an egg cake. In that case, it’s important to check the exact claim, ingredients and any warnings on the packaging.

Egg cake lovers who need to check the label

You’d like to stick with an egg cake, but you also need to consider ingredients or allergens. A label such as ‘wholemeal’ or ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t tell you anything about the sugar content on its own.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. If it isn’t, you can weigh up whether to stick with an egg cake or choose a different type of biscuit.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Truly sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g for the exact egg cake. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘sugar-free’ means no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If sugar-free is a strict requirement for me, I don’t want to rely on the product name or portion size. This would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
No added sugar Compare the exact claim and the sugars per 100 g and per portion. Also check which sweeteners are used and what warnings appear on the packaging. I want to avoid added sugar and am happy to choose a different type of biscuit, as long as I know what’s in it. For around 30% of consumers, making this switch would be the main consideration.
Sticking with an egg cake Check the sugars, fibre and allergens for the exact variety; assess ‘wholemeal’ and ‘gluten-free’ separately from your sugar requirements. The familiar egg cake matters to me, but the ingredients also need to suit my dietary needs. For around 20% of consumers, this would be the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    The claims don’t mean the same thing: a biscuit with no added sugar may still contain sugars. For example, Verkade San Francisco Zero lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, according to Albert Heijn’s product information.

    If sugar-free is a requirement, compare the sugars per 100 g with the 0.5 g threshold the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives for this claim.

  • Assuming wholemeal means less sugar

    Jumbo lists 33.6 g of sugars and 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cakes, compared with 29.5 g of sugars and 1.9 g of fibre per 100 g for the regular variety listed.

    Compare sugars and fibre separately for the varieties you’re choosing between; the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t answer the question of sugar content.

  • Confusing gluten-free with lower sugar

    According to the product information, the gluten-free Maître Mathis egg cakes listed by Albert Heijn contain 33 g of sugars per 100 g. Being gluten-free and meeting a sugar-free requirement are two different things.

    For the exact product, check both the dietary information and allergens, as well as the sugars per 100 g.

  • Choosing based only on ‘zero’ or the front of the pack

    Albert Heijn lists maltitols in Verkade San Francisco Zero and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Before choosing a different type of biscuit as a late-night snack, also read the nutrition information per portion, the ingredients and any warnings.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The own-brand range includes regular egg cakes; Albert Heijn also lists a separate gluten-free variety from Maître Mathis.

  • For AH Eierkoeken, Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g and 94 kcal per cake. This lets you distinguish between the values per 100 g and per item.
  • These AH Eierkoeken don’t meet a strict sugar-free requirement. The gluten-free Maître Mathis variety listed contains 33 g of sugars per 100 g; check current availability.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists both regular and wholemeal egg cakes, so you can compare the nutrition information for the two varieties directly.

  • According to Jumbo, the wholemeal variety listed contains 3.9 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 1.9 g per 100 g for Jumbo Eierkoeken 4 Stuks.
  • Jumbo lists 33.6 g and 29.5 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. So ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t make this variety suitable if you need a sugar-free product.

Heerlijck Banket

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

  • To check the sugar content or allergens, read the nutrition information and ingredients on the product packaging.

Bolletje

Bolletje describes its Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel as an egg cake with a milk coating and cinnamon.

  • Bolletje also mentions a sugar coating on its crisp egg cake. Assess a specific variety using its nutrition information, not the category name.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, so it’s an alternative outside the egg cake category.

  • According to the product information listed by Albert Heijn, this biscuit contains 0% added sugar.
  • The same product information lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g, maltitols and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. This means the product isn’t sugar-free according to the threshold given by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

Lidl

Lidl has a product listing for egg cakes.

  • If you’re choosing based on sugar content, use the nutrition information per 100 g on the current product packaging.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘sugar-free’ mean on a pack?

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a solid food can carry the claim ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g on the packaging of the exact egg cake.

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

No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. If you’re choosing a biscuit for a late-night snack, compare the exact claim with the nutrition information per 100 g.

Can I choose a regular or wholemeal egg cake if sugar-free is a strict requirement?

Not based on the AH and Jumbo varieties listed here: Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken, while Jumbo lists 29.5 g for its regular egg cakes and 33.6 g for its wholemeal ones. Always check the nutrition information for any other variety.

What should I look out for if I have a food allergy?

Check the allergens on the packaging of the exact egg cake; a label such as ‘gluten-free’ says nothing about other allergens. For example, the product information for the gluten-free Maître Mathis egg cakes listed mentions milk, egg and soya, and warns that they may contain nuts, sesame and lupin.

Is a ‘zero’ biscuit a suitable alternative without any further checks?

No. Check the ingredients, nutrition information and any warnings too. Albert Heijn lists maltitols in Verkade San Francisco Zero and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.