A Dutch egg cake is only a sugar-free choice for St Nicholas’ Eve if the packaging explicitly says ‘sugar-free’ and the nutritional information supports that claim. According to Albert Heijn, standard AH Eierkoeken contain 31 g of sugars per 100 g, which is above the EU limit of 0.5 g per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. If you choose a different type of biscuit, remember that ‘no added sugars’ does not mean the same as ‘sugar-free’.
You’re looking for a biscuit for yourself or a guest that can genuinely be described as sugar-free. A phrase such as ‘sugar-conscious’ isn’t enough: the claim on the packaging and the nutritional information per 100 g are what matter.
You’d like to look beyond Dutch egg cakes for St Nicholas’ Eve. It matters whether you’re looking for a sugar-free biscuit or specifically a product with no added sugars.
You’re looking for biscuits to serve to several guests and checking the ingredients as well as the sugars. Albert Heijn and Bolletje’s product information lists egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya among the ingredients in their Dutch egg cakes. Check the packaging of each individual product.
First decide whether sugar-free is a firm requirement and whether a type of biscuit other than a Dutch egg cake would suit your St Nicholas’ Eve celebration.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Genuinely sugar-free | Check for the ‘sugar-free’ claim and the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the claim is permitted only when the product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. | If sugar-free is a firm requirement for me, I don’t want to rely on a general description such as ‘sugar-conscious’. Around 50% of consumers make this strict check their priority. |
| No added sugars | Read the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and check whether the product contains sweeteners. Also check that it’s still a Dutch egg cake. | I can choose a different biscuit for the celebration if no sugars have been added, even if the biscuit still contains sugars. This is the most important consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Dutch egg cakes for guests | Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging, as well as how many you’ll need. | I prefer a familiar Dutch egg cake to share, as long as its ingredients are suitable for my guests. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this combination. |
A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg wholegrain breakfast cake with no added sugars. It’s also a different type of biscuit, not a Dutch egg cake.
If you have a strict requirement, check for the ‘sugar-free’ claim and the nutritional information per 100 g, rather than relying on the wording on the front of the pack.
Texture tells you nothing about the amount of sugars. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken.
Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and read the ingredients, including any sugars and syrups.
‘Gluten-free’ or ‘wholegrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘sugar-free’. These descriptions also don’t tell you which other allergens a particular biscuit contains.
For each guest, check the relevant claim, ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you choose.
The product information for Peijnenburg breakfast cake with no added sugars lists xylitol and warns that it’s not suitable for animals.
Keep biscuits containing xylitol out of pets’ reach. If an animal eats any, follow the advice on the packaging and contact a vet straight away.
Albert Heijn sells AH Eierkoeken and also has a separate range of sugar-conscious biscuits.
Jumbo’s range of Dutch egg cakes includes standard, mini, wholegrain and gluten-free varieties.
Bolletje’s Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel is a crisp variety of Dutch egg cake.
Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars, not as a Dutch egg cake.
ALDI lists a pack of twelve Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken.
If a biscuit would suit your St Nicholas’ Eve celebration better than a Dutch egg cake, you could consider this option. If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, check the claim and nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging.
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These biscuits are an alternative for anyone who doesn’t want to stick to Dutch egg cakes for St Nicholas’ Eve. The pack contains 110 g. The product name says Sugar-Free; if you need a strictly sugar-free option, also check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.
No. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the EU ‘sugar-free’ claim is only permitted for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g, whereas a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. For example, Jumbo lists 4.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Peijnenburg wholegrain breakfast cake with no added sugars.
No. Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken and includes sugar and invert sugar syrup in the ingredients. If you have a strict sugar-free requirement, don’t choose based on the product type alone.
Not automatically. Gluten-free and sugar-free describe different properties. If you’re choosing a gluten-free Dutch egg cake, check separately whether the packaging says ‘sugar-free’ and what the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g is.
Always check the current packaging of the Dutch egg cake you choose. The product information for AH Eierkoeken and Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek Kaneel lists egg, cereals containing gluten, milk and soya among the ingredients. Exact ingredients and warnings vary by product.
Keep biscuits containing xylitol out of pets’ reach. The product information for Peijnenburg breakfast cake with no added sugars warns that xylitol isn’t suitable for animals and advises contacting a vet straight away if an animal eats any.
