Who is this distinction important for?

Shoppers for whom sugar-free is a must

You want to be able to assess an egg cake by its sugar content per 100 g. A smaller portion or a wholemeal variety isn’t a substitute for checking this.

Anyone making an advent calendar with small portions

You’re looking for a size that can be spread across the days of the calendar, such as a mini egg cake or an individually wrapped variety. The size alone says nothing about the sugar content per 100 g.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

You need to know exactly what’s in the egg cake before adding it to a calendar. So check the ingredients and allergens for the variety you’ve chosen, even if you’ve already looked at the nutritional information.

What should you look for when choosing?

If sugar-free is a must, start by checking the sugar content per 100 g. Then see whether the size, packaging and ingredients suit the recipient and how you plan to use the calendar.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Diabetes Fund gives a limit of no more than 0.5 g per 100 g for sugar-free; ‘no added sugars’ does not mean the same thing. If I genuinely want a sugar-free option, I need to be able to assess the egg cake’s sugar content. This would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers.
Calendar portions Compare the size, number of cakes, whether they’re individually wrapped and the storage advice. I want to divide the cakes across the days of the calendar without the size becoming impractical. This practical arrangement would come first for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements for the exact variety. I need to know which ingredients and allergens the chosen cake contains for the recipient. This check would be the most important factor for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming mini or wholemeal means sugar-free

    Jumbo lists 32.3 g of sugars per 100 g for Mini Eierkoeken and 33.6 g per 100 g for its wholemeal variety. Portion size and the type of grain used don’t change what sugar-free means.

    Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g first, then look at size or fibre content.

  • Judging an individually wrapped cake by its packaging alone

    According to the product information at Jumbo, Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are individually wrapped, but contain 42 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Consider individual wrapping as a practical point when choosing, and assess the nutritional information separately.

  • Checking the product page instead of the packaging

    Ingredients and nutritional information can change. For a sugar-free choice, the sugar content of the exact variety is what matters. Allergens may also be a deciding factor for the recipient.

    Check the current packaging before dividing the egg cakes across the calendar.

  • Taking a recipe described as sugar-free at face value without doing the calculations

    Steviala lists the carbohydrates per cake for its egg cake recipe. That figure doesn’t show how much sugar the finished product contains per 100 g.

    Only call the finished product sugar-free if you can work out the sugar content per 100 g of the baked cake and it meets the limit.

Brands and retailers compared

The varieties listed can help you compare size, nutritional information and packaging. A brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether an egg cake is sugar-free.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides nutritional information for regular, mini and wholemeal egg cakes.

  • You can compare the three varieties by size and sugar content per 100 g.
  • Jumbo lists 29.5 g, 32.3 g and 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g for its regular, mini and wholemeal varieties respectively. None meets the limit the Diabetes Fund gives for sugar-free.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn provides nutritional information for AH Eierkoeken and AH Eierkoeken volkoren.

  • Albert Heijn lists 3.5 g of fibre per 100 g for its wholemeal variety.
  • Albert Heijn lists 31 g of sugars per 100 g for both varieties mentioned. Check the packaging for the latest information about the cake you choose.

Bolletje

Bolletje Brosse Eierkoeken met Melklaagje are an individually wrapped option for small calendar portions.

  • According to the product information at Jumbo, each cake weighs around 15.5 g.
  • The same product information lists 42 g of sugars per 100 g and allergens including egg, milk, soya and wheat.

Lidl

Lidl lists its egg cakes as a 360 g pack containing 12 cakes, sold in store.

  • The number of cakes is useful when planning calendar portions.
  • Check the sugar content per 100 g and the allergens on the packaging you choose before deciding whether these egg cakes are sugar-free.

ALDI

ALDI lists a pack of 12 Heerlijck Banket Scharreleierkoeken.

  • The number of cakes helps you divide them across the days of the calendar.
  • Only assess whether they meet a sugar-free requirement by checking the sugar content per 100 g on the exact packaging.

Egg cakes at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can I call an egg cake sugar-free?

According to the Diabetes Fund, sugar-free means a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. To check, look for ‘of which sugars’ in the nutritional information for the exact egg cake. A claim that no sugars have been added doesn’t give you the same information.

Is a mini egg cake a sugar-free advent calendar treat?

No. A smaller size doesn’t make an egg cake sugar-free. Jumbo lists 32.3 g of sugars per 100 g for its Mini Eierkoeken, so assess the size and sugar content separately.

Are wholemeal egg cakes sugar-free?

Not simply because they’re labelled wholemeal. Jumbo lists 33.6 g of sugars per 100 g for its wholemeal egg cakes, while Albert Heijn lists 31 g per 100 g for AH Eierkoeken volkoren. Check the nutritional information again for any other variety.

How should I store egg cakes in an advent calendar?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the egg cakes you choose. The product information mentioned for Jumbo and Albert Heijn advises storing them in a cool, dry place away from light. Also check that the use-by date covers the days you plan to serve the cakes.

Which allergens should I check in egg cakes?

Check the allergen information for the exact variety, as ingredients differ. The products mentioned include allergens such as egg, milk, soya and wheat. Also read any statements on the packaging about possible traces.