Choose individually wrapped biscuits if you want each advent calendar compartment to contain exactly one sealed treat. A bag with two biscuits works only if you want to give them together and the bag fits in the compartment; with loose biscuits, you’ll need to portion them yourself. Before filling the calendar, check the best-before date, storage instructions and ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
If you don’t want to repackage the biscuits yourself, look for wording such as ‘individually wrapped’. Albert Heijn uses this description for the Lotus Biscoff Dispenser; ALDI uses it for Goud Gebakken gingerbread bites, which are a different type of biscuit.
If you’re happy to put two biscuits in one compartment, a bag containing two biscuits could work. If you want to give out different varieties, you could also look for an assortment, but check the individual portion packaging and dimensions of each type.
If allergies or dietary requirements are a consideration, read the current label before handing out the biscuits. Keep the outer packaging with its ingredients, allergen and best-before information, as well as any storage instructions, for as long as there are biscuits in the calendar.
First decide what you want each compartment to contain. Then compare the number of individual portions with the number of days you want to fill, and check the label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| One sealed biscuit | Look for ‘individually wrapped’ and count the individual wrappers. | I want to put one biscuit in each compartment every day without portioning them myself. Around 37% of consumers prioritise one sealed biscuit per compartment. |
| Number of calendar portions | Compare the number of wrappers or bags with the number of compartments to fill; two biscuits in one bag count as one portion. | When filling the calendar, I want enough individual portions, but not many more than I can use. This is the first consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label and keep the outer packaging until the last treat has been handed out. | If someone else is receiving the biscuits, I want to check whether the ingredients and allergens are suitable for them. This is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Variety and type of biscuit | Check the portion packaging for each type and make sure the packaged treat will fit in the compartment. | I’d rather not give the same type of biscuit every day, even if that means comparing different portions. Around 9% of consumers give variety top priority. |
A sealed bag may contain two biscuits. That gives you one twin portion, not two individually wrapped calendar portions.
Count the bags and check how many biscuits are in each one before deciding how many calendar days you can fill.
Albert Heijn notes that product information about ingredients and allergens can change. This is especially important if you remove the outer packaging to fill a calendar.
Read the label on the packaging you buy and keep it until all the treats have been handed out.
Albert Heijn lists 150 individually wrapped biscuits for the Lotus Biscoff Dispenser; Jumbo lists 230 for Lotus Luxe Assorti. That could be far more than you need for one calendar.
Compare the number of individual portions with the number of compartments, and decide in advance whether you’ll use the remaining biscuits too.
ALDI’s individually wrapped Goud Gebakken gingerbread bites are a different type of biscuit. The wrapper alone won’t tell you whether the treat will fit in your calendar compartment.
Measure the inside of the compartment and check the dimensions and product type before buying.
Packaging varies between Lotus Biscoff products.
ALDI lists both individually wrapped gingerbread bites and chocolate biscuits wrapped in pairs.
Jumbo lists Lotus packs with both twin portions and individually wrapped biscuits.
Albert Heijn lists individually wrapped biscuits for the Lotus Biscoff Dispenser.
Sondey is a Lidl biscuit and snack brand with a range of different products.
These Joybuy products are options for different types of calendar treat: a mini biscuit, a chocolate biscuit or speculaas biscuits. Check how many sealed portions each pack contains and whether they will fit in your compartments; a bag doesn’t automatically mean one biscuit.
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For a calendar with room for a small, sealed treat. Check how many biscuits each individual portion contains and whether the wrapped portion will fit in the compartment.
Pack size: 3 × 77 g. If you have allergies, read the current label.
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For anyone who wants to give two biscuits together as one calendar treat. Check how many individual twin portions you can get from the pack and whether a portion will fit in the compartment.
Pack size: 150 g. If you have allergies, read the current label.
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For a calendar with room for a bag of mini speculaas biscuits as a treat. Check how many biscuits each bag contains; a bag is not the same as one individually wrapped biscuit.
Pack size: 8 pieces, 200 g. Also check the dimensions of the bag and, if you have allergies, read the current label.
Yes, if you’re happy to portion them yourself, but they won’t be individually wrapped treats. Keep the outer packaging with its ingredients, allergen and best-before information, as well as any storage instructions, until all the biscuits have been handed out.
No, a bag containing two biscuits is a twin portion. If you want to put exactly one sealed biscuit in each compartment, look for wording such as ‘individually wrapped’.
Read the ingredients and clearly highlighted allergens on the current packaging. According to Your Europe’s EU guidance, allergen information must be included on the labels of pre-packed foods. Keep the label so you can refer to it later too.
No, a vegan label doesn’t tell you which allergens are relevant to the person receiving the biscuits. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging separately.
Compare the best-before date on the packaging with the days you plan to hand out the biscuits, and follow any storage instructions. According to Your Europe, a best-before or use-by date is among the information required on pre-packed foods.
