Families with a well-stocked biscuit tin
If the biscuits are mainly for sharing at home, the pack size and storage instructions after opening matter more than the number of individual packets.
Which pack is right for you?
Filling a homemade advent calendar
If you want to divide treats between calendar compartments, it helps to know exactly how many portions there are. Check the size of the wrapped biscuits and the compartments too.
Households that check food labels
If ingredients or allergens are a priority, the information on the current packaging should come before your choice of flavour or pack size.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the biscuits are mainly for the biscuit tin or for calendar compartments. Then check the packaging and, where necessary, the label.
Large pack for sharing at home
Choose this if: you’ll mainly be sharing the biscuits and don’t need individual advent calendar portions.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to divide the biscuits yourself for a calendar; follow the storage instructions on the pack after opening.
Individually wrapped portions
Choose this if: you want to put treats straight into the compartments of a fill-your-own advent calendar.
Bear in mind: there may be fewer packets than calendar days, and the packets need to fit in the compartments.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dividing biscuits between calendar days | Count the individual packets and check they’ll fit in the calendar compartments. | I don’t want to wrap each biscuit again, and I need a suitable treat for every day I’ve planned. For around 42% of consumers, ease of dividing portions matters most. |
| Pack size for the biscuit tin | Compare the net weight and check how to store the pack after opening. | We share biscuits at home over several occasions, so I want to know how many are in the pack and how to store the rest. Around 33% of consumers prioritise having enough to share at home. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. | If someone receiving the biscuits needs to avoid certain ingredients, I check the label before dividing them between the compartments. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a large pack contains enough calendar portions
The weight doesn’t tell you how many individual packets you can hand out. For example, Jumbo lists ten packets, each containing two biscuits, for Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10. That’s ten wrapped calendar portions, not 24.
Count the days you want to fill and compare that number with the individual portions in the pack.
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Relying on familiar packaging when checking for allergens
Ingredients vary by product and variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying.
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Planning around a seasonal product as if it’s a regular choice
The range of festive biscuits can change. ALDI also lists some products in its festive range as unavailable.
Check current availability before planning your calendar around one specific seasonal variety.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
If you’re looking for speculoos biscuits in portions you can divide up, Jumbo describes its XL 2P x 10 pack as containing 250 g, split across ten packets with two biscuits in each.
- The packets make it easy to portion out treats for a fill-your-own calendar.
- Ten packets won’t fill 24 calendar days without extra treats.
Albert Heijn
The 400 g AH koekjes mix is an option if baking your own biscuits is part of your advent calendar plans.
- Albert Heijn lists 20 portions for this mix.
- It’s a baking mix, not a pack of ready-made biscuits.
Jumbo
The 400 g Jumbo Krokante Digestive Biscuit is an example of a pack suited to the family biscuit tin.
- Jumbo lists around 27 portions for this pack.
- You’ll need to make up your own portions for a calendar. Jumbo advises sealing the pack well after opening and storing it in a dark place.
Sondey
Lidl offers a range of Sondey cookies and biscuits, as well as other types of snacks.
- Lidl also lists vegan options in the Sondey range.
- This doesn’t tell you about the ingredients, packaging or availability of any particular variety, so check the product you choose.
Biscotto
ALDI describes its Biscotto chocolate biscuits as individually wrapped in pairs: 20 biscuits in a 250 g pack.
- The twin packs are easy to divide between calendar compartments.
- Twenty biscuits wrapped in pairs make ten twin portions, not 24 individual calendar-day portions.
Biscuits and treats at Joybuy
Here you’ll find biscuits, cookies and wafers to consider for smaller calendar treats, alongside a pack of digestive biscuits for the biscuit tin. For calendar use, count the individual portions and check their size.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas, 8 stuks, 200 g
A speculoos option to consider for calendar treats or sharing at home.
The product name lists 8 biscuits and 200 g. Check how many individual packets the pack contains, whether they’ll fit in the calendar and which allergens are listed on the label.
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Belvita Milk & Cereals Biscuits, 300 g
These cereal biscuits are worth considering if they’re the kind of treat you want to divide up.
The pack contains 300 g. Check the number of individual portions, the size of the packets and the allergens listed on the current label.
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LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
Chocolate biscuits to consider if you want to divide treats between calendar days.
The pack contains 150 g. Before buying, count the individually wrapped portions, check they’ll fit in the compartments and read the label for allergen information.
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NABATI Butter Caramel Flavor Wafer, 12 × 27 g
A wafer product to consider if you’d like to include wafers among your calendar treats.
The product name lists 12 × 27 g. Check the size of the individual packs and read the current label for allergen information.
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McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g
A pack of digestive biscuits for anyone mainly looking to stock the family biscuit tin.
The pack contains 400 g. If you want to use the biscuits in calendar compartments, check the portion sizes. Also read the label for allergen information and storage instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How many wrapped portions do I need for 24 advent calendar compartments?
If you want to give one wrapped portion each day, you’ll need 24 portions. Jumbo lists ten twin packs for Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10, while ALDI lists twenty Biscotto chocolate biscuits wrapped in pairs. So neither pack on its own will fill all 24 compartments with individual twin portions.
When should I choose a large pack instead of wrapped portions?
Choose a large pack when you’ll mainly be sharing the biscuits at home and can store them as instructed after opening. If you want to put treats in an advent calendar without dividing them up yourself, count the individually wrapped portions instead.
Where can I check for allergens in biscuits?
Check the allergen information on the pack’s current label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, 14 allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods. Also check the ingredients and any warnings for the variety you’ve chosen.
How should I store biscuits from an opened large pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For its 400 g Krokante Digestive Biscuit, Jumbo advises sealing the pack well after opening and storing it in a dark place.
Can I plan an advent calendar around seasonal biscuits?
Yes, as long as you check availability before filling the compartments. The range can change, and ALDI lists some biscuit products in its festive range as unavailable.