Hosts serving a platter for everyone to share
You want to put out enough biscuits for everyone. The number of biscuits stated on the pack is a more useful guide than the weight alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hosts catering for different dietary needs
You’re serving guests with different dietary requirements or allergies, so you check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying.
Shoppers looking to make coffee time feel a little more special
As well as having enough biscuits, you’re looking for a familiar flavour such as speculoos, or you might choose a filled or chocolate biscuit.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many people you’re serving and whether you’ll put out one sharing platter or hand out individual portions. Then consider which pack size you can use up, and which ingredients matter to your guests.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Enough portions | Compare the stated number of biscuits or portions with the number of guests; don’t estimate the quantity from the net weight alone. | If I’m filling a platter for a larger group, I want to know whether there’ll be a biscuit for everyone. Having enough portions is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Pack size and leftovers | Choose a size that suits the occasion, and check how to store the pack once it’s open. | For a small gathering, I don’t want to be left with more opened biscuits than I can use. Minimising leftovers is the biggest consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings on the pack you’ve chosen. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the exact variety before serving anything. Suitability is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Flavour and type of biscuit | Decide whether you want to serve a plain biscuit, speculoos, or a filled or chocolate-coated biscuit. | For a sociable coffee break, I’d rather choose a flavour that suits the group than simply go for a bigger pack. Flavour is the deciding factor for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming the pack weight tells you how many biscuits are inside
Biscuits vary in size. Jumbo states that its 250 g pack of Lotus Biscoff contains around 32 biscuits, while ALDI lists around 29 biscuits in its 300 g Biscotto Tea Biscuits pack. So the weight alone won’t tell you how many you can hand out.
Look for a stated number of biscuits or portions, and make sure it’s enough for your guests.
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Relying on a vegan label to check for allergens
Jumbo describes the Lotus Biscoff variety it reviewed as suitable for vegans, but also lists wheat and soya. A dietary claim doesn’t automatically answer questions about allergens.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any relevant warnings on the pack you’ve chosen.
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Assuming a product you looked at earlier will still be available
Product ranges and stock can change between planning your coffee break and placing an order.
Check shortly before buying that your preferred variety is available and that the current product information still meets your needs.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos to enjoy with coffee. Jumbo states that the 250 g pack reviewed contains around 32 biscuits.
- The stated number of biscuits helps you plan a sharing platter.
- Jumbo lists wheat and soya for this variety; check the current pack before serving it to your guests.
Albert Heijn (AH)
Albert Heijn’s biscuit range includes AH Marie Biscuits in a 400 g pack and AH Wheat Biscuits in a 450 g pack.
- These different pack sizes give you options when filling a sharing platter.
- Ingredients vary by biscuit type: Albert Heijn lists milk, wheat and soya among the ingredients in AH Digestive milk biscuits.
Jumbo
The range includes a variety of biscuits, including 500 g packs of Vanilla-flavoured sandwich biscuits.
- A larger pack can be useful if you’re filling a platter for several guests.
- Compare the number of biscuits, flavour and ingredients for each variety; pack weight alone doesn’t tell you how many portions you’ll get.
Sondey
Lidl describes Sondey as a brand offering a variety of biscuits.
- According to Lidl, the range also includes vegan options.
- That doesn’t apply to every variety, so read the information for the product you plan to serve.
Biscotto
ALDI lists 300 g packs of tea biscuits and 380 g packs of Jodekoeken or coffee biscuits under this brand.
- ALDI states that each pack contains around 29 tea biscuits or around 20 Jodekoeken or coffee biscuits, which can help with portion planning.
- Check which variety is available and whether the number of biscuits will suit your group.
Biscuits for coffee time at Joybuy
These products offer different ways to serve biscuits with coffee: a pack to share, syrup waffles, or a filled or chocolate-coated biscuit. Choose a size to suit your group, and always check the current packaging if you’re catering for dietary requirements.
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LU Bastogne Original, 260 g
An option if you’d like to put Bastogne biscuits on a platter for your coffee guests.
The pack states 260 g. Check the current number of biscuits to plan portions, and read the allergen information if you’re catering for dietary requirements.
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Kanjers Extra Delicious Syrup Waffles, 10 biscuits
The pack of ten syrup waffles is a good option if you’d like to offer each guest an individual biscuit.
Choose the number of packs to suit your group, and check the current ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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LU Scholiertje biscuits with milk chocolate, 150 g
A choice for coffee time if you’d like to serve biscuits with milk chocolate.
The pack states 150 g. If you’re planning for several guests, check how many biscuits it contains and read the allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen.
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FESTIVAL vanilla-flavoured biscuits, 403 g
This size could work if you’re sharing vanilla-flavoured biscuits with a group.
The pack states 403 g. Check how many biscuits it contains, and read the current ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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Bakker Joop Syrup Biscuits
Syrup biscuits are an option if you’re serving filled biscuits to a smaller group.
Check the net weight on the pack before deciding how much you need, as the stated weights vary. Also read the current allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out how many biscuits I need for a coffee break?
Start with the number of guests and decide how many biscuits you’d like to offer each person. Compare that with the stated number of biscuits: Jumbo lists around 32 biscuits in a 250 g pack of Lotus Biscoff, while ALDI lists around 29 in its 300 g Biscotto Tea Biscuits pack.
How do I check for allergens when buying biscuits for guests?
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact pack you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that 14 allergens must be declared. Also check for warnings about possible traces of allergens if they’re relevant to any of your guests.
Does vegan mean that biscuits are allergen-free?
No. A vegan label doesn’t mean a product is allergen-free. Jumbo describes the Lotus Biscoff variety it reviewed as suitable for vegans, but lists wheat and soya for that same variety.
How should I store biscuits from a large pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack, including after opening it. For example, Jumbo says that Pally Tea Biscuits should be stored in a cool, dry place. Check the specific instructions for any other variety.