The traditional oliebollen baker
You want to make sure you have everything you need for the batter first. The basic recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo use flour, yeast, milk and egg; biscuits are no substitute for these ingredients.
Who might want biscuits on the side?
The host looking for a flavour accent
You’d like to serve something crunchy alongside the oliebollen or try a little experiment with biscuit crumbs. Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a biscuit that can also be used as a cooking ingredient, but doesn’t specifically list it as an ingredient for oliebollen.
The shopper buying for a group
You want to offer biscuits with coffee or tea and are looking for a pack format that suits handing them out or putting them on the table. Individually wrapped portions, multiple packs and one large pack each offer a practical advantage.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you only need ingredients for the oliebollen. If you’d also like to serve biscuits, choose a flavour and pack format to suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients for the batter | Check your chosen oliebollen recipe against your shopping list: biscuits won’t replace flour, yeast, milk or egg. | If I mainly want to make classic oliebollen, I want to have everything for the batter in the house first. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this basic requirement. |
| Biscuit flavour | Choose speculoos or a cinnamon biscuit if you’d like to serve that flavour separately; if you like, try the crumbs on a small portion first. | For an extra flavour to enjoy alongside an oliebol, I’d rather choose a biscuit deliberately than use one as a substitute for batter ingredients. Around 25% of consumers put this flavour accent first. |
| Sharing with guests | Compare the number of portions with the number of guests. Jumbo’s Lotus Biscoff XL pack contains 10 sachets, each with 2 biscuits. | If I’m handing out biscuits with coffee, I want to know in advance how many portions I can put out. Around 17% of consumers prioritise serving them this way. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight, number of biscuits and individual inner packs. Albert Heijn sells LU Bastogne as a 3-pack; ALDI lists around 20 Biscotto biscuits in a 380 g pack. | When I’m having several guests over, I want to put out enough biscuits without opening more packs than necessary. For around 16% of consumers, the quantity in the pack is the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Buying a family pack before you have all the batter ingredients
Biscuits alone won’t make the classic batter in the recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo.
Check the ingredients on your shopping list for the recipe first. Only add biscuits if you’d like to serve them separately or try a small flavour test.
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Treating all large packs as if they’re the same
Individual sachets for sharing work differently from multiple packs for serving on different occasions, or one opened pack on the table.
Decide how you’ll serve the biscuits, then compare the number of portions, net weight and inner packaging.
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Relying on allergen information you’ve seen before
The ingredients in the pack you buy are what matter. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly listed on the label.
When buying, read the packaging for both the biscuits and any other products you’re using if allergens are relevant to your guests.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit to enjoy with coffee or use as a cooking ingredient. Jumbo says its XL pack contains 10 sachets, each with 2 biscuits.
- The individual sachets are handy if you want to hand out portions.
- Being suitable as a cooking ingredient doesn’t make the biscuit part of a classic oliebollen recipe.
LU Bastogne
A cinnamon biscuit you can serve alongside oliebollen. The pack described contains three individual packs of 260 g.
- The separate packs are a good fit if you want to serve biscuits on different occasions.
- The product description isn’t an oliebollen recipe; don’t use the biscuits instead of flour or yeast.
Biscotto
ALDI Netherlands lists around 20 Biscotto jode or coffee biscuits in a 380 g pack.
- One pack gives you biscuits to put out for a group.
- Check the current packaging, ingredients and availability in store.
Biscuits to serve with oliebollen
These Joybuy products are biscuits to serve with coffee or tea alongside homemade oliebollen. Choose based on the pack size shown, and check the packaging if portions or allergens are important to you.
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LU Bastogne Original, 3 × 260 g
A multipack for anyone who wants to serve biscuits alongside oliebollen on several occasions.
The product listing describes three packs of 260 g each. Check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergens.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Cookies, 8 pcs, 200 g
A speculaas biscuit to serve separately alongside oliebollen.
The product title states 8 pieces and 200 g. Check the inner packaging if you want to hand out individual portions.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie, 250 g
A speculoos biscuit to offer guests alongside oliebollen.
The product title states 250 g. Check the number of biscuits and the inner packaging if you’re planning portions.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas, 450 g
A pack of speculaas for anyone who wants to put biscuits on the table alongside oliebollen.
The product title states 450 g. Check the pack for the number of biscuits before planning portions for your guests.
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g'woon Coffee Biscuits, 250 g
Biscuits to serve separately with coffee and oliebollen.
Check the net weight on the pack before planning for a group: different weights are listed for this product.
Frequently asked questions
Can biscuits replace flour or yeast in oliebollen batter?
No. The classic basic recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo use flour and yeast, as well as ingredients such as milk and egg. Serve biscuits separately or try crumbs on a small portion, but don’t rely on them as the basis for the batter.
Which pack is best if you’re expecting lots of guests?
Choose individually wrapped portions if you want to hand out biscuits, or a larger pack if you’ll put them on the table. Jumbo says its Lotus Biscoff XL pack contains 10 sachets, each with 2 biscuits; ALDI Netherlands lists around 20 Biscotto biscuits in 380 g. A LU Bastogne multipack with three 260 g packs is handy for serving on several occasions.
How should I store an opened pack of biscuits?
Follow the instructions on the packaging and seal an opened pack well. Joybuy’s product information for LU Bastogne recommends storing it in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight, heat and moisture.
Which allergens should I check in biscuits?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that mandatory labelling covers 14 allergens. Also check other products you use for baking or serving if allergens are relevant to your guests.
Which oil can I use to deep-fry oliebollen?
Sunflower oil is one option for deep-frying oliebollen, according to the Dutch Consumers’ Association. Also check the product information for your chosen oil; the Association highlights peanut allergy as a consideration with groundnut oil.