Fans of rich cocoa flavours
You’re looking for a dark chocolate flavour for your Christmas market selection and don’t mind that a dark chocolate bar is different from a filled canoe-shaped pastry.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Organisers looking for a classic pastry
You want to serve or hand out almond-paste canoe-shaped pastries individually with coffee or tea. A dark chocolate flavour isn’t essential.
Shoppers for whom allergens are a priority
Before buying and serving a product, you need to know which allergens it contains and which may be present, so you can give your guests accurate product information.
What should you consider when choosing?
Start with the product type: an almond-paste canoe-shaped pastry is different from a dark chocolate bar, even if both are being served at the same Christmas market.
Canoe-shaped pastry with almond paste
Choose this option: if a familiar canoe-shaped pastry and individual portions are what you’re looking for.
Keep in mind: the canoe-shaped pastries described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo are filled with almond paste and are not listed as having a high cocoa content.
Dark chocolate bar
Choose this option: if a rich cocoa flavour matters more than the shape and filling of a canoe-shaped pastry.
Keep in mind: a bar isn’t a substitute for a pastry; compare the cocoa percentage listed on the packaging of the exact variant.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark flavour and product type | Decide whether you’re looking for a canoe-shaped pastry or a separate chocolate bar. For chocolate, check the cocoa percentage listed for the exact variant. | If I mainly want to offer a rich cocoa flavour, a bar is also an option, even if it isn’t a canoe-shaped pastry. For around 50% of consumers, that flavour is the most important factor. |
| Pastries and portions | Compare the number of pieces, weight per portion and storage instructions. Albert Heijn lists six portions of 45 g; Jumbo lists five portions of 55 g. | When handing them out, I want to know in advance how many pastries I can serve; almond paste and a familiar pastry matter more to me than cocoa. Around 33% of consumers prioritise these factors. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the current packaging for the variant you choose, including warnings about allergens that may be present. | When I choose food for guests, I need to be able to clearly explain what it contains and which allergens may be present. This is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a canoe-shaped pastry is a dark chocolate option
Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe their canoe-shaped pastries as almond-paste pastries. Those product descriptions don’t provide any basis for assuming they have a high cocoa content.
First decide whether the pastry or the cocoa flavour is your priority. If you’re mainly looking for cocoa, compare dark chocolate bars by the percentage listed for the exact bar.
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Relying on the product name alone for allergen information
The pastries described contain different allergens. Product information can also change, so a description you checked previously may not be enough when serving them to guests.
Read the packaging of the batch you buy, and keep the ingredients and allergen information available when serving the product.
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Using a high cocoa percentage as a measure of nutritional value
A cocoa percentage doesn’t tell you everything about a chocolate bar’s nutritional value. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that chocolate contains saturated fat and calories.
Use the percentage to compare chocolate variants, and check the nutritional information per 100 g and, where listed, per portion.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes a butter pastry filled with almond paste.
- For this pastry, Albert Heijn lists 41% almond paste and six portions of 45 g.
- This isn’t described as a dark chocolate pastry. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes both a butter and almond-paste pastry and separate extra dark chocolate bars.
- Jumbo lists 38% almond paste and five portions of 55 g for its pastry; its separate organic chocolate bars are labelled as containing 72% and 85% cocoa.
- The cocoa percentages listed apply to the bars, not the pastry. Check the allergen information for each variant you choose.
Verkade
Verkade’s dark chocolate bar is a separate option if you’re looking for chocolate rather than a canoe-shaped pastry.
- Verkade lists a minimum cocoa content of 52% for its dark chocolate bar.
- That percentage doesn’t tell you anything about a Verkade canoe-shaped pastry. As with this bar, check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Joybuy products for a dark chocolate option
These products suit anyone looking for a dark chocolate option at a Christmas market. They aren’t canoe-shaped pastries, so compare the product type, stated cocoa content and packaging before choosing.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark – 100 g
A chocolate bar for anyone who wants to offer a dark chocolate option at a Christmas market instead of canoe-shaped pastries.
The product name lists 90% cocoa and a 100 g pack. Check the current packaging for allergen information before serving.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao – 100 g
A bar for anyone who wants to offer dark chocolate without having to choose a canoe-shaped pastry.
The product name lists 78% cocoa and 100 g. If you have an allergy, check the packaging of the bar you choose.
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Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate – 100 g
A dark chocolate bar for anyone looking for an alternative to canoe-shaped pastries.
The product name lists 70% cocoa and 100 g. Before serving, check the current packaging for allergens present and those that may be present.
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AE Chocodate Dark Chocolate – 90 g
A different kind of snack for anyone considering dark chocolate but not necessarily looking for a standard bar.
The product name lists 90 g. This product with dates and almonds isn’t a canoe-shaped pastry; check the packaging for ingredients and allergens before serving.
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Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate – 180 g
A dark chocolate bar for anyone who wants to offer chocolate instead of canoe-shaped pastries.
The product name lists 180 g and 70% cocoa, but the cocoa information in the product details is contradictory. Check the percentage and allergen information on the packaging before buying and serving.
Frequently asked questions
Is a traditional canoe-shaped pastry also a dark chocolate option?
No, not based on the variants described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo: these are described as butter pastries filled with almond paste. If you’re mainly looking for a rich cocoa flavour, compare separate dark chocolate bars using the information on their packaging.
Does ‘extra dark’ always mean the same cocoa percentage?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, terms such as bitter and extra bitter don’t have a set cocoa and cocoa butter percentage. So check the percentage listed for the exact chocolate bar rather than relying on the description alone.
How should I store canoe-shaped pastries before the Christmas market?
Follow the instructions on the packaging of the pastries you buy. Albert Heijn says to store its described variant in a cool, dry place; Jumbo says to store its variant in a cool, dry and dark place.
How can I give guests information about allergens?
Make the allergen information for the products you’re actually serving accessible before buying and serving them. Check the current packaging, and if you’re serving unpackaged products, make sure you can answer questions about ingredients and potential allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of providing information before purchase.