Couples who want to serve canoe pastries
The shape and almond paste filling are part of the buffet you have in mind. Adding the chocolate yourself is an option, provided you have enough time and a suitable place to prepare them.
Who are these options suitable for?
Organisers who want less preparation
Ready-made chocolate-coated biscuits save you the effort of melting and decorating, as long as you don’t mind a different shape and filling.
Caterers serving unpackaged biscuits
For food served at a business event, the buffet setup also needs to take account of hygienic handling and accessible allergen information. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out rules for food businesses.
What should you consider when choosing?
Add the chocolate to the canoe pastries yourself
Choose this if: the canoe shape needs to remain part of the presentation.
Bear in mind: you’ll need extra preparation time, time for the chocolate to set and ingredient information for two products.
Ready-made chocolate-coated biscuits
Choose this if: the chocolate coating matters more than the canoe shape.
Bear in mind: the biscuits will have a different shape and may have a different filling from almond paste.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and finish | Decide whether they really need to be canoe-shaped and whether you have the time and space to add the chocolate and let it set. | If I want recognisable canoe pastries on the table, I don’t want to swap them for a different biscuit. For around 42% of consumers, presentation matters most. |
| Allergens and serving | Check the latest information for the canoe pastries, chocolate and any decorations. For food served at a business event, make sure information is available for unpackaged products. | When I serve unpackaged biscuits to guests, I want to be able to answer questions about the ingredients. This is a top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Portions and planning | Compare the number of biscuits in each pack with the number of portions you need, and check the storage instructions. | For the buffet, I want to know in advance how many biscuits I can serve without having to finish them all myself. Around 25% of consumers give this kind of practical planning top priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming regular canoe pastries are chocolate-coated
Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Lidl do not describe their canoe pastries as chocolate-coated in their product information. Verkade Chocorondjes do have a chocolate coating, but they are not canoe pastries.
Before buying, decide whether to add the chocolate yourself or choose a ready-made biscuit in a different shape. Then check the description of the product you’ve chosen.
Adding the chocolate yourself also requires chocolate, workspace and time for the coating to set.
-
Only checking the canoe pastry label
If you add chocolate or decorations yourself, you’re combining ingredients from several products. The information on the canoe pastry alone won’t cover the whole item on the buffet.
Check the latest information on every pack and keep it together so you can provide guests with allergen information.
-
Leaving the portion count until the last minute
Pack sizes and quantities vary. For example, ALDI lists 14 mini canoe pastries per pack and marks the offer as available while stocks last.
Work out how many you need, check availability before buying, and follow the use-by and storage instructions on the pack.
-
Forgetting allergen information for a business buffet
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that food businesses must be able to provide consumers with information about relevant allergens in unpackaged food.
Make sure this information is accessible where the food is being served and matches the products actually on offer.
Brands to consider
Verkade
Worth considering for chocolate to finish canoe pastries yourself, or for a ready-made biscuit in a different shape.
- Verkade offers 71% Cooking Chocolate and describes Chocorondjes as biscuits coated in milk chocolate.
- Chocorondjes are not canoe pastries. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for both products.
Albert Heijn
A regular butter canoe pastry that can be used as a base for adding your own chocolate.
- Albert Heijn lists six 45 g portions per pack of AH Butter Canoe Pastries.
- These pastries are not described as chocolate-coated. Check the allergens on the latest packaging.
Jumbo
A regular butter canoe pastry to use as a base for your own chocolate coating.
- Jumbo lists five portions for its own butter canoe pastries.
- Here too, a chocolate coating is not listed as a product feature. Check the latest allergen information.
Heerlijck Banket
Mini canoe pastries for anyone who wants smaller biscuits on the buffet and plans to finish them at home.
- ALDI lists a pack of 14 mini canoe pastries with a total weight of 308 g.
- Check availability and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack before serving.
Sondey
Regular canoe pastries with almond paste filling that can be used as a base for adding your own chocolate.
- Lidl describes Sondey Canoes as butter biscuits filled with almond paste, in a 325 g pack.
- The product description does not confirm a chocolate coating. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Chocolate biscuits as an alternative
These Joybuy products are a good fit if you’re looking for a ready-made milk chocolate biscuit and don’t need the canoe shape. If you want canoe pastries with a chocolate coating, adding it yourself is a different option.
Image unavailable
LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
A ready-made milk chocolate biscuit for when you don’t need the canoe shape.
150 g pack. For buffet planning, check how many biscuits are in the pack and read the latest allergen information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate 150 g
A ready-made milk chocolate biscuit for a buffet where the canoe shape isn’t essential.
150 g pack. Check the number of biscuits and the latest information about ingredients, allergens and possible traces before serving them to guests.
Frequently asked questions
Does allergen information need to be available at a wedding buffet?
Yes. When a caterer or other food business in the Netherlands serves unpackaged products, information about relevant allergens must be available to consumers where those products are offered. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains this requirement for the 14 allergens that food businesses must provide information about.
Can I serve canoe pastries or chocolate-coated biscuits to guests with a food allergy?
Assess each specific product using its latest packaging information and taking the individual guest’s needs into account. The canoe pastries listed by Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain several allergens or may contain traces. If you’re adding the chocolate yourself, you’ll also need to check the chocolate and any decorations.
How can I add chocolate to canoe pastries myself?
First, choose canoe pastries and chocolate whose ingredient information you’ve checked for the buffet. For its own cooking chocolate, Verkade recommends placing a small pan in hot, not boiling, water and melting the chocolate in it while stirring. Follow the instructions on the packaging when finishing and storing the pastries, and work hygienically.
How should I store the biscuits before the wedding?
Follow the use-by date and storage instructions for the products you actually buy. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS say that the canoe pastries described should be stored in a cool, dry place. After opening or adding your own chocolate, check again which instructions apply to the products you’re using.