Anyone filling small advent calendar compartments
You want to put out one treat a day without opening a larger pack or portioning it yourself. So check both the individual packaging and the dimensions of the filled bag or bar.
Who needs to consider portion packaging?
Solo snackers who want a clearly defined portion
A bag or bar makes it clear what you’re taking from the pack for one snack. Do check what’s inside, though: according to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, a bag of Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL contains two biscuits, not one.
Shoppers with dietary preferences or allergies
You’ll want to check the ingredients and allergens before filling the calendar. Read the current packaging: the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on prepacked food labels.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want one bar, one biscuit or a bag containing several biscuits for each advent calendar day. Then compare only products whose portion size, label and dimensions you can check against your calendar.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion and size | Count the sealed bags or bars and compare their dimensions with the advent calendar compartment. According to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL contains ten bags, each with two biscuits. | If I want one sealed treat per compartment, the whole portion needs to fit, with nothing left over. Around 42% of consumers put this type of portion first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging; check any dietary claim separately. | When I’m buying for someone with an allergy or dietary preference, I want to know what they’ll be eating before filling the calendar. This label check is a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars, saturated fats, fibre and salt per 100 g and per portion actually eaten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products using the values per 100 g. | When I deliberately choose a treat, I want to know what’s in one bar or bag rather than relying on the front of the pack. This comparison is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a multipack contains individually wrapped portions
A pack of six bars doesn’t necessarily mean that each bar has its own wrapper. An individual bag may also be too big for a small advent calendar compartment.
Check how many sealed portions there are and compare their dimensions with your calendar before buying several packs.
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Relying only on a claim on the front of the pack
A claim such as ‘less sugar’ or ‘vegan’ doesn’t tell you everything about a whole portion or which allergens it contains.
Read the ingredients list and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion on the packaging.
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Confusing vegan with allergen-free
According to the product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL is suitable for vegans, but contains wheat and soya.
If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information on the exact pack you plan to use.
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Assuming a product listing means it’s available
An online product page doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to get the packs you need when it’s time to fill your calendar.
Check current stock and delivery or collection options before building your calendar around one product.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos biscuits available in different pack formats. For a single advent treat, the portion format of the XL version is particularly relevant.
- According to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL contains ten bags, each with two biscuits.
- A bag isn’t a single cereal bar or a one-biscuit portion. The product listing names wheat and soya.
Sondey
Lidl’s own brand, with biscuits, waffles and bars among its products; Lidl also lists vegan options in its range.
- Lidl lists one cereal bar product as containing six bars per pack.
- Check whether each bar in your chosen variety is individually wrapped and will fit in the advent calendar compartment.
Biscotto
Aldi’s own brand, with different types of biscuits and pack formats for anyone putting together their own advent treats.
- Aldi lists Biscotto Likkoekjes, among other products, in packs of six bags.
- The number of bags doesn’t tell you how many biscuits are in each advent portion or how big each bag is.
g'woon
A brand with cereal bars, including a pack of Koekrepen Minder Suiker containing six bars.
- The product listing at Joybuy includes ingredients and nutritional information to help you compare the variety.
- Check the packaging to see whether the bars are individually wrapped; the name Minder Suiker (‘less sugar’) doesn’t give you the full nutritional picture.
Cereal bars and biscuits at Joybuy
This selection includes cereal bars, biscuits and wafers in a range of pack formats. Only choose a product for a small advent calendar compartment once you’ve checked that the individual portion, packaging and size work for your calendar.
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LU Scholiertje biscuits with milk chocolate, 150 g
An option if you’d like to spread biscuits with milk chocolate across several advent treats. Check how many biscuits are in each sealed portion and whether it will fit in your compartment.
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Holie's Chewy Bar Cookie Dough, 11 packs of 3 bars
A bar-shaped option if you’d rather add a cereal bar than biscuits to the calendar. The product name lists 11 packs of 3 bars; check whether each bar is individually wrapped and how big it is.
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Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit, 3 × 77 g
A biscuit option if you’d like to split a pack across several advent treats. The pack contains 3 × 77 g; check how the individual portions are divided up and how big they are.
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Garden coconut-flavoured wafer biscuits, 200 g
An alternative if wafers would also make a suitable advent treat; these aren’t cereal bars. For this 200 g pack, check how many sealed portions it contains and whether one portion will fit in the compartment.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry sandwich biscuits, 97 g, 2 individual packs
An option for two separate treats if a whole pack will fit in each compartment. According to the product name, the 97 g pack contains two individual packs; check how many biscuits are in each one.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a cereal bar will fit in a small advent calendar compartment?
Compare the dimensions of the individually wrapped bar with the inside measurements of the compartment. The number of bars per pack isn’t enough to go on: for example, Lidl lists six cereal bars per pack, but that doesn’t mean each bar has its own wrapper.
Can a bag of two biscuits count as one advent treat?
Yes, if you want to use two biscuits for that treat and the sealed bag fits in the compartment. According to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL contains ten bags, each with two biscuits, so it isn’t a one-biscuit portion.
Does vegan also mean a biscuit is free from allergens?
No. According to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL is listed as suitable for vegans, but it contains wheat and soya. If you have an allergy, always check the allergen information on the current packaging.
Is a cereal bar with less sugar automatically a better everyday snack?
No. That claim alone doesn’t tell you the full nutritional value. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and read the ingredients too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the values per 100 g when comparing products.