If you want each compartment to contain one individually wrapped treat, choose a product that explicitly says it is individually wrapped. A packet of two or three biscuits works well for a shared advent-calendar moment, but the biscuits won’t each have their own wrapper. Also check how many sealed portions you get, whether they’ll fit in the compartments and what the current label says about ingredients and allergens.
You want to fill each advent-calendar compartment with one individually wrapped treat, without having to repackage the biscuits yourself. Look for the words ‘individually wrapped’: a pack containing lots of biscuits may still have only a few individual packets.
If two or three people open a compartment together, a packet containing several biscuits may be just what you need. For example, Jumbo lists three biscuits per packet for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Chocolade; according to ALDI, Biscotto chocolate biscuits are packed in pairs.
You’ll need to check which ingredients and allergens are suitable for the recipient. Read the label on the actual pack you’re using, even if you’ve already looked at the product information online.
First decide whether each compartment needs to contain one individually wrapped biscuit or whether a packet with several biscuits is fine. Then count the sealed portions and check the size and label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual wrapping | Look for ‘individually wrapped’ and count the sealed packets, not just the biscuits. | I want to put one sealed treat in each compartment without repackaging anything. Around 42% of consumers prioritise individual wrapping. |
| Portion, type and size | Compare the number of packets with your calendar plan and check whether a biscuit or wafer will fit in the compartment. | If we’re sharing a compartment, one packet can contain several biscuits, as long as the portion fits. For around 33% of consumers, this practical arrangement is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label, including the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ statements. | I’m giving the calendar to someone else and want to be able to check the information on the packaging they’ll actually receive. Checking the label comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
A sealed packet containing several biscuits doesn’t give each biscuit its own wrapper. That matters if you want exactly one individually wrapped biscuit in each compartment.
Compare the number of individual packets with the number of compartments. Choose a twin or triple pack only if that portion size suits your calendar.
A mixed box may contain individually wrapped biscuits without every variety being chocolate. In that case, the total number of biscuits won’t tell you how many chocolate biscuits you can use.
Check the mix of varieties before deciding how many compartments to fill with them.
The ingredients and allergen information on a product page may differ from the packaging you end up buying. An assortment page you saw earlier also won’t tell you whether a product is available when you shop.
Check the product packaging and label when filling the calendar, and check before buying whether your chosen retailer stocks the product.
A similar flavour or the same brand won’t tell you which ingredients or ‘may contain’ warnings apply to this particular pack.
Read the current ingredients list and warnings for the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list on the label.
For these brands, check the packaging of the specific product: the number of biscuits in each sealed packet can vary, even within the same brand.
Chocolate-coated speculoos for anyone looking for a chocolate biscuit and happy to use a packet containing several biscuits.
Chocolate and caramel wafers as an alternative if a wafer, rather than a chocolate biscuit, suits your calendar.
Verkade describes Tops Milk Chocolate as filled biscuits topped with milk chocolate.
Chocolate biscuits from ALDI for a calendar where two biscuits can make up one portion.
These products offer two options for your advent calendar: a wafer or biscuit stick if you’re looking for a small chocolate treat, and chocolate biscuits if you can use a twin portion. Check how many sealed portions each pack contains and whether they’ll fit in your compartments.
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A chocolate and strawberry wafer for anyone who’d like to use a wafer as an advent-calendar treat instead of a traditional biscuit.
Check how many individual portions you’ll receive, whether the wrapper will fit in the compartment and what the label says about allergens.
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A chocolate-flavoured biscuit stick for anyone who doesn’t need a flat chocolate biscuit.
Before planning which compartments to fill, check the pack format, number of sealed portions, dimensions and current label.
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For a calendar where two chocolate biscuits can make up one portion; the biscuits are packed in pairs, not individually.
Check how many twin packs you’ll get, whether they’ll fit in the compartments and which ingredients and allergens are listed on the current label.
Look for the explicit words ‘individually wrapped’ and count the sealed packets. ‘In pairs’ or ‘in threes’ means one packet contains several biscuits; each biscuit won’t have its own wrapper.
Yes, if a compartment can contain a shared portion or you want to give several biscuits at once. They aren’t suitable if your plan calls for exactly one individually wrapped biscuit in each compartment.
Yes. Check the packaging you’re actually using for ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly identifiable in the ingredients list.
No. If allergens are a concern, don’t judge a product by its vegan claim alone. Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the current packaging of the specific product.
Follow the storage instructions and check the best-before date on the pack. Keep the individual portions sealed until you use them, and make sure the packaging is undamaged before filling the calendar.
