If you only want a bar to have with your coffee
A chocolate biscuit bar lets you decide how much to have, perhaps over several coffee breaks. Milka Choco Biscuit is an example of a 100 g bar, according to Milka.
Which format suits you?
If you want a clearly defined portion
You may prefer a set amount for each coffee break rather than a piece from a larger bar. Verkade offers Choco Wolken in a 3 × 35 g format, while Lotus Biscoff packs its chocolate speculoos biscuits in threes.
If you need to check the label carefully
You may want to take ingredients, sugars, saturated fat or allergens into account. For a comparison, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the nutritional information per 100 g. Also consider how much you actually eat, and read the current packaging if you have an allergy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a bar or a clearly defined portion. Then check the weight per portion and the nutritional information on the packaging. A small pack, by itself, tells you nothing about the nutritional values per 100 g.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Check the number of individual portions and the weight of each one. | If I want a set amount with my coffee, I’d rather not take a piece from a larger bar each time. Around 42% of consumers put portion size first. |
| Bar or biscuit | Check whether it’s one chocolate biscuit bar or several individual biscuits, and look at the total weight. | If I specifically want a bar with biscuit, I want to be able to break off a piece and save the rest. Around 33% of consumers put the bar format first. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Compare sugars and saturated fat per 100 g and per portion; read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I have an allergy or want to take nutritional values into account, I need to be able to assess the portion I choose and its ingredients. Around 25% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a small pack is a lighter choice
A pre-portioned pack makes the amount clear, but it doesn’t change the product’s nutritional values. Verkade lists 45.6 g of sugars and 15.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g for Choco Wolken; Lotus Biscoff lists 39.6 g and 13.3 g per 100 g respectively for its chocolate speculoos biscuits.
Compare products on the same 100 g basis, then consider how much you have each time.
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Judging by the front of the pack alone
A product name doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat a portion contains, or which ingredients have been used.
Read the nutrition table and ingredients list. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products side by side per 100 g.
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Treating an online allergen list as definitive
Ingredients and product information can change, so an older product description isn’t a suitable final check if you have a food allergy.
Before eating, read the label on the packaging you’ve actually bought.
Brands to consider
These product ranges show the differences between a bar, a pre-portioned pack and an individual biscuit. The brand name alone won’t tell you which format is right for your coffee break.
Milka
According to Milka, Milka Choco Biscuit is a 100 g bar with biscuit and milk cream, for anyone specifically looking for a bar.
- You can decide how much of the bar to have with your coffee.
- The bar isn’t divided into individual portions in advance. Milka lists 52 g of sugars and 16 g of saturated fat per 100 g. If you have an allergy, also check the information about wheat, milk, soya and possible nuts.
Verkade
Verkade Choco Wolken comes in a 3 × 35 g format. Verkade Chocorondjes Milk Chocolate is an individual biscuit rather than a bar.
- These two formats give you a choice between a set pack size and an individual biscuit. Verkade lists 58.5 kcal per biscuit for Chocorondjes.
- For Choco Wolken, Verkade lists 45.6 g of sugars and 15.8 g of saturated fat per 100 g. Check the current allergen information for both products.
Lotus Biscoff
According to Lotus Bakeries Netherlands, Lotus Biscoff chocolate speculoos biscuits are sold in seven packs of three: a different format from a single bar.
- The three-biscuit packs make it clear how many biscuits each pack contains.
- Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists wheat, milk and soya, along with 39.6 g of sugars and 13.3 g of saturated fat per 100 g. A pack of three isn’t automatically the amount you’ll want to eat.
Chocolate biscuits and cookies at Joybuy
These products are biscuits or cookies to have with coffee, including options for anyone looking for an individual portion. They aren’t necessarily the same type of product as a single chocolate biscuit bar, so focus on the packaging, portion size and current label when choosing.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
An option if you’d like biscuits with your coffee rather than portioning out a bar yourself. The pack contains 150 g; check the label to see how much your portion weighs.
The product information lists 39 g of sugars and 14 g of saturated fat per 100 g. It also states that the product contains milk, wheat and soya, and may contain nuts. If you have an allergy, check the current packaging.
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Verkade Nobo Spritzed Milk Chocolate, 150 g
For anyone looking for a milk chocolate biscuit rather than a bar. The pack weighs 150 g; if you want a set portion, check how many biscuits it contains and the weight of each one.
The product information lists milk, soya and wheat, and warns that it may contain nuts and sesame. If you have an allergy, check the current label.
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Verkade Nizza Coconut Milk Chocolate with a Sugar Layer, 177 g
For anyone looking for a coconut biscuit with milk chocolate to have with coffee, rather than a single chocolate biscuit bar. The pack weighs 177 g; if portion size will affect your choice, check the weight of each biscuit.
According to the product information, it contains milk, soya and wheat, and may contain nuts and sesame. If you have an allergy, read the current packaging.
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Franzzi Premium Dark Chocolate Flavour Cookies, 70 g
An option if you’re looking for cookies with a dark chocolate flavour rather than a biscuit bar. The pack weighs 70 g; if you want a set portion, check the number of cookies and their weight on the pack.
Check the current nutritional information if sugars or saturated fat are important to your comparison. If you have a soya allergy, also read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
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Franzzi Matcha Mousse Chocolate Flavor Cookies, 70 g
For anyone looking for cookies with matcha and chocolate flavours; this isn’t a single chocolate biscuit bar. The pack weighs 70 g. Check how many cookies it contains and the weight of each one to work out your portion.
Check the current packaging for the sugar and saturated fat values. According to the product information, it contains wheat, milk and soya. If you have an allergy, read the label.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate biscuits a suitable everyday choice with coffee?
Think of a chocolate biscuit as a treat rather than an automatic everyday choice. When it comes to nutrition for older people, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises limiting foods that are high in energy and low in nutrients, such as some snacks. For a specific choice, consider your portion and the nutritional information.
How do I compare a bar with biscuits in portion packs?
Start by comparing the nutritional values per 100 g, so the way the products are packaged doesn’t obscure the differences. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this basis for comparison. Then check how many grams of the bar or portion pack you actually eat.
Which allergens should I check in chocolate biscuits?
For the product you’ve chosen, read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the current packaging. The Verkade and Lotus Biscoff examples include wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary by product.
Is online product information enough if I have a food allergy?
No. Use the packaging you actually buy as your final check. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients and allergen information can change, so an online product description is useful only as a first guide.