Who is this choice relevant to?

Christmas bakers comparing sugar levels

You want to compare the nutritional information for similar biscuits, rather than relying on words such as ‘zero’ or ‘sugar-conscious’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing values per 100 g.

Bakers making a base or crumb layer

You’re looking for a biscuit that does the job you need it to in your dessert. For a base where you add chocolate separately, a plain digestive may be more useful than a biscuit with a chocolate coating.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

You want to know which polyols and allergens are in the biscuits you choose before using them in a dessert for others. Check the label on the exact pack you’re using.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what role the biscuit will play in your Christmas bake. Then compare the nutritional information and check that the ingredients are suitable for the portions you’re making and the people you’re serving.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar content Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g across similar biscuits. If a product claims to contain less sugar, check what it is being compared with. If I want to limit sugar, I want to be able to compare the value on the label rather than rely on the product name alone. For around 36% of consumers, being able to make this comparison is the top priority.
Role in the recipe Decide whether you need a crumb base, topping or biscuit to serve on its own, and whether the chocolate needs to be in the biscuit itself. For my dessert, the biscuit needs to provide the base or chocolate flavour I’m looking for. This function is the most important factor for around 29% of consumers.
Polyols and allergens Read the ingredients, nutritional information and allergen declaration on the pack you’ve chosen; also look out for warnings about excessive consumption. When I’m baking for guests, I need to know in advance which ingredients will be in their portion. Around 21% of consumers give this check top priority.
Quantity and leftovers Work out how many grams of biscuits the recipe needs and compare this with the pack size and storage advice. I want enough biscuits for the base, without having too many left over after baking. This planning comes first for around 14% of consumers.

Pitfalls when baking for Christmas

  • Assuming a chocolate biscuit is automatically a sugar-conscious choice

    A biscuit may work well in your recipe without fitting your aim to limit sugar. Lotus Bakeries lists 39.6 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Speculoos met Chocolade.

    Compare the sugar content with similar biscuits before choosing based on flavour or brand.

  • Looking only at sugars and overlooking polyols

    The product information for both Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur and AH Digestive 0% suiker lists polyols and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

    Read the ingredients and work out how many biscuits the recipe includes per portion.

  • Relying on the label from a previous purchase

    Ingredients and allergen information can change. So a pack you used before may not provide the information for the biscuit you’re using now.

    Check the pack for the exact variant just before baking, especially if you’re baking for someone with an allergy.

  • Choosing a small pack for a large crumb base

    Jumbo lists Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur as 126 g; Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% suiker as 400 g. The right pack size depends on your recipe.

    Work out how much the biscuits need to weigh before choosing a pack.

Brands to consider

Céréal

Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur is a chocolate biscuit for anyone who wants chocolate in the biscuit itself.

  • For this variant, Jumbo lists a 36.3% dark chocolate coating with sweetener and 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • Jumbo also lists 24 g of polyols per 100 g, several allergens and a warning about excessive consumption.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% suiker is a biscuit base for desserts where you choose the chocolate separately.

  • Albert Heijn suggests using this product in recipes for open s’mores and cheesecake.
  • It isn’t a chocolate biscuit; the product information lists wheat and polyols, and includes a warning about excessive consumption.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero can be served as a biscuit alongside a separate chocolate element.

  • Verkade describes this variant as a biscuit with no added sugars and lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • It isn’t a chocolate biscuit and, according to Verkade, contains wheat, milk and soya.

Lotus

Lotus Speculoos met Chocolade is a chocolate speculoos biscuit for recipes where that flavour takes centre stage.

  • Lotus Bakeries lists 22% chocolate for this product.
  • The same product specification lists 39.6 g of sugars per 100 g, so don’t choose it on the assumption that it contains less sugar.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘less sugar’ mean on a biscuit pack?

According to EUR-Lex, the EU nutrition claim ‘reduced sugars’ requires at least a 30% reduction compared with a similar product. Also check the nutritional information to see how much sugar the biscuit contains per 100 g.

Is the front of the pack enough to compare biscuits?

No. Compare the sugar content of similar biscuits per 100 g in the nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis for comparison. Check the ingredients too if you want to know which sweeteners have been used.

Can I use a digestive for the base of a Christmas dessert?

Yes. AH Digestive 0% suiker is an option for a biscuit base: Albert Heijn suggests using it in recipes for open s’mores and cheesecake. The biscuit itself doesn’t provide chocolate, so choose that separately if your recipe calls for it.

Are biscuits with less sugar suitable for guests with allergies too?

Not automatically. For Céréal Minder Suikers Choco Delight Puur, Jumbo lists egg, milk, oats, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, and notes that it may contain nuts and sesame. Check the allergen information on the exact pack before using the biscuits.

How should I store leftover AH Digestive 0% suiker?

Albert Heijn recommends storing AH Digestive 0% suiker in a cool, dark and dry place, and putting the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening. For another product, follow the storage advice on its own pack.