If you’re putting a bowl on the table
Mini biscuits are easy for guests to pick up without having to portion them out in advance. A resealable pack can be handy for any leftovers; choose the quantity to suit your guests.
Which serving format works best for you?
If you need to consider allergens
Before serving, check the ingredients and allergen information on every pack you buy. Milk, wheat and soya appear in the examples described here, but ingredients vary by product.
If you want to offer a choice of flavours
An assortment of dark, white and milk chocolate offers a different choice from biscuits with just one type of coating. Also look out for the difference between a chocolate layer, chocolate-flavoured icing and a filled biscuit.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether guests will help themselves, receive their own pack, or choose from different flavours. Then compare the packaging and the information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving and sharing | Check the number of biscuits and whether the pack is resealable or contains individual portions. | If guests will help themselves from a bowl, I want to be able to put out mini biscuits without portioning them in advance. Around 37% of consumers put ease of sharing first. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information on every pack, including any warnings about cross-contamination. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the brand name or a previous purchase. Around 27% of consumers put checking allergens first. |
| Coating and filling | Compare a partial chocolate coating with chocolate-flavoured icing, and check whether the biscuit has a filling. | I want to know whether I’m serving a crunchy biscuit with a chocolate coating or a filled biscuit. This choice of flavour and texture matters most to around 27% of consumers. |
| Quantity and availability | Count the pieces or portions per pack and check where you can buy the product you’ve chosen. | If I have a set number of guests, I want to be able to arrange enough portions without having to look for another retailer at the last minute. Around 9% of consumers give this practical consideration top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every coating is the same
A partial milk chocolate coating, milk chocolate-flavoured icing and a filled biscuit covered in chocolate are different product descriptions. That matters if you want to serve a particular flavour or texture.
Read the full description and check the type of coating, any filling and the percentages listed.
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Guessing allergens from the brand or chocolate colour
The biscuits described here don’t all contain the same ingredients. And a pack you bought before is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you’re serving now.
Check the ingredients, clearly highlighted allergens and any cross-contamination warning for each product.
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Looking only at the pack weight
A bag of mini biscuits, five individual packs and an assortment of twenty pieces can all be shared differently at a party.
First decide whether you want an open bowl, individually wrapped portions or a variety of flavours; then compare the number of pieces and portions.
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Assuming a product listing means you can order it straight away
An online product page doesn’t necessarily mean you can order the item online. For example, Lidl lists Sondey Chocobiscuits as available in store only.
If you need the biscuits for a set party date, check their current online or in-store availability shortly before buying.
Relevant brands and ranges
These brands offer different biscuit and chocolate styles. Check the packaging of each product you choose; a description of a brand doesn’t automatically apply to its entire range.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
- An option if you want to serve plain speculoos alongside chocolate-coated biscuits.
- The Biscoff biscuit described here is not a confirmed chocolate-coated variety.
Albert Heijn
The product pages for Oreo with milk chocolate-flavoured icing and AH Chocobites show two different ways to serve biscuit pieces with a coating.
- The Oreo description distinguishes between the biscuit, filling and icing; AH Chocobites is a mix to share.
- Albert Heijn says product, ingredient and allergen information may change. Always check the pack you buy.
Jumbo
The Jumbo products described include Milka Mini Cookies for a bowl and individually wrapped LU Time Out biscuit bars.
- These two examples clearly show the difference between letting guests help themselves and offering pre-packed portions.
- Packaging and allergens vary by product; don’t assume the information for these examples applies to other biscuits.
Lidl / Sondey
Lidl lists Sondey Chocobiscuits in a 250 g pack as an in-store product.
- An option to look for in store if you want to compare the packaging for yourself.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack before choosing it for your guests.
ALDI / Biscotto en CHOCEUR
According to ALDI, the Biscotto assortment contains twenty butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate. CHOCEUR Choco & biscuit combines biscuit, milk cream and milk chocolate.
- Biscotto offers different types of chocolate in one pack; CHOCEUR is a filled biscuit.
- For both products, read the full ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
Products for your Christmas party
This selection of Joybuy products includes mini biscuits for a bowl, biscuits for individual portions and two chocolate-coated wafer options for anyone who’d also like to serve wafers. A wafer isn’t the same as a biscuit, so first decide which types you want to put on the table.
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Milka Choco Mini Cookies 110 g
These mini biscuits are ideal for a bowl that guests can help themselves from. Jumbo describes this variety as partially coated with 17% milk chocolate, so the chocolate doesn’t form a complete outer layer.
The product information lists milk, soya and wheat. Check the current label before serving the biscuits.
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Oreo biscuits with milk chocolate-flavoured icing 246 g
The duo packs are an option if you want to put individually wrapped biscuits out on a buffet. Albert Heijn describes this variety as cocoa biscuits with vanilla-flavoured filling and milk chocolate-flavoured icing; that’s not the same as a milk chocolate coating.
The product information lists milk, wheat and soya. Read the label on the pack you buy before serving.
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LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
A milk chocolate biscuit to consider if you want to serve biscuits individually. The portion described contains two biscuits per pack, not one biscuit per guest.
The product information lists milk, wheat and soya, and warns that the product may contain nuts. Check the current packaging before serving.
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Nestle Kitkat Strawberry Short Cake 9 pieces, 104.4 g
This wafer is an option if you’d like to serve a different kind of treat alongside biscuits; don’t choose it if you’re looking for biscuits only. The pack contains nine pieces.
The product information lists milk, wheat and soya. Check the current label before serving.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate 10 × 12.5 g
This wafer is only suitable for the selection if you also want to serve wafers. The name mentions pistachio paste and milk chocolate; the pack contains ten 12.5 g portions.
As pistachio is listed, it’s important to check the full ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before offering this to guests.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do about allergen information when serving biscuits at a Christmas party?
Keep the packaging to hand and check the ingredients and allergens for every product before serving it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, don’t rely on the brand name or type of chocolate alone.
Is milk chocolate-flavoured icing the same as milk chocolate?
No, don’t treat those descriptions as interchangeable. Albert Heijn describes the Oreo product mentioned here as coated in milk chocolate-flavoured icing, while Jumbo describes the Milka Mini Cookies mentioned here as partially coated in milk chocolate. Check the product name and ingredients if this difference affects your choice.
How should I store the biscuits until the party?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy. The Milka, LU and Oreo products described here should be stored in a dry place and protected from heat; also check whether the pack can be resealed once opened.
Can I rely on an online product page for allergen information alone?
Use an online product page to help you make an initial selection, but read the label on the pack you buy before serving the biscuits. Albert Heijn warns that product ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information may change.
Are chocolate-coated biscuits automatically gluten-free?
No. The Milka Mini Cookies, LU Time Out and Oreo biscuits described here contain wheat or cereals containing gluten. If a guest needs to avoid gluten, check the current ingredients, allergen information and any relevant claims on the packaging of the specific product.