Who is this relevant for?

Shoppers who read sugar claims carefully

You’re looking for a biscuit marketed as having no sugars, and you also compare the amount of sugars per 100 g. For your purposes, ‘no added sugars’ and ‘less sugar’ are not interchangeable descriptions.

Bakers making no-bake cakes and decorations

You want to crumble biscuits for a base or topping, or serve them whole with a Christmas bake. Their role in the recipe will determine whether you need a chocolate cookie or a more neutral biscuit.

Festive bakers checking ingredients

You’re baking for several people and check the sweeteners and allergens listed on the packaging in advance. For the products mentioned, warnings about excessive consumption or possible traces may also be relevant.

What should you look for when buying?

First decide whether you want to serve the biscuits, crumble them or use them as a cake base. Then compare the sugar claim and nutrition information per 100 g. Finally, check that the ingredients are suitable for everyone you’re baking for.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Precise sugar claim Read the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ line per 100 g; check the chocolate in the biscuit too. If I’m looking for a biscuit explicitly marketed as having no sugars, I don’t want to rely on a name such as Zero. For around 40% of consumers, that precise sugar claim comes first.
Its role in the recipe Check whether your recipe calls for whole biscuits, crumbs or a base bound with butter; if you want a neutral base, remember to consider the chocolate separately. For a Christmas cake, I want to know whether the biscuit will form the base or simply be used as a decoration. Around 30% of consumers put this baking function first.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current packaging for sweeteners, allergens, possible traces and warnings about excessive consumption. If I’m baking for guests with specific ingredient requirements, I need to know what’s in the biscuits before I start. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugars’ means ‘no sugars’

    A product name doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuit contains. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as having no added sugars, but lists 1.7 g sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie with no sugars as containing 0 g per 100 g.

    If a specific sugar level matters for your bake, check both the full claim and the nutrition information per 100 g before buying.

  • Assuming all biscuits have the same role in a recipe

    A biscuit served whole, a loose topping and a firmly pressed cake base all call for different uses. In Lidl’s no-bake chocolate cake recipe, biscuits are finely crushed and mixed with melted butter to make the base.

    Decide how you’ll use the biscuit before buying, and check the quantity and preparation method required by your recipe.

  • Checking the ingredients only after baking

    The Céréal biscuits mentioned contain polyols and list allergens or possible traces. AH Digestive 0% sugar contains wheat and also lists the possible presence of other gluten-containing cereals.

    Read the packaging before baking for others, especially if an allergen or a warning about excessive consumption affects your choice.

Brands and retailers compared

Céréal

Worth considering if you’re comparing a chocolate cookie or chocolate-coated biscuit with a specific sugar claim.

  • Albert Heijn lists Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie with no sugars as containing 0 g sugars per 100 g. Jumbo lists Céréal Choco Delight Dark with Less Sugar as containing 0.5 g per 100 g; that product is marketed as having less sugar.
  • Both products list polyols. Check the allergens and possible traces on each pack, as the ingredients differ.

Albert Heijn

The own-brand Digestive 0% sugar is an option to consider if you’re looking for a neutral biscuit for a no-bake base.

  • The product information lists 0.3 g sugars per 100 g.
  • It isn’t a chocolate biscuit. The product contains wheat; according to the product information, other gluten-containing cereals may also be present.

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is worth considering if you’re looking at a biscuit with no added sugars, but don’t specifically need a chocolate cookie.

  • Verkade describes the product as having no added sugars.
  • Verkade lists 1.7 g sugars per 100 g and names wheat, milk and soya as ingredients. It isn’t an equivalent substitute if you specifically want a chocolate biscuit marketed as having no sugars.

Jumbo

A retailer with product information to help you assess Céréal Choco Delight Dark with Less Sugar.

  • The product information lists ingredients, allergens and nutrition details, including 0.5 g sugars per 100 g.
  • When buying, check the current packaging for the ingredients and allergens in the product you’ve chosen.

Lidl

A recipe source showing how chocolate biscuits can be used for a no-bake cake base.

  • The recipe combines finely crushed chocolate biscuits with melted butter to make a firmly pressed base.
  • Choose the biscuit for that recipe separately, based on the sugar claim and ingredients you want; the recipe doesn’t specify a particular sugar-free chocolate biscuit.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as ‘no sugars’?

No, the two descriptions aren’t interchangeable. Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as having no added sugars, but lists 1.7 g sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists Céréal Chocolate Chip Cookie with no sugars as containing 0 g per 100 g. So compare the product description with the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition information.

Can I use a sugar-free digestive biscuit for a chocolate cake base?

Yes, you can use a digestive biscuit for a no-bake crumb base and bind it with melted butter according to your recipe. AH Digestive 0% sugar isn’t a chocolate biscuit, so choose and check the chocolate for your cake separately. Lidl’s recipe shows how to make the base using finely crushed biscuits and butter.

Why do some biscuits containing sweeteners warn against excessive consumption?

For the products mentioned, this warning is linked to polyols in the ingredients. The product information for AH Digestive 0% sugar states that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Read the warning on the packaging of the biscuit you choose, especially if you’re using several biscuits in one bake.

Where can I check allergens when baking for guests?

Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging of every product you use, including any separate chocolate layer or topping. The biscuits mentioned differ in their ingredients and possible traces; the product information for Céréal and AH shows that biscuits containing sweeteners can still contain allergens.