Hosts who want to put out enough to go round
You want to estimate how many biscuits you’ll need for your group. Compare the pack weight and, where stated, the number of biscuits or portions.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Hosts with a mixed group
You want to check which ingredients and allergens are relevant to your guests before you buy. You may need a separate option with suitable labelling.
Hosts who want to offer a choice of flavours
You want to choose between options such as biscuits with chocolate chips, a chocolate coating or different chocolate flavours, without assuming that everyone likes the same thing.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many people will be eating and whether you want to serve biscuits on an open plate or in individually wrapped portions. Then check the labels of every type you plan to put out.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Compare the net weight and, if stated, the number of biscuits or portions with the size of your group. | If several colleagues will be joining in, I want to put out enough without judging by the size of the packaging. Around 33% of consumers say quantity is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the pack you buy. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to work out which biscuits are suitable for them. For around 27% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Serving and storage | Check whether there are individually wrapped portions and follow the storage instructions after opening. | If people will be helping themselves throughout the afternoon, I want to make serving easy and store any leftover biscuits properly. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Compare the type of biscuit and chocolate; if you’re choosing several varieties, check each label separately. | If I expect people to have different preferences, I want to put out more than one flavour or texture. Around 20% of consumers put variety first. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming a small pack contains enough biscuits to share
A box of individually wrapped portions can be handy for serving, but the total weight may be limited. The product examples listed range from 150 g to 300 g.
Compare the weight and number of biscuits with the number of guests you expect before deciding how many packs you’ll need.
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘suitable for everyone’
A biscuit labelled gluten-free may still contain other ingredients that matter to your guests. Verkade lists milk and soya among the ingredients in Oaties Milk Chocolate.
Check the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually putting out.
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Counting on a particular supermarket product being available
ALDI says that products may sell out sooner due to high demand. Albert Heijn also warns that product information may change.
Before you buy, check that the product you want is available and read the label on the pack in store.
Brands to compare
Verkade
Worth considering if you’re looking for a specifically labelled gluten-free option as well as standard chocolate biscuits.
- Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free; according to the brand, this variety contains 25% milk chocolate.
- That label doesn’t automatically apply to other Verkade biscuits. Oaties also lists milk and soya in its ingredients.
Lotus Biscoff
An option if you want to serve chocolate speculoos in pre-portioned packs.
- Lotus says its Speculoos with chocolate comes in 7 packs of 3 biscuits.
- This variety lists wheat, milk and soya in its ingredients; check whether it’s suitable for your guests.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket own-brand option to consider if you want to serve small biscuits with chocolate on the back.
- Albert Heijn describes AH Koekjes met chocolade as a 150 g pack of mini letter-shaped biscuits with milk chocolate.
- Check the current label for egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya, as well as any warning about possible nuts.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-brand range with chocolate biscuits in different pack sizes to compare with the size of your group.
- Jumbo offers 225 g and 300 g varieties. According to Jumbo, its 225 g Chocolate Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips contain 40% dark chocolate chips.
- Ingredients and allergens vary between varieties, so check each pack you choose separately.
Lidl / Sondey
A supermarket own-brand range to explore if you want to compare different types of biscuits.
- Lidl describes Sondey as a range of assorted biscuits and cookies.
- For the specific chocolate biscuit, check the pack size, ingredients and allergen information.
ALDI / Biscotto
A supermarket option if you’re looking for different chocolate flavours in one pack.
- ALDI describes Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits as 20 butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate in a 250 g pack.
- Check availability at your local store and read the product label to check whether it meets any dietary requirements.
Chocolate biscuits on Joybuy
These biscuits come in a range of pack sizes for drinks: from 150 g packs to add to a plate to multipacks for sharing. Check how much you’ll need for each product and whether its ingredients are suitable for your guests.
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Ulker IKRAM Chocolate Cream Biscuit 12 × (4 × 84 g)
This multipack could be a good fit if you’re putting out biscuits for several guests or occasions. Check how the portions are divided and read the current label before deciding how much you need and whether they’re suitable for your guests.
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LU Scholiertje with milk chocolate, 150 g
This 150 g pack could work as a smaller option for a sharing plate or as an addition to other biscuits. If you’re catering for a larger group, check how many packs you’ll need and read the allergen information on the label.
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LU Scholiertje with white chocolate, 150 g
This variety lets you offer white chocolate alongside another chocolate flavour. The pack contains 150 g; before serving, check how many biscuits it contains and read the ingredients on the pack.
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Verkade GF Oaties with milk chocolate, 150 g
This 150 g variety could be a separate option if a guest is looking for a biscuit labelled gluten-free: Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free. According to Verkade, the biscuit also contains milk and soya. Check the pack you receive and your guest’s specific dietary requirements.
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Hershey Cookie n Creme Rounds 10 × 96 g
This multipack could be a good choice if you want to stock up on biscuits for more than one occasion. Check how the biscuits are divided in the pack and read the label before offering them to guests with allergies.
Frequently asked questions
How many chocolate biscuits do I need for a small Friday afternoon get-together?
Choose the number of packs based on how many guests you expect and the number of biscuits or portions in each pack. Compare the net weight too: the product examples listed include packs from 150 g to 300 g. Individually wrapped portions and an opened pack can be served in different ways.
Are chocolate biscuits always unsuitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten?
No, but don’t rely on the product category alone. Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free, while other biscuits mentioned list wheat or cereals containing gluten. Check the labelling and ingredients on the specific pack, and choose based on your guest’s needs.
Which allergens should I check before putting biscuits out?
Check the current label of each product you choose for any allergens that are relevant to your guests. The biscuits mentioned include wheat, milk, soya and egg, as well as warnings about possible nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on food labels.
How should I store biscuits left over after drinks?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and reseal any opened pack securely. For its Chocolate Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips, Jumbo advises storing them in a sealed container in a cool, dry place after opening; for AH Koekjes met chocolade, Albert Heijn recommends using a closed tin.