Cake makers who also want to give a gift
A box of assorted flavours can make a lovely gift or treat to serve alongside a homemade cake. Check the number of pieces, whether they’re individually wrapped and the ingredients across the whole selection.
Which option is right for you?
Bakers looking for a biscuit topping
A biscuit can be served as a treat on its own, used as a crumb layer or added as decoration if the flavour works with your cake. Without adapting the recipe, it won’t replace chocolate that needs to be melted into the batter or filling.
Shoppers who need to check allergens
The ingredients in each flavour could be crucial for you or the recipient. So check the latest ingredient lists and allergen information for both biscuits and assorted chocolate boxes.
What should you look for when choosing?
Chocolate gift box
Choose this when: you want to give chocolate or share it with a group.
Keep in mind: the different flavours and fillings mean an assorted box isn’t a predictable baking ingredient.
Biscuits
Choose these when: you’re serving a biscuit with the cake or deliberately adding a biscuit texture to the finish.
Keep in mind: the biscuit’s flavour and other ingredients will affect the cake differently from plain chocolate.
Chocolate specified in the recipe
Choose this when: chocolate is a specified ingredient for the batter, filling or a melted topping.
Keep in mind: you’ll need to make a separate choice for gifting or serving if you also want to share something.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gifting and sharing | Check the number of pieces, the net weight and whether the chocolates are individually wrapped. | If I’m sharing chocolate, I want to know in advance whether everyone can choose a suitable flavour and have their own portion. For around 34% of consumers, sharing and presentation come first. |
| How it’ll be used in the cake | Compare the type and quantity of chocolate specified in the recipe with your plan for a biscuit layer or decoration. | If chocolate needs to go into my batter, I want to follow the recipe rather than use a filled biscuit as a substitute. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredient lists and allergen information; for an assorted box, check every flavour. | If I’m giving something to someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check the whole box or the biscuit I’ve chosen. Around 20% of consumers give this check the highest priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Match the net weight to the number of recipients and follow the storage advice on the packaging. | For a small baking or gifting occasion, I don’t want to choose a larger pack than I can use and store. For around 13% of consumers, getting the quantity right is the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Using an assorted chocolate box as baking chocolate
A cake recipe may call for a specific type of chocolate, while a gift box can also contain filled chocolates made with different ingredients. For example, Albert Heijn Allerhande’s chocolate cake recipe uses 200 g of 72% dark chocolate in the batter.
Follow the recipe when baking. Save the assorted box for a gift, or use individual chocolates as decoration if they suit your cake.
If you’ve only bought a mixed box, you may still need to get the specified chocolate.
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Only looking at the front of the pack
Biscuits and mixed chocolate boxes can have different ingredients and allergen information for each variety. With a box of assorted flavours, checking just one chocolate isn’t enough to assess the whole contents.
Read the product information before buying, then check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging when it arrives.
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Choosing a large box without planning how you’ll use it
A higher net weight doesn’t tell you how many individual treats you’ll get or whether the pack size suits your baking plans.
Compare the weight and number of pieces with the number of people you’re baking for or taking something in for. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging; Voedingscentrum explains that ‘store in a cool, dark place’ also means keeping it somewhere dry.
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Confusing a cocoa sustainability claim with suitability for your recipe
Lidl makes a sustainability claim about the cocoa in its own-brand products. That claim doesn’t tell you what type of chocolate, quantity or ingredients a particular cake recipe calls for.
Assess the sustainability information separately, and also check the recipe and the label for the product you’ve chosen.
Brands and ranges to consider
Verkade
Verkade Chocorondjes are an example of chocolate biscuits to serve with cake or use as a biscuit topping.
- According to Verkade, Chocorondjes Milk Chocolate combine biscuits, milk cream and milk chocolate.
- They’re not plain baking chocolate. Also check the wheat and milk ingredients and allergen warnings on the pack you choose.
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos can be used as a biscuit topping or crumb layer if the flavour works with your cake.
- Lotus Bakeries Nederland also lists Biscoff as an ingredient for cooking and baking.
- The speculoos flavour won’t suit every chocolate recipe, so check the ingredients for the variety you choose.
Albert Heijn
Its product and recipe information shows the difference between chocolate as a gift and chocolate as a recipe ingredient.
- Albert Heijn describes a merci gift box containing 32 individually wrapped bars.
- Albert Heijn Allerhande’s chocolate cake recipe calls for 200 g of 72% dark chocolate in the batter. A gift box won’t automatically replace that ingredient.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers chocolate gifts in different pack sizes, including assorted boxes.
- The merci Assorted Chocolate Box 250 g described by Jumbo contains 20 individually wrapped bars.
- With an assortment, check the ingredients and allergens for every flavour, not just the number of pieces.
Lidl
A recipe for a large white chocolate biscuit offers a different option from a ready-made box or biscuits used as individual decorations.
- Lidl’s recipe uses 150 g of roughly chopped white chocolate and tops the cooled biscuit with crème pâtissière and fruit.
- Baking it yourself also requires the other recipe ingredients and preparation, so check what’s suitable for the recipients.
Products for serving, decorating and gifting
This selection includes soft cakes and speculoos to serve with cake, chocolate sprinkles for decoration and an assortment of chocolates to give as a gift. If your recipe calls for chocolate to be melted, choose it according to the recipe requirements.
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LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
For anyone looking to serve an individually wrapped treat with cake, the product description mentions five soft cakes with chocolate and milk filling. They’re not crunchy biscuits and won’t replace chocolate for melting.
The product information lists milk, egg, wheat and soya as allergens. Check the latest packaging.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
For a sprinkling of chocolate to finish your bake, the product description suggests using them as a cupcake topping. The pack contains 400 g. Sprinkles aren’t biscuits and won’t directly replace chocolate that needs to melt into the batter.
The product information lists milk and soya as allergens. Check the latest packaging.
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De Ruijter Pure Chocolate Sprinkles, 390 g
For a sprinkling of chocolate to finish your bake, the product description suggests using these dark chocolate sprinkles as a cupcake topping. Check the cocoa percentage on the pack if your recipe calls for a specific one; these sprinkles aren’t a direct substitute for chocolate to melt.
The product information lists milk and soya as allergens. Check the latest packaging.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Biscuits, 250 g
Serve these speculoos biscuits with cake or use them as a crumb layer if their caramelised flavour works with your recipe. They’re not chocolate biscuits and won’t replace chocolate that needs to be melted.
The product information lists wheat and soya. Check the latest packaging for complete allergen information.
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merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
For a small chocolate gift with a variety of flavours, the product information describes seven flavours and a mix of filled and unfilled chocolates. If you’re sharing them, check the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped. Don’t use the selection as baking chocolate without adapting the recipe.
The product information lists milk, almonds, hazelnuts, soya and wheat, among other ingredients, and includes a warning about peanuts. Read the full, up-to-date packaging information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use chocolate biscuits instead of dark chocolate in a cake?
Not as a direct substitute if the recipe calls for chocolate in the batter or for a melted finish. For example, Albert Heijn Allerhande’s chocolate cake recipe uses 200 g of 72% dark chocolate in the batter. Use a biscuit only for a biscuit layer, a crumb topping or a treat on the side if that suits your plans.
What should I look for if I’m sharing a chocolate gift box?
Check the number of pieces, whether they’re individually wrapped, the range of flavours and the allergens in the whole box. Albert Heijn describes a merci gift box containing 32 individually wrapped bars, while the merci Assorted Chocolate Box 250 g described by Jumbo contains 20. Check the details for the specific box you’re buying.
How do I check allergens in a box of assorted flavours?
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the entire contents, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. Voedingscentrum highlights the importance of allergen information on labels, so don’t just check the flavour you’d choose yourself.
How should I store chocolate until I’m ready to bake or give it as a gift?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging for the product you’ve chosen. If it says ‘store in a cool, dark place’, Voedingscentrum explains that it should also be kept somewhere dry. Protect the pack from heat as instructed.
Does a sustainability claim about cocoa tell me whether a product is suitable for baking?
No. A claim about where the cocoa comes from doesn’t determine whether a product is suitable for the chocolate specified in your recipe. Assess the claim separately, and check the type and quantity of chocolate required and the ingredients in the product you choose before baking.