Which biscuit is right for you?

For those keeping an eye on sugar

You’re looking for a little something to enjoy with your oliebollen, and sugar content matters more to you than chocolate. Check the nutritional information for the product you choose.

For chocolate biscuit lovers

You’re mainly after a chocolate biscuit, then want to check whether its sugar content suits your preferences. Having chocolate in the product name doesn’t tell you anything about a sugar-reduction claim.

For home bakers who keep the batter separate

You’re making oliebollen from a recipe and want to serve biscuits alongside them, rather than mixing them into the batter without a suitable recipe. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s classic oliebol recipe doesn’t use biscuits as an ingredient in the batter.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing a biscuit to enjoy with homemade oliebollen, decide what matters most to you: the sugar content, the combination of chocolate and biscuit, or sticking to your batter recipe.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim and sugar content Read the exact claim and check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g, as well as the ingredients. If I want to keep an eye on sugar, I don’t want to rely on the front of the pack alone. For around 38% of consumers, checking the sugar content matters most.
Chocolate and biscuit type Check whether the product is a biscuit or a cake, and what the ingredients say about the chocolate. I’m looking for a chocolate biscuit, not a soft cake instead of a biscuit. That combination is the deciding factor for around 37% of consumers.
Use in baking Follow a suitable oliebol recipe for the batter; consider a biscuit as a separate product. When I make oliebollen at home, I don’t want to use a ready-made biscuit as an ingredient in the batter without checking first. Around 25% of consumers put this distinction first.

Common mistakes with biscuits and batter

  • Assuming chocolate means low sugar

    A chocolate biscuit can still contain plenty of sugar. According to Lotus Bakeries Nederland, Lotus Biscoff with chocolate contains 39,60 g sugars per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g before choosing based on chocolate flavour or the product name.

  • Taking ‘no added sugars’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    A product with no added sugars can still contain sugars. Albert Heijn Allerhande states that its date biscuits with no added sugars contain 6 g sugars per serving.

    Alongside the claim, check the ingredients list and the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.

  • Choosing a product containing polyols without considering the portion

    Jumbo’s product information for Céréal Mini Cakes with chocolate pieces says they contain maltitols and 33 g polyols per 100 g. Voedingscentrum warns that consuming excessive amounts of polyols may have a laxative effect.

    Check the ingredients, serving size and any warnings on the pack. These mini cakes are soft cakes, not biscuits.

  • Mixing a biscuit into oliebol batter without a suitable recipe

    Albert Heijn Allerhande’s classic oliebol recipe is based on a batter containing ingredients including flour and yeast; biscuits aren’t part of the recipe.

    Keep a ready-made biscuit separate from the batter unless you’re following a specific recipe for the biscuit variation you want to make.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Verkade

San Francisco Zero is worth considering if you’re looking for a biscuit with no added sugars and chocolate isn’t a must.

  • Verkade describes San Francisco Zero as a biscuit with no added sugars and states that it contains 1,7 g sugars per 100 g.
  • The variant described isn’t a chocolate biscuit. Check the current ingredients and nutritional information before buying.

Lotus Biscoff

The Biscoff variant reviewed is a speculoos biscuit with chocolate, for those looking for that combination.

  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland states that this variant contains 22% chocolate.
  • The same product information states that it contains 39,60 g sugars per 100 g; this doesn’t substantiate a sugar-reduction claim.

Céréal

Mini Cakes Stukjes Chocolade are an alternative if you’re looking for a snack with chocolate pieces but don’t need it to be a biscuit.

  • Jumbo’s product information states that these soft cakes contain 0 g sugars per 100 g.
  • They aren’t biscuits; the nutritional information also lists maltitols and 33 g polyols per 100 g. Pay attention to the portion and the guidance on the pack.

A biscuit to enjoy with your oliebollen

This Joybuy biscuit suits the idea of serving a chocolate-flavoured biscuit separately alongside homemade oliebollen. If reducing sugar is a requirement for you, check the current nutritional information and the exact wording of any sugar claim.

quduoduo Chunky Cookies, Dark Chocolate Flavour, 72 g

quduoduo Chunky Cookies (Dark Chocolate Flavour), 72 g

For anyone who’d like to serve a biscuit with a dark chocolate flavour alongside their oliebollen.

72 g pack. Check the current pack for the sugars per 100 g and the exact wording of any sugar claim.

Don’t use the biscuit as a substitute for ingredients in the oliebol batter unless you’re following a suitable recipe.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean a biscuit contains no sugars?

No, the product may still contain sugars. For example, Albert Heijn Allerhande states that its date biscuits with no added sugars contain 6 g sugars per serving. So remember to check the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information too.

Is a snack with 0 g sugars automatically a chocolate biscuit?

No, the type of product is separate from its sugar content. Céréal Mini Cakes with chocolate pieces, as described by Jumbo, state 0 g sugars per 100 g, but they’re soft cakes, not biscuits. They also contain maltitols and polyols.

Can I mix chocolate biscuits into oliebol batter?

Don’t use a ready-made chocolate biscuit as a substitute for ingredients in the batter unless you’re following a suitable recipe. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s classic oliebol recipe uses ingredients including flour and yeast, but no biscuits. You can serve a biscuit separately.

What’s the difference between ‘less sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’?

They’re different nutrition claims and don’t, on their own, tell you how much sugar a biscuit contains. Check the exact claim and compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that nutrition claims are subject to European rules.