Hosting a get-together with a varied group of guests
You want to put out biscuits for everyone to share, while keeping the packaging handy in case anyone asks about allergens.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Looking to serve a selection of chocolate treats
Alongside chocolate-coated biscuits, you might also be looking for filled biscuits or biscuits in a different shape to serve with coffee or on a sweet sharing board.
Someone in your group has a specific dietary requirement
You want to check the ingredients, allergen information and any dietary claims on the exact pack before choosing a product.
What should you look for?
First, decide how many biscuits you want to serve and whether you’d like to open the packs gradually. Then check the label and type of chocolate finish for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Number of biscuits and portions | Check how many biscuits are in the pack and whether it contains smaller multipacks. ALDI lists 20 Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits in a 250 g pack, individually wrapped in pairs. | If I’m filling a plate for a large group, I want to serve enough biscuits without opening all the portions at once; sharing is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, including any warning about the possible presence of allergens. Check a gluten-free claim separately from information about milk and soya. | If a guest has a specific dietary requirement, I want to be able to check which biscuits are suitable; around 33% of consumers give label checks top priority. |
| Type of chocolate finish | Check whether the chocolate is a coating or topping, or whether it’s a filling or pieces mixed into the biscuit. Albert Heijn describes Verkade Chocorondjes as having a 17% milk chocolate coating and a 25% milk crème filling. | For a varied selection, I want to know whether I’m actually choosing biscuits in different shapes; this is the most important consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming one chocolate-coated biscuit is suitable for everyone
The coating won’t tell you which allergens are in the product as a whole. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods.
Check the exact packaging for the guest concerned, and keep the label available when serving the biscuits.
-
Comparing only the front of the pack
A pack may contain more biscuits without the portions or nutritional values being comparable. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing the nutritional values of similar products per 100 g.
Then check the number of biscuits and whether the pack contains individual portions for your get-together.
-
Treating a topping and a coating as the same thing
Albert Heijn describes Verkade Chocorondjes as having a milk chocolate coating and a milk crème filling. A biscuit with just a topping is a different type of product.
Read the product description if you’re deliberately serving different types of chocolate biscuits alongside one another.
Brands to compare
Verkade
Worth considering if you’d like to compare different chocolate biscuits from one brand, including Chocorondjes and Oaties Milk Chocolate.
- Albert Heijn describes Chocorondjes as having a milk crème filling and a milk chocolate coating.
- Verkade says Oaties Milk Chocolate is gluten-free. Check the other ingredients and allergens for this product separately; the brand name alone isn’t enough to confirm its suitability.
Albert Heijn
The online chocolate biscuit category includes different brands and biscuit shapes to compare.
- The category includes chocolate-coated and filled biscuits.
- Being listed in this category doesn’t mean every product is fully coated in chocolate or suitable for a particular dietary requirement.
Jumbo
A retailer where you can check product information for a specific item, such as Verkade Chocorondjes Milk Chocolate.
- For this Chocorondjes product, Jumbo lists a 150 g pack and provides ingredient information.
- This information doesn’t automatically apply to other biscuits in the range.
Biscotto (ALDI)
A brand to consider if the number of biscuits and how they’re portioned matter to you.
- ALDI lists 20 Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits in a 250 g pack, individually wrapped in pairs; for Sprenkeltjes, ALDI lists around 30 biscuits in 400 g.
- If a guest has an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Sondey (Lidl)
Lidl presents Sondey as a brand offering a range of biscuits and cookies.
- The brand page describes a range of different biscuit varieties.
- A general mention of vegan options doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients or chocolate coating of a specific Sondey product.
Products for different ways of serving
This selection of Joybuy products includes biscuits, biscuit sticks and a pistachio and milk chocolate option, an Oaties variety described by Verkade as gluten-free, and a wafer for something a little different. Check each product’s packaging before deciding what to serve together.
Image unavailable
LU Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
An option if you’d like to serve milk chocolate biscuits at your get-together. The pack contains 150 g; check the label if any guests’ allergens are a concern.
Image unavailable
LU Mikado Milk Chocolate Biscuit Sticks, 75 g
These biscuit sticks offer a change from round biscuits on a serving plate. The pack contains 75 g; check the packaging if the number of sticks or the allergens are important to your choice.
Image unavailable
Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate, 10 × 12,5 g
A pistachio option for anyone who’d like to serve a different flavour alongside milk chocolate biscuits. The product name lists 10 × 12,5 g; check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging before serving it to guests with dietary requirements.
Image unavailable
Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g
An option to check separately if someone asks for gluten-free biscuits: Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free. The pack contains 150 g. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from milk or soya, so check the current packaging against the specific dietary requirement.
Image unavailable
KitKat Gold Wafer Chocolate Salted Caramel, 9 stuks
A wafer for anyone who’d like to serve a different kind of chocolate treat alongside biscuits. The product name lists 9 pieces; it isn’t a standard biscuit, so check the label for ingredients and allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the label on chocolate biscuits for guests with allergies?
Yes. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before choosing a biscuit for that guest. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods; also look out for any relevant warning about their possible presence.
Are gluten-free chocolate biscuits also free from milk and soya?
No, you can’t assume that from a ‘gluten-free’ claim. Verkade describes Oaties Milk Chocolate as gluten-free, while the product information also lists milk and soya. Check each relevant allergen separately on the current packaging.
How do I compare packs of biscuits with different portion sizes?
Compare the nutritional values of similar biscuits per 100 g. For your get-together, also check the number of biscuits and whether they’re individually wrapped. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that per-portion values can be harder to compare when portion sizes differ.
How should I store chocolate biscuits once the pack is open?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve bought. The product information for Verkade Chocorondjes says to store them in a cool, dry place and keep them sealed after opening; don’t assume the same advice applies to other varieties.