Anyone putting out a plate for guests
Looking for chocolate-coated biscuits to serve individually, and comparing the number of biscuits or portions in each pack.
Who are these biscuits for?
Anyone handing out portions
Preferring individually portioned biscuits or biscuit bars that can be put out without cutting or weighing.
Anyone mindful of allergens
Checking the ingredients, listed allergens and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens before serving.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to put biscuits out on a plate or hand out individual portions. Then check the coating and ingredients of the product you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sharing with guests | Compare the net weight with the stated number of biscuits or portions. | If I’m putting out a plate for several guests, I want to have enough individual biscuits to serve; around 44% of consumers would put sharing first. |
| Individual portions | Check how many individual packs you get and whether the biscuit is fully or partially coated. | I want to hand out snacks without having to portion them first; around 33% of consumers would put the convenience of individual portions first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and warnings on the packaging, even if the product name doesn’t mention allergens. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know in advance what I can serve; around 23% of consumers would put checking allergens first. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking chocolate pieces for a coating
A biscuit with chocolate pieces is not the same as a biscuit fully or partially coated in chocolate. That difference determines the kind of biscuit you’re putting out on the plate.
Read the product description and look for a mention of a coating; don’t rely on the image alone.
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Choosing a small pack for a large group
The pack weight alone won’t tell you how many biscuits you can put out or how many individual portions you can hand out.
Count the stated biscuits and portions, and bear in mind the number of guests and the other snacks you’re serving.
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Guessing the allergens from the product name
The chocolate-coated biscuits reviewed include ingredients such as milk, wheat and soya. A name or image won’t give you the full picture of the ingredients or warnings.
Check the current packaging before buying and serving. If in doubt, choose a product whose ingredient and allergen information you can assess.
Brands to consider
Verkade
Verkade’s range includes Choco S'mores Kokos: two biscuits with marshmallow and coconut, coated in milk chocolate.
- An option if you’re looking for a filling as well as a biscuit.
- Check the ingredients carefully for this variety: Verkade lists beef gelatine, wheat, milk and soya, as well as warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists its speculoos variety with dark chocolate as 7 × 3 biscuits.
- The stated number of biscuits is useful if you’re putting them out on a plate.
- Check the packaging if any guests need to avoid wheat, milk or soya.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Choc chip coated melk as a 175 g pack with eight portions and a coating of 35% milk chocolate.
- The portions, weight and coating percentage give you specific details to compare.
- Also check the packaging of the product you buy for the latest ingredient, allergen and nutritional information.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers various types of chocolate biscuits. The product description is key to telling a coated biscuit apart from one with chocolate pieces.
- You can compare products across the range by looking at the type of coating and the packaging.
- According to the product description, Jumbo Chocolate Cookies with dark chocolate pieces are biscuits with chocolate pieces, not the same type of product as a chocolate-coated biscuit.
Sondey
Lidl Nederland lists Sondey Choco biscuits melk in a 125 g pack.
- A compact pack to consider if it suits the number of guests.
- Read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging before serving the biscuits.
Products on Joybuy
These products offer a range of options for New Year’s Eve: biscuit sticks and biscuits to put out on a plate, as well as wafers and smaller portions to hand out. A wafer or filled snack isn’t the same as a plain chocolate-coated biscuit.
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Lu Mikado Milk Chocolate Biscuit Sticks, 75 g
Biscuit sticks are a different shape from individual biscuits and could work well on a plate of nibbles. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
These milk chocolate biscuits are a good choice if you want to put biscuits out for guests or hand them out individually. Check how many biscuits or portions the pack contains before deciding how much you’ll need for your guests.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate, 10 × 12,5 g
The ten 12,5 g portions are handy if you want to hand out smaller treats. As this is the pistachio variety, it’s especially important to check the full ingredient and allergen information on the packaging before serving.
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Milka Choco Wafer Milk, 180 g
A chocolate wafer is a good option if you’d rather hand out wafers than put regular biscuits out on a plate. Compare the number of portions on the pack with the number of guests, and check the allergen information.
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Verkade Nizza Coconut Milk Chocolate with a Sugar Layer, 177 g
The coconut variety is one to consider if you want to serve a selection of biscuit flavours. If you’re sharing, don’t just look at the pack weight of 177 g; check how many biscuits are in the pack too. Also check the allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the allergens in chocolate-coated biscuits?
Yes, especially if you’re serving them to others. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that 14 allergens must be listed on food labels. Check the current ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens on the packaging you buy.
Are biscuits with chocolate pieces also chocolate-coated biscuits?
No, chocolate pieces don’t automatically mean a biscuit is coated. Albert Heijn describes AH Choc chip coated melk as having a coating of 35% milk chocolate, while Jumbo describes its Chocolate Cookies as biscuits with dark chocolate pieces. Check the description if you’re specifically looking for a coating.
How should I store an opened pack until New Year’s Eve?
Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve bought and reseal an opened pack as directed. For AH Choc chip coated melk, Albert Heijn recommends storing the biscuits in a sealed tin after opening; instructions may vary by product.
Can I serve biscuits after their ‘best before’ date?
Judge this based on the specific product and its condition, not the date alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority distinguishes between a minimum durability date and a use-by date. Follow the label, and don’t serve the biscuits if the packaging or product gives you reason to doubt they’re safe.