If you’re putting together a platter for several guests
Check the number of biscuits and how easy they’ll be to share out. Albert Heijn describes a 400 g pack containing 30 portions; ALDI lists 20 Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits.
Who might find this choice relevant?
If you have a clear preference for a particular biscuit texture
A biscuit coated in chocolate is different from one with chocolate chips or a filled wafer. Decide which type you want to serve before choosing a flavour.
If you need to take guests’ allergies into account
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the specific pack you’ve chosen. Even a biscuit marketed as gluten-free or lactose-free may contain other allergens or carry a warning that they may be present.
What should you look for when choosing?
For New Year’s Eve, first choose the type of biscuit you want, then check whether the pack is right for your gathering. If a guest has allergies or dietary requirements, check the exact product before serving.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving size | Check the net weight and the number of biscuits or portions; look out for individually wrapped portions too. | If I’m having several guests over, I want to put out enough biscuits without having to guess from the packaging. For around 29% of consumers, the serving size is the most important factor. |
| Type of chocolate | Look for a chocolate coating, chocolate chips or a filling in the product description, and check which type of chocolate it is. | If you specifically want chocolate on the outside, a biscuit with chips only in the dough won’t do. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this product type. |
| Allergens and dietary claims | Read the ingredients, allergen information and warnings on the current packaging for the exact product. | If a guest has a food allergy or intolerance, I need to be able to check whether this particular biscuit is suitable. Around 21% of consumers put this check first. |
| Shopping convenience | Check whether your chosen product is available to order online or only in store. | If you want to finish your shopping just before New Year’s Eve, look for a product available through your preferred way of shopping. For around 21% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all chocolate biscuits are coated biscuits
A biscuit with chocolate chips, a filled wafer and a biscuit with a chocolate coating are made differently. So a product with chocolate in its name may not have the outer layer you’re looking for.
Read the product description and choose one that specifically mentions a chocolate coating if that’s what matters to you.
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Taking a dietary claim as a complete allergen check
According to the product information, the Céréal biscuit described by Jumbo as gluten- and lactose-free also contains soya and may contain other allergens.
If a guest has a food allergy or medical intolerance, ask them to check the current ingredients and warnings on the exact pack.
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Reading only the front of the pack
The product name doesn’t always tell you what type of chocolate, ingredients or allergens to expect. The information may also change if the recipe is updated.
Read the ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details on the packaging. Compare the nutritional values of different products on the same basis, such as per 100 g, as advised by the Voedingscentrum.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The AH product reviewed is a sugared biscuit with a dark chocolate coating, aimed at anyone looking for a biscuit with chocolate on the outside.
- Albert Heijn lists this product as a 400 g pack containing 30 portions, with a 27% dark chocolate coating.
- The product information lists milk, cereals containing gluten and soya, as well as warnings that other allergens may be present. Check the current packaging.
Jumbo
The range includes several types of chocolate biscuits. Check each product to see whether it’s a coated biscuit, one with chocolate chips or something else.
- Jumbo also describes a Céréal biscuit with chocolate chips as gluten- and lactose-free, for anyone specifically looking for these claims.
- That Céréal biscuit isn’t coated in chocolate. According to the product information, it contains soya and may also contain other allergens.
Lidl / Sondey
The Chocobiscuits described are butter biscuits with a chocolate coating, available in milk and dark varieties.
- The description makes it clear that the chocolate is on the outside of the biscuit.
- Lidl lists the product reviewed as 125 g and available in store only. Check which variety is available before you shop.
ALDI / Biscotto
ALDI describes several types of chocolate biscuits. Choose the product type that suits you rather than treating them as interchangeable.
- Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits are described as 20 butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate, wrapped in pairs.
- The separately described CHOCEUR Choco & biscuit also contains milk cream. That’s a different option from a simple biscuit with just a chocolate coating.
Biscuits and wafers at Joybuy
This selection includes biscuits with chocolate on the outside and filled wafers coated in chocolate. For New Year’s Eve, bear in mind the difference in shape and check the stated pack size.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
A biscuit option if you’d like to serve milk chocolate with coffee or tea. The pack contains 150 g. If you have allergies, check the current packaging for milk, wheat, soya and nuts.
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Milka Choco Wafer Milk 180 g
A filled wafer for anyone who’d prefer to serve something with a different texture from a simple biscuit with a chocolate coating. The pack contains 180 g. If you have allergies, check the current packaging for milk, soya and wheat, and look for warnings about egg and nuts.
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Lu Mikado Milk Chocolate Biscuit Sticks 75 g
The stick shape is a good choice if you’d like to put out small biscuits rather than individual classic biscuits. The pack contains 75 g. Don’t assume that each stick is individually wrapped, and check the current packaging if you have allergies.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate 10 × 12,5 g
An option if you’d like to serve a filled wafer with pistachio, rather than a simple biscuit with chocolate just on the outside. The pack contains 10 portions of 12,5 g. Check the current ingredients and allergen information, especially as it contains pistachio filling.
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Sarelle Milk Chocolate Coated Hazelnut Wafer Turkish 33 g
This individual wafer is a good choice if you’d like a hazelnut filling, but it won’t replace a larger pack of classic biscuits for a group. The bar weighs 33 g. If you have allergies, check the current packaging for wheat, milk, hazelnuts and soya, as well as any warnings about other nuts.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a biscuit is coated in chocolate?
Look for a chocolate coating or a layer of chocolate in the product description. Albert Heijn describes its sugared biscuit as having a dark chocolate coating; Lidl describes its Chocobiscuits as butter biscuits with a chocolate coating. Chocolate chips or a cream filling indicate a different type of product.
Can I serve chocolate biscuits to guests with allergies?
You can only assess this for the exact product and the guest in question. Read the allergen information and any warnings on the current packaging together; the Voedingscentrum advises checking labels carefully for allergens.
Is a gluten- and lactose-free chocolate biscuit suitable for everyone with a food sensitivity?
No. Those claims don’t tell you about all the other allergens. According to the product information, the Céréal biscuit described by Jumbo contains soya and may also contain egg, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin. Ask the guest in question to check the current label.
How can I choose enough biscuits for a New Year’s Eve gathering?
Check the number of biscuits or portions as well as the pack size, rather than looking at the weight alone. Albert Heijn lists 30 portions in 400 g for the dark chocolate biscuits described; ALDI lists 20 biscuits in the described Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits pack, wrapped in pairs.
How should I store chocolate-coated biscuits once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For its sugared biscuits, Albert Heijn recommends a cool, dark and dry place and, once opened, a sealed tin. Don’t apply this advice to other products without checking their labels.