Choose a chocolate-covered canoe pastry only if the current packaging confirms it is chocolate-covered, the size is suitable for hiding and the allergen information is appropriate for everyone taking part. The canoe pastries described by Albert Heijn, Aviateur, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI are ordinary pastries with almond paste, not confirmed chocolate-covered varieties. An ordinary canoe pastry is therefore better suited to handing out after the hunt than as a substitute for a small Easter egg that’s easy to hide.
You’re looking for an individual treat that’s the right size and comes in suitable packaging for the hunt. Check that the canoe pastry you choose is actually chocolate-covered and that you can hide it without opening the packaging.
You’re handing out treats to a group where ingredients and possible cross-contamination matter. Before giving anything out, check the current allergen information for the product you’ve bought with parents or carers.
You don’t need a chocolate-covered treat to hide and are considering ordinary canoe pastries to hand out after the hunt. Check the number of pastries in each pack, storage instructions and what’s currently available in store.
First decide whether you want to hide the treats or hand them out after the hunt. This will determine the type of product and packaging you need.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate coating and size | Look for an explicit statement that the pastry is chocolate-covered, and check the size of each one and whether it’s individually wrapped. | If I want to hide something, I need a handy, wrapped treat rather than an ordinary pastry. For around 43% of consumers, this type of product is the top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, listed allergens and warnings about possible cross-contamination on the packaging of the product you’ve bought. | When handing out treats to a mixed group, I want to take account of any allergies parents or carers have told me about. Around 29% of consumers say this check is their top priority. |
| Availability and storage | Check the number of pastries in the pack, current availability, the best-before date and storage instructions. | For a treat to hand out after the hunt, I want to be able to buy enough pastries and store them according to the label until it’s time to hand them out. For around 28% of consumers, this practical planning matters most. |
A search containing the word ‘chocolate’ doesn’t tell you whether a specific canoe pastry has a chocolate coating. The products described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI are ordinary pastries with almond paste.
Check the exact variety on the current product page and packaging before choosing it to hide.
The listed allergens vary between canoe pastries. For example, Albert Heijn’s product information for its butter canoe pastries lists wheat, milk, soya, almond and egg, among other ingredients; PLUS also notes that Aviateur Kano's may contain egg.
Before handing them out, check the packaging of the exact variety you’ve bought and confirm the information with parents or carers.
Jumbo lists a pack of Aviateur pastries as no longer available online. So finding a product page doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to get the pastries when you shop.
Check availability at your chosen store or for your delivery slot, and decide in advance what suitable alternative you could hand out.
If you only discover while doing your shopping that your planned treat isn’t available, you may need to make an extra trip to the shops.
PLUS describes Aviateur Kano's on the wrapper as pastries filled with almond paste.
Albert Heijn describes its butter canoe pastries as butter pastries filled with almond paste.
PLUS describes both its own butter canoe pastry with almond paste and Aviateur Kano's.
No. The product descriptions for the varieties described by Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, Lidl and ALDI don’t confirm that they’re chocolate-covered. They describe pastries with almond paste. Only choose a chocolate-covered canoe pastry if the current packaging explicitly confirms the coating.
Check the allergens and warnings about possible cross-contamination on the packaging of the exact variety. The canoe pastries described list ingredients including wheat, milk, soya and almond; some varieties contain egg or other nuts, or warn that they may be present. Discuss any relevant allergies with parents or carers in advance.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve bought and check the best-before date. Albert Heijn and PLUS advise storing the canoe pastries described in a cool, dry place. For its butter canoe pastries, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a sealed tin after opening.
