Who is this choice relevant to?

Anyone looking for dark chocolate to serve with drinks

You want to know what type of chocolate is used in the spritz biscuits. Compare the ingredients, and bear in mind that the word ‘dark’ on its own doesn’t give you a specific cocoa percentage.

Hosts who want to share biscuits

You’re buying for several guests and want to work out how many packs you’ll need. The pack size and stated servings can help; also check how to store an opened pack.

Anyone checking ingredients or allergens

You want to know whether the option you’ve chosen suits your guests’ needs. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re actually serving.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide what type of chocolate you’re looking for. Then compare the pack sizes and check any information that matters to your guests before serving.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this most important to?
Type of chocolate Check whether dark or milk chocolate is listed and whether a specific cocoa percentage is given. The proportion of chocolate added is different from the cocoa content. I’d rather serve spritz biscuits made with dark chocolate than a milk chocolate variety, but I don’t want to mistake ‘dark’ for a high cocoa content. Around 40% of consumers say this is their top priority.
Amount to share Compare the weight of each pack and, if listed, the number of servings. When I’m serving several guests, I want to put out enough biscuits without overestimating how much is in each pack. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety, including any warnings about possible traces. When I’m buying for guests with a food allergy, I need to be able to check what’s in the spritz biscuits I’m serving. Around 20% of consumers put this first.
Nutritional information and serving size Check the sugar, saturated fat and energy content per 100 g and, where listed, per serving. I want to know what’s in a serving, and I don’t base my choice solely on the word ‘dark’ or a sugar claim. For around 10% of consumers, nutritional information matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark’ or ‘double chocolate’ means a high cocoa content

    A percentage of added dark chocolate doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the whole biscuit contains. According to Albert Heijn, Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade also contains milk chocolate, chocolate pieces and cocoa nibs; its name doesn’t make it a dark chocolate variety.

    If cocoa content is important to your choice, look for a specific percentage on the packaging of the variety you’re considering, or ask the manufacturer. Otherwise, choose based on the stated type of chocolate without assuming a particular cocoa percentage.

  • Relying on allergen information for a different spritz variety

    Ingredients and declared allergens vary by product. For example, PLUS says that PLUS Chocolade sprits contains egg, while Albert Heijn notes that Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade may contain nuts and sesame.

    Check the label on the exact pack before serving the biscuits, and make sure the information is available to your guests.

  • Overlooking the pack size

    A 150 g pack, a 200 g pack and a larger pack won’t provide the same amount of biscuits to serve with drinks.

    Compare the pack size and any serving information before deciding how many packs to buy. If you won’t serve the whole pack at once, check the storage advice too.

  • Treating a sugar claim as a complete picture of the nutritional value

    A claim about one nutrient doesn’t tell you what else is in a serving. The type of chocolate doesn’t replace the nutrition table either.

    If it matters to your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per serving, including sugars, saturated fat and energy where available.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Verkade

The Nobo Sprits range includes varieties with milk chocolate and one made with several chocolate ingredients.

  • According to Albert Heijn, Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade contains milk chocolate, chocolate pieces and cocoa nibs.
  • The name ‘double chocolate’ doesn’t confirm that it contains dark chocolate or a specific cocoa percentage.

AH

AH Choco spritsen are butter spritz biscuits for anyone looking for a variety that explicitly lists dark chocolate.

  • Albert Heijn lists 15% Belgian dark chocolate and 25% butter.
  • The dark chocolate percentage isn’t a cocoa percentage; if you have allergen requirements, check the current label too.

PLUS

PLUS Chocolade sprits comes in a 200 g pack and lists dark chocolate as an ingredient.

  • PLUS lists 18% dark chocolate.
  • This percentage doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the finished product contains. The declared allergens include wheat, egg, soya and milk.

Biscotto

ALDI describes Biscotto roomboter sprits as available in plain and chocolate varieties.

  • The stated pack weight ranges from 300–400 g, depending on the variety.
  • Check the weight, ingredients and allergens on the chocolate variety you choose.

Sondey

Sondey is a range of biscuits and cookies from Lidl.

  • The range includes various types of biscuits and cookies.
  • The brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a specific spritz biscuit made with dark chocolate, or with a particular cocoa content, is available.

Chocolate spritz biscuits on Joybuy

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does dark chocolate on a spritz biscuit mean it contains a lot of cocoa?

No. The amount of dark chocolate added and the cocoa content of the whole biscuit are two different things. AH lists 15% dark chocolate for AH Choco spritsen, while PLUS lists 18% for PLUS Chocolade sprits; these figures don’t indicate the cocoa content of the finished product. If it will affect your purchase, look for a specific cocoa percentage for the variety you’ve chosen.

Where can I check allergens when buying chocolate spritz biscuits for guests?

Check the label on the pack you’re actually going to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label. Don’t rely on information for a different flavour or variety.

How should I store an opened pack of spritz biscuits?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal an opened pack securely. For the Nobo Sprits biscuits reviewed, the advice is to keep the pack sealed after opening; PLUS says to store its chocolate spritz biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place.

Does the type of chocolate tell me enough about the nutritional value of spritz biscuits?

No. ‘Dark’ or ‘milk chocolate’ doesn’t give you the full nutritional picture for the biscuit. Check the nutritional information per 100 g and, where available, per serving if you want to compare sugars, fat and energy, for example.

Which product information should I rely on when choosing a variety?

Use the current packaging for the exact variety to check ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. Online product details can change, so also check the weight and storage instructions on the pack you buy.