If you’re bringing a small gift
You’ll want a box that’s easy to carry and gives the recipient a choice. An assortment of individually wrapped pieces can also be handy when several guests will be sharing them.
Which option is right for you?
If you’re looking for something with coffee or tea
You don’t need a gift box, just a small biscuit to add a sweet touch to breakfast. Plain speculoos and chocolate-coated speculoos offer different flavour options.
If you compare labels carefully
Check the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for the product you’ve chosen before serving it. This is particularly important if someone at the table has a food allergy.
What should you look for?
First decide whether the pack is primarily a gift, something to share at the table or a biscuit to have with coffee or tea. Then compare the quantity and the label for the product you’re considering.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gift and choice of flavours | See how many flavours are in the box and whether the packaging is suitable for the occasion. | If I’m bringing something for the host, I don’t want to limit the recipient to one flavour; around 33% of consumers give this choice of gift the highest priority. |
| Sharing at the table | Compare the number of pieces with the size of your group and check whether they’re individually wrapped. | For breakfast with several guests, I want to put out enough without opening the whole pack straight away; around 27% of consumers prioritise ease of sharing. |
| A biscuit with coffee or tea | Choose between plain speculoos and a chocolate variety, and consider the portion size too. | If I just want something small with my coffee, I don’t need a box of assorted chocolates. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this kind of biscuit break. |
| Label and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any cross-contamination warning on the current packaging. | If someone at the table has a food allergy, I want to know exactly what’s in this particular product; around 20% of consumers make checking the label their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing an assorted box based on looks alone
The contents vary between assortments. According to Jumbo’s product information, the 340 g Celebrations mix contains, among other ingredients, milk, peanuts, wheat, soya and egg; the 400 g merci Assorti box lists milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts, among other ingredients.
Read the allergen information and any cross-contamination warning on the box you’re actually serving. Details for one variety don’t necessarily apply to another.
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Looking only at the size of the box
A large pack isn’t automatically right for a small group. Jumbo lists 32 individually wrapped chocolate bars in merci Assorti 400 g and 22 pralines in After Eight Caramel 200 g, so the weight isn’t the only difference in what you’ll be putting on the table.
Choose the number of pieces and type of packaging to suit your guests, and check the storage instructions in case there are any leftovers.
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Treating biscuits as the whole breakfast
A biscuit with coffee plays a different role from the other parts of breakfast. Albert Heijn lists 1.3 g of fibre per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit and wholegrain products among sources of fibre.
Choose biscuits or chocolate as a sweet extra, and decide separately what else you’d like to serve for breakfast.
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Relying on an old ingredients list
The information on a product page you looked at earlier may not match the pack you serve later. For the Lotus products reviewed, Albert Heijn notes that ingredients and allergen information can change.
Check the label again when you buy the product and before serving it to guests.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos to enjoy with coffee or tea, available plain or covered in chocolate. This is more of a biscuit choice than a mixed gift box.
- Albert Heijn lists around 32 biscuits in the standard 250 g pack.
- The plain variety lists wheat and soya; the chocolate variety reviewed also contains milk. Check the label for each variety.
merci
Chocolate gift boxes with a selection of flavours, suitable as a small gift or a treat to share.
- According to Jumbo, the 400 g Assorti box reviewed contains eight chocolate specialities and 32 individually wrapped bars.
- That variety also lists milk, soya, almonds and hazelnuts, among other ingredients. Check the label for warnings about other possible allergens too.
Celebrations
An assortment of chocolate snacks for anyone who wants to offer several flavours at the table.
- The 340 g mix described by Jumbo includes Snickers, Mars, Twix, Bounty, Galaxy and Milky Way, among other products.
- For this variety, Jumbo lists egg, milk, peanuts, cereals containing gluten and soya as allergens, among others.
After Eight
The Caramel box reviewed is a single type of chocolate praline rather than a broad assortment of flavours.
- According to Jumbo, the 200 g Caramel box contains 22 milk chocolate pralines with a caramel fondant filling.
- This variety contains milk. The packaging also says to store the pralines in a cool, dry place.
Products for a weekend breakfast
This selection of Joybuy products includes biscuits to enjoy with coffee or tea, as well as chocolate packs to share or give as a gift. Think about the format: a sharing bag is different from a gift box.
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Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
A biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea, rather than a gift box with assorted flavours. Check the allergens on the current pack and make sure there are enough biscuits for your group.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos, 250 g
Plain speculoos is a good biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea when you don’t need a box of chocolates. If allergens or nutritional information affect your choice, check the ingredients on the pack you buy.
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KitKat Mini Milk Chocolate Sharing Bag, 284 g
This sharing bag of mini milk chocolate bars is a sweet treat for several guests. It contains one type of bar, rather than an assortment of flavours in a gift box, so check the label before serving.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack, 288 g
This gift pack is a lovely choice as a small present for a weekend breakfast. If you’d like to share it among your guests, check how the chocolates are divided in the pack; remember to read the allergen information too.
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Celebrations Chocolate Assorted, 385 g
This assorted chocolate pack is ideal for guests who like to choose between different varieties. For this 385 g pack, check both the allergens and the individual wrapping; information for another Celebrations variety may not apply to this one.
Frequently asked questions
What can I bring as a small gift for a weekend breakfast?
A box with a selection of flavours is a good choice if you don’t know exactly what the recipient likes. If you’d also like to share it with guests, check how many pieces are in the box and whether they’re individually wrapped. Remember to check the label for allergens too.
Can a box of chocolates replace breakfast?
Think of chocolate or biscuits as a sweet extra, not a replacement for all the different parts of breakfast. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists fruit and wholegrain products among sources of fibre; Albert Heijn lists 1.3 g of fibre per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos.
How should I store chocolates for the weekend?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For the After Eight Caramel box reviewed, Jumbo says to store the pralines in a cool, dry place. Check the instructions again if you choose a different variety.
Where can I find the allergens in a box of chocolates?
Check the label on the exact box, including any cross-contamination warning. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must be provided for 14 allergens. If someone has a food allergy, information for another flavour or box is no substitute for checking the product you’ve chosen.
Can I rely on the ingredients listed on an online product page?
An online product page can help you narrow down your options, but check the label on the pack you buy and serve as well. For the Lotus products reviewed, Albert Heijn warns that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.