Hosting a help-yourself buffet
Expecting lots of guests? Individually wrapped biscuits let everyone take a sealed portion. Check that the pack you choose really does contain one biscuit per wrapper.
Which packaging works best for you?
Organising a small Christmas party
If you’re serving biscuits with coffee or tea to a small group, a pack of two may be just the right portion. It’s less suitable if you want to give everyone exactly one biscuit.
Checking allergens for your guests
If ingredients or possible cross-contamination are important to your guests, read the label on the exact pack you’re serving. Keep it available for anyone who wants to check the information for themselves.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how many biscuits you want to offer in each sealed portion. Then check how many of those portions are in the pack and read the label for your chosen variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed portions and storage | Check whether each biscuit has its own wrapper and follow the storage instructions on the pack. | When guests are helping themselves, I want to put out sealed portions and keep the rest wrapped until the party. Around 42% of consumers say this is their main priority. |
| Portion size and quantity | Count the inner packs and check how many biscuits each one contains. | When serving coffee and tea, I want to know how many individual portions I can offer, not just the total number of biscuits. This kind of portion planning comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the exact variety, including any warnings about possible cross-contamination. | When guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to show them the information on the pack before serving anything. This check is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming one pack contains one biscuit
A sealed inner pack may contain two biscuits. For example, Jumbo lists ten packs of two biscuits for Lotus Biscoff XL: that’s ten sealed portions, not twenty.
Check both the number of packs and the number of biscuits in each one before counting portions for your guests.
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Using an old label to check allergens
A wrapper doesn’t mean a biscuit is free from allergens. The ingredients and warnings on the variety you’re actually serving are what guests need to check.
Read the label when you buy the biscuits and again before serving, and keep the pack with them.
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Assuming a range you saw before is still available
A party pack you’ve looked at may not be available when you place your order. For example, Jumbo says its Lotus Luxe Assorti Koek is no longer available.
Check the chosen shop’s current range before finalising how many portions you’ll need.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
An option for coffee biscuits at a help-yourself buffet. Albert Heijn lists a dispenser with 150 individually wrapped biscuits; the XL variety described by Jumbo, by contrast, has two biscuits in each pack.
- The dispenser makes it easy to see how many sealed portions there are.
- Packaging varies by variety, so check each label for allergens too.
Peijnenburg
For anyone who wants to offer an individually wrapped slice of ontbijtkoek alongside biscuits. Jumbo lists a plain pack with four 28 g slices, each individually wrapped.
- The slices can be set out as individual portions.
- Ontbijtkoek is a different kind of product from a small coffee biscuit; check the ingredients of the variety you choose.
Biscotto
An option if two chocolate biscuits together make a suitable portion. ALDI Netherlands lists its Biscotto chocolate biscuits in packs of two.
- Each sealed pack contains a two-biscuit portion.
- This packaging isn’t suitable if you want to give each guest exactly one biscuit.
Goud Gebakken
For anyone who wants to offer a softer biscuit alongside biscuits. ALDI Netherlands describes its Koekhappers pack as containing six individually wrapped cakes.
- Each cake has its own wrapper.
- Koekhappers aren’t small biscuits to serve with coffee.
Biscuits for smaller portions on Joybuy
These biscuits are options for serving smaller quantities with coffee or tea. Don’t rely on the number of biscuits shown on the outer pack alone: check how many sealed inner packs it contains and what’s in each one before planning for your guests.
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Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
For serving biscuits with coffee or tea to a smaller group, check how many sealed portions you can offer from this pack. The outer pack contains 150 g; read the label on the exact pack for ingredient and allergen information.
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Hellema Smoeltjes speculaas biscuits, 8 pieces, 200 g
If you want to set out speculaas biscuits as individual portions, count the inner packs and check how many biscuits they contain. The outer pack lists 8 pieces and 200 g; check the label on your chosen pack for allergen information.
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Oreo Raspberry & Blueberry Flavor sandwich biscuits, 97 g
For a smaller gathering, this pack contains two separate inner packs. The outer pack contains 97 g; if you’re counting biscuits per guest, check how many are in each pack, and read the label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know how many sealed portions I can serve?
Count the individual wrappers or packs, not just the biscuits. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL as ten packs of two biscuits, while Albert Heijn lists 150 individually wrapped biscuits for the Lotus Biscoff Dispenser.
How should I store the biscuits until the Christmas party?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack of biscuits you’ve chosen. For its professionally packaged Biscoff Sandwich Cookies, Lotus Bakeries recommends storing them in a dry place away from sources of heat. Don’t assume the same advice applies to a different variety.
Do I need to check allergens if each biscuit is individually wrapped?
Yes. An individual wrapper doesn’t tell you whether the ingredients are suitable for a guest. Check the exact pack for listed allergens and any warnings about possible cross-contamination, and keep the label available when serving.
Is a vegan label also an allergen check?
No, a vegan label doesn’t replace allergen information. Check both on the variety you want to serve rather than assuming the biscuit is suitable for every guest based on its dietary claim.