Hosting and looking for a filled treat
If you want to serve one cake to each guest, a kano is a good fit. The varieties described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn are butter cakes filled with almond paste.
Which cake is right for you?
Organising coffee for a larger group
If you want to put biscuits out on a plate, digestives in a roll or larger pack are worth considering. Check how many biscuits are in the pack you choose before deciding how many to buy.
Hosting guests with allergies in mind
Ask which ingredients your guests need to avoid, and check the current label for each cake you choose. If you opt for a gluten-free product, its other ingredients and allergens still matter.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to serve a filled cake or biscuits to share. Then check the pack size and, where necessary, the allergen information for each variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| One filled cake per guest | Check how many kano's are in the pack and the stated serving size. | If I want to give every guest one filled cake, I’m looking for a treat that can be served on its own. For around 40% of consumers, an individual treat is the priority. |
| Biscuits for a group | Check the net weight, the number of biscuits and whether you’re choosing a plain or chocolate variety. | For a larger coffee break, I want to put biscuits on a plate for guests to help themselves. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this kind of group serving. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current ingredient and allergen information. For a gluten-free option, look for the ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know in advance which cake I can serve. For around 20% of consumers, checking this comes before choosing the type of cake. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming kano's and digestives are the same kind of biscuit
The kano's described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn are filled with almond paste; a plain digestive is a biscuit. This difference can help you decide whether to serve one cake to each guest or put out a plate of biscuits.
First decide how you want to serve them, then check the serving size and number of pieces on the pack.
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Assuming ‘digestive’ means gluten-free
McVitie's Digestives Original, sold by Jumbo, are wheat biscuits. The word ‘digestive’ in the product name does not, by itself, mean the biscuits are suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten.
Read the label for the specific variety and, if you need a gluten-free option, check the packaging for the relevant label.
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Overlooking other allergens in gluten-free biscuits
A gluten-free label does not mean a biscuit is free from ingredients such as milk or soya. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information provided on food labels.
Ask which allergens you need to look out for, read the full packaging and keep any gluten-free options separate from regular biscuits.
Relevant brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes its butter kano's as cakes containing 41% almond paste, and also offers digestives in its biscuit range.
- A useful starting point for comparing a filled kano with a biscuit.
- For the kano's, check the current ingredient and allergen information, including details for wheat, milk, egg, soya and almond.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its butter kano's as cakes filled with almond paste, and also stocks a digestive with milk chocolate that is labelled gluten-free.
- The kano and gluten-free digestive show that how you want to serve a treat and checking its ingredients are separate considerations.
- A ‘gluten-free’ label on a digestive is no substitute for checking other allergens.
McVitie's
Jumbo describes McVitie's Digestives Original as wheat biscuits and lists them in a pack of 2 × 400 g, among other sizes.
- A specific plain variety to consider if you’re looking for biscuits to share with a group.
- The Original variety contains wheat; check the label for other allergens too.
Schär
Schär is a brand to consider if you’re looking for a gluten-free digestive. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for the ‘gluten-free’ label and the Crossed Grain symbol.
- A gluten-free label helps distinguish this option from regular wheat biscuits.
- Check the other ingredients and allergens separately on the pack you choose.
Biscotto
ALDI describes Biscotto Digestive Biscuits as crunchy wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack containing around 27 biscuits.
- The stated number of biscuits can help you plan for a coffee break.
- If guests have allergen requirements, check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.
Digestives for your coffee break on Joybuy
This plain digestive is a good fit if you want to put biscuits on a plate for guests to share over coffee.
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McVities Digestive Original 400 g
A plain digestive to serve with coffee or tea.
400 g pack. Contains wheat and cereals containing gluten; according to the product description, it may contain traces of milk. If you have allergies, check the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are kano's the same as digestives?
No. The kano's described by Jumbo and Albert Heijn are butter cakes filled with almond paste, while the plain digestives featured here are wheat biscuits. Choose a kano if you want to serve one filled cake to each guest, or digestives if you want to put out biscuits to share.
How many biscuits do I need for a coffee break?
Choose an amount to suit your guests and any other snacks you’re serving. Check the number of biscuits or servings on the pack you choose: the pack weight alone won’t tell you how many biscuits it contains.
Is a gluten-free label enough if a guest has allergies?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies the ‘gluten-free’ label and the Crossed Grain symbol as ways to recognise gluten-free products, but you should also check the other ingredients and allergens in the biscuit you choose.
How should I store an opened pack of digestives?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. PLUS says that PLUS Digestive Puur biscuits will keep for a few days after opening if stored in a tightly sealed pack or biscuit tin. Don’t assume the same applies to other products.