The host serving something with coffee
You want to put out biscuits without making it feel like a formal gift. Spritz biscuits fit the bill; if you’re hosting a larger group, also consider how many pieces are in the pack.
Which option is right for you?
The guest bringing a thank-you gift
You’re looking for a gift you can hand over, with something for several people to choose from. A box of chocolates with different flavours fits the bill; check separately whether the pieces are individually wrapped if that matters for sharing.
The host catering for allergies
You need to know what your guests can eat before serving anything. Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current packaging: these vary between biscuits, chocolate bars and assortments.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you’re looking for something to serve with coffee or a thank-you gift to take along. Then choose the right size and check the information that matters to your guests.
Spritz biscuits with coffee
Best for: a coffee break when you want to serve biscuits rather than a gift or a mix of chocolate snacks.
Bear in mind: a single type of biscuit offers less choice of flavour; Verkade lists wheat, milk and soya among the ingredients in NoboSprits Milk.
Chocolate mix to share
Best for: a bowl of different bite-sized chocolate snacks for guests to choose from.
Bear in mind: an assortment may contain ingredients from several types of snack. So check the allergens for the whole pack, not just a favourite variety.
A box of chocolates as a thank-you gift
Best for: a visit where the packaging and choice of flavours are part of the gift.
Bear in mind: not every box of chocolates contains individually wrapped pieces. Check the exact product if you want to hand them out.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to share | Check the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped. | I want to put something on the table that guests can easily help themselves to. Easy sharing is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Gift and flavours | Look at the packaging, flavour options and portion sizes. | If I’m bringing a thank-you gift, I want the recipient to be able to choose from different flavours. This is the top priority for around 22% of consumers. |
| Enough pieces | Compare the net weight and number of pieces with the size of your group. | When visiting, I want to put out enough for everyone without relying on the size of the pack alone. Quantity matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| A biscuit with coffee | Check that they’re spritz biscuits and choose your preferred flavour. | I’m specifically looking for a familiar biscuit to have with coffee, not a box of individual chocolates. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the exact product packaging. | If a guest has a known food allergy, I want to be able to judge what I can serve. This is the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Serving a chocolate mix without checking the label
A box can contain different ingredients in each type of chocolate. Albert Heijn lists milk, peanuts, wheat, soya and egg among the ingredients in the Celebrations gift box.
Ask about any known allergies in advance and read the current ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging before serving.
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Judging by the size of the box alone
Two boxes that look the same size may contain different numbers of pieces or have different portion sizes. That can make a difference if you want to hand them out.
Compare the net weight with the number of pieces, and check whether individual wrapping is important for your coffee break.
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Thinking spritz biscuits and a gift box are interchangeable
Spritz biscuits are mainly for serving with coffee. A gift box may also be intended to take along and could offer several flavours.
Decide whether you’re looking for something to serve from a bowl, a sharing mix or a thank-you gift before choosing a brand or size.
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Not checking a pack you’ve looked at before
The available version and the information on the packaging may have changed since your last purchase.
Check the exact variety shortly before buying, and read the best-before date and allergen information before serving.
Brands to consider
Verkade
NoboSprits Milk is worth considering if you’re looking for a chocolate-topped biscuit to have with coffee.
- Koninklijke Verkade describes this product as a biscuit with a milk chocolate coating.
- The product information lists wheat, milk and soya, and notes that it may contain other cereals containing gluten. Check the label on the pack you buy.
merci
An option if you want to bring chocolates as a thank-you gift and individually wrapped pieces matter to you.
- According to Albert Heijn, the 400 g merci Gift Box contains 32 individually wrapped pieces in eight varieties.
- For this box, Albert Heijn lists milk, hazelnut, almond and soya among the ingredients, and notes that it may contain peanuts and egg.
Celebrations
A chocolate mix for offering a range of bite-sized snacks at a coffee break.
- Albert Heijn describes the gift box as containing small portions of chocolate to share or give as a present.
- The allergens listed include milk, peanuts, wheat, soya and egg. Check the exact packaging before offering it to guests.
Biscotto
Chocolate biscuits for a relaxed coffee break, with the number of pieces helping you plan.
- ALDI Nederland lists a 250 g pack containing 20 butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate.
- Check the allergens on the current packaging; the type of biscuit or chocolate alone doesn’t tell you which guests the product is suitable for.
Choceur
Worth considering if you want to compare different types of chocolate to serve or take along.
- ALDI Nederland’s Choceur range includes mini bars, pralines and chocolate in a variety of flavours.
- Check the size, portion format and allergens for each product you choose; these features don’t apply to the whole range.
Products for the coffee table or as a thank-you gift
These products offer different ways to enjoy a coffee break: biscuits to serve, a sharing bag of chocolate snacks and boxes of chocolates to take along. Coffee biscuits and chocolate snacks aren’t necessarily spritz biscuits, so choose the product type you’re actually looking for.
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g'woon Coffee Biscuits, 250 g
An option if you want to serve biscuits with coffee rather than bring a box of chocolates. The pack contains 250 g; these aren’t confirmed to be a spritz variety. Check the portion format and, if anyone has allergies, the current label.
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KitKat Mini Milk Chocolate Sharing Bag, 284 g
A sharing bag of chocolate snacks for a relaxed coffee break, rather than spritz biscuits or a gift box. The pack contains 284 g. Check the current allergen information before offering the snacks to guests.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack, 288 g
A chocolate gift to take along instead of putting biscuits on the table. The pack contains 288 g. If you want to hand out the portions, check whether they’re individually wrapped; if anyone has allergies, read the label too.
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Lindt Lindor Cornet Assorted, 200 g
A chocolate assortment for taking along or serving with coffee. The pack contains 200 g. Check the number of pieces when planning portions for a group, and check the allergens on the current packaging.
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merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A smaller box of chocolates to take along as a thank-you gift. The pack contains 125 g. Check the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped if you want to share them; if anyone has allergies, check the current label too.
Frequently asked questions
Should I check the allergens when serving something with coffee?
Yes, especially if you’re catering for someone with a known allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed foods; read the ingredients and warnings on the exact product you’re serving.
Is a chocolate mix suitable for a guest with a nut or peanut allergy?
You can’t tell from the product category alone. Albert Heijn lists peanuts in the Celebrations gift box and hazelnuts and almonds, among other ingredients, in the merci Gift Box, with a warning that it may contain peanuts. Ask which allergens are relevant to your guest and check the current packaging before offering anything.
What does a warning such as ‘may contain nuts’ mean?
This warning indicates that the named allergen may be present due to cross-contamination. If someone has a known allergy, check the warning on the exact packaging rather than assuming that another flavour or box from the same brand has the same information.
How should I store spritz biscuits or chocolate until coffee time?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you bought. Also check the best-before date before serving it to guests.