Choose individual portions if you eat cookies at different times or want to take them with you. If you usually eat several cookies at once at home, a sharing pack may suit you better. Whichever you choose, check the contents per portion, the best-before date and the storage advice on the pack.
If you have the odd cookie over several weeks, check whether you can keep the portions sealed. Also check the best-before date and storage advice on the pack you choose, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
For a bag or lunchbox, the contents of each portion matter. Jumbo lists multipacks with two cookies per pack, while ALDI lists individually wrapped Koekhappers.
As well as the total weight, check how many cookies you open each time. A pack with two-cookie portions suits solo use differently from one you need to store as a whole after opening.
A good fit if: you want to spread the pack over separate occasions or take a portion with you.
The trade-off: the number of cookies in each packet is fixed; a two-cookie portion isn’t the same as one cookie.
A good fit if: you usually eat several cookies at once at home or share the pack with others.
The trade-off: once opened, store the remaining contents according to the storage advice for that product.
A good fit if: you’re after a soft, bar-shaped cake rather than a crisp biscuit.
The trade-off: follow the storage advice for your chosen breakfast cake, not the guidance for dry biscuits.
| What to consider | What to check before you buy | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Check how many cookies or bars you open in one go. | If I only want one cookie, a packet of two won’t necessarily suit the occasion. Portion size is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Storage | Check the best-before date, the condition of the packaging and the storage advice on the pack. | I get through my supply slowly and want to know how to store the remaining cookies. This is the main concern for around 31% of consumers. |
| How much you can use at a time | Compare the total weight with the number and size of the portions. | I want to buy enough for several occasions without opening more than I’ll use each time; around 23% of consumers prioritise this kind of portioning. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the variety you choose. | If I have an allergy or specific dietary requirement, I need to be able to check the label on every pack. This is the main priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between varieties or change over time. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label.
Read the current ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you choose, even if you’ve bought something from the same brand before.
If you only have a cookie now and then, more will be left to store after you open a sharing pack. Individual portions don’t remove the need to check the best-before date and the condition of the packaging.
Choose portions that suit your eating habits and follow the product’s storage advice once opened.
Crisp speculoos biscuits in a range of pack formats; Jumbo lists an XL multipack of 2 x 10, among other options.
Sandwich cookies for anyone who wants two per serving; Jumbo lists an Original pack of 10 x 2.
A breakfast-cake option if you’re after a soft, bar-shaped cake; Albert Heijn lists a 10-pack of the plain variety.
Soft spiced or breakfast cake: ALDI lists Koekhappers as six individually wrapped pieces.
These products show different formats of biscuits, sandwich cookies and wafers for eating on separate occasions. When choosing, check what each listed unit means: one cookie, a pair or a larger portion pack.
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A good choice if you’re after a milk chocolate biscuit to enjoy over several occasions.
Check how many biscuits you open each time, and refer to the current label if you have allergies.
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The two separate packs are handy if you want to spread the contents over two occasions.
If a fixed portion size matters to you, check how many cookies are in each pack.
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The three 77 g packs are worth considering if you don’t want to open the whole pack at once.
Check how many biscuits each portion pack contains and follow the storage advice once opened.
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The 27 g portions suit anyone looking to stock up on wafers for separate occasions.
This is a wafer, not a muesli or protein bar. Check the current label for nutritional values and allergen information.
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A speculoos option if you want a pack to enjoy over several occasions.
Check how the eight pieces are packed before assuming you can keep them sealed individually.
Use the best-before date and storage advice on the specific pack to plan your supplies. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking the packaging and date for unopened cookies; damaged packaging calls for extra care.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a best-before date relates to quality. Check, smell and taste the product after that date, and take the condition of the packaging and any instructions on the pack into account.
Check the current label for the variety you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked foods must appear on the label, so don’t rely on the brand name alone.
