Dark chocolate lovers
You’re looking for a biscuit made with dark chocolate and want to distinguish between how much chocolate the product contains and how much cocoa is in that chocolate.
Who is this for?
People buying biscuits for a group
You’re comparing the quantity in each pack, the number of biscuits or portions, and how practical the packaging is for handing them out.
People who need to check allergens
You want to be able to check the latest ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings before sharing. Dark chocolate doesn’t automatically mean a biscuit is free from milk, wheat or soya.
What should you look for?
First, decide what kind of chocolate flavour you’re after. Then compare the quantity and packaging, and check the allergen information for everyone who’ll be eating if you’re sharing.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and cocoa | Check the type of chocolate, the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit and any stated cocoa percentage separately. Albert Heijn lists 63% dark chocolate in its AH Zaans huisje biscuits; this is not a cocoa percentage. | If I mainly want to taste dark chocolate, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. Around 33% of consumers put this flavour preference first. |
| Sharing and packaging | Compare the net weight, number of biscuits or portions, and how the pack can be resealed after opening. Albert Heijn lists AH Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade as 400 g and 30 portions. | For a group, I want to know how many I can hand out and how to store the rest. Sharing is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current label, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for pre-packed foods appears on the label. | If others are eating too, I want to know whether the ingredients and warnings are suitable for them. Around 25% of consumers prioritise these checks. |
| Availability | When you shop, check that your chosen variety is still available and that the packaging matches the product information you looked at earlier. | I don’t want to base my choice on a biscuit I can no longer order. Current availability is the top priority for around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Confusing the proportion of chocolate with the cocoa percentage
A biscuit containing 63% dark chocolate contains 63% chocolate as part of the product, according to that description. The figure doesn’t tell you what percentage of the chocolate is cocoa.
Look for a separate cocoa percentage if you have a specific cocoa threshold in mind.
-
Assuming ‘dark’ tells you anything about allergens
Dark chocolate biscuits may contain wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Warnings about possible cross-contamination may also be relevant.
Check the latest packaging before sharing biscuits with anyone who needs to avoid an allergen.
-
Choosing a mixed-chocolate cookie when you only want dark chocolate
Albert Heijn lists both 12% dark chocolate chips and 12% milk chocolate chips in its Verkade Chocolate Chip Melk & Puur cookies. Lidl describes its Double Chocolate Cookie as containing both dark and white chocolate chips.
Check which types of chocolate are used if you’re specifically looking for a biscuit made with dark chocolate only.
-
Relying on an old product listing
A product page you viewed previously doesn’t guarantee that the same variety is still available or that the packaging and ingredients haven’t changed.
Check the current range and read the packaging again when you buy.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Its own-brand range includes several biscuits with a dark chocolate component.
- AH Zaans huisje lists 63% dark chocolate; AH Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade lists a 27% chocolate coating and comes in a 400 g pack.
- These figures are not cocoa percentages for the chocolate. Check the current packaging, especially for ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
The range includes biscuits with a chocolate coating as well as cookies with chocolate chips.
- Jumbo Chocolade Biscuits Puur lists 63% chocolate and nine biscuits in a 125 g pack.
- The proportion of chocolate doesn’t tell you how much cocoa it contains. Check the latest allergen information too.
Lotus Biscoff
A caramelised biscuit if you’re after a different flavour profile from dark chocolate.
- Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
- That description doesn’t make it the right choice if you specifically want a biscuit with dark chocolate.
Lidl
The Double Chocolate Cookie contains more than one type of chocolate.
- Lidl lists dark and white chocolate chips.
- Don’t choose this variety based on its name alone if you only want dark chocolate; check the ingredients and allergens.
ALDI / Biscotto
A range of butter biscuits for sharing if you want to hand out different types of chocolate.
- ALDI describes a pack of 20 biscuits, individually wrapped in pairs.
- The range includes dark, white and milk chocolate, so it isn’t an option for dark chocolate only.
McVitie's
Digestive Puur pairs a wheat biscuit with dark chocolate.
- McVitie's Netherlands lists 30% dark chocolate in Digestive Puur.
- This figure isn’t the cocoa percentage of the chocolate. The ingredients include wheat, milk and soya, among others.
Verkade
Chocolate Chip Melk & Puur is a cookie for anyone who wants both types of chocolate.
- Product information from Albert Heijn lists 12% dark chocolate chips and 12% milk chocolate chips.
- It isn’t a cookie made with dark chocolate only; check the allergen information on the packaging too.
Biscuits and cookies on Joybuy
These products offer two different options: a Digestive biscuit with dark chocolate and cookies described as having a dark chocolate flavour. Don’t compare these descriptions as though they tell you the same thing about cocoa content.
Image unavailable
McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g
An option if you’re looking for Digestive biscuits with dark chocolate to share. Check the current packaging for the cocoa percentage and allergens if these affect your choice.
Pack weight: 266 g.
Image unavailable
Franzzi Premium Dark Chocolate Flavour Cookies, 70 g
A smaller pack of cookies described as having a dark chocolate flavour. This flavour description doesn’t confirm a particular proportion of dark chocolate or cocoa, so check the current packaging for details.
Pack weight: 70 g.
Image unavailable
quduoduo Chunky Cookies Dark Chocolate Flavour, 72 g
An option if you’re looking for a chunky cookie with a dark chocolate flavour. Check the current packaging if you want dark chocolate only or have a specific cocoa threshold in mind.
Pack weight: 72 g.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark chocolate’ on a biscuit mean the chocolate contains a lot of cocoa?
No. That description alone doesn’t give you a specific cocoa percentage. For example, Albert Heijn lists 63% dark chocolate in AH Zaans huisje, while McVitie's Netherlands lists 30% dark chocolate in Digestive Puur. Both figures describe the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit, not the cocoa content of that chocolate.
Are biscuits with dark chocolate free from milk or gluten?
No, don’t assume they are. Product information for AH Zaans huisje and Jumbo Chocolade Biscuits Puur lists milk and gluten-containing ingredients, among others. Always check the latest label and any cross-contamination warnings for the person who’ll be eating the biscuit.
Where can I find allergen information on a packaged biscuit?
Check the packaging label. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed foods. Check it again when you buy or hand out the product.
What type of packaging is practical if I want to share biscuits at a festival?
Choose based on the number of people and how you want to hand out the biscuits. Albert Heijn lists AH Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade as 400 g and 30 portions; ALDI describes Biscotto chocolate biscuits wrapped in pairs. Also check the food and entry rules for the festival you’re attending.