If you want a biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate, choose a product that explicitly says so; if you’re mainly after a cookie with chocolate chips, look at the product type. The words ‘dark’ or ‘dark chocolate flavour’ don’t, by themselves, tell you how much cocoa the product contains. For your evening snack, also compare the nutritional information, portion size and ingredients on the current packaging.
You’re specifically looking for a biscuit labelled as containing dark chocolate, rather than milk chocolate or a caramelised biscuit. If a high cocoa content is essential for you, check the percentage of cocoa solids on the packaging; the word ‘dark’ alone won’t tell you this.
You fancy something sweet later in the evening and want to compare different packs. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, many popular snacks are high in energy, sugar, salt or saturated fat. The nutritional information per 100 g helps you compare products; also think about how much you actually want to eat.
If you have a food allergy or a specific dietary requirement, the product name alone isn’t enough to tell you whether it’s suitable. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the biscuit you choose.
First, decide whether you want a biscuit with a chocolate coating or a cookie with chocolate chips. A caramelised biscuit such as Lotus Biscoff offers a different flavour; it’s not a substitute if you specifically want dark chocolate. Then use the label to check the cocoa content, nutritional values and ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour and product type | Check whether the packaging mentions dark chocolate, a chocolate coating or chocolate chips. If the cocoa percentage matters to you, check that too. | I’m mainly looking for a distinct dark chocolate flavour and don’t want to choose a caramelised biscuit just because it’s next to it. For around 40% of consumers, this flavour preference would be the main reason for buying. |
| Portion size and nutritional value | Compare energy, sugars and saturated fat per 100 g, then consider the portion size you want to have. | For a late-night snack, I want to decide how many biscuits to have without treating different pack portion sizes as equal. For around 30% of consumers, this would be the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging, especially if there’s something you need to avoid. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the biscuit’s suitability matters more than the chocolate flavour I want. For around 30% of consumers, this would be their main concern when choosing. |
The description helps you identify the chocolate variety, but it doesn’t necessarily tell you the percentage of cocoa solids.
If that percentage matters to you, check the current packaging before comparing products.
Portion sizes can vary between manufacturers. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the nutrition table per 100 g as the basis for comparing labels.
First compare the same quantity per 100 g, then decide how much you want to eat.
Albert Heijn points out that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. As a result, an online product description may not match the packaging you receive.
If you have an allergy or a specific dietary requirement, always check the product label before eating it.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour. That’s different from a biscuit explicitly labelled as containing dark chocolate.
Decide which flavour you’re looking for first, then check the exact product description.
These brands offer a range of biscuits and chocolate treats. A brand being mentioned here doesn’t mean every variety is suitable for you; check each product and its packaging individually.
Jumbo lists products including Dark Chocolate Biscuits, Dark Chocolate Digestive Biscuits, Dark Chocolettes and Chocolate Cookies with Dark Chocolate Pieces.
Albert Heijn lists AH Sugared Biscuits with Dark Chocolate in its biscuit range.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
ALDI describes Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits as butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate, packed in pairs.
Lidl presents Sondey as a brand offering a range of cookies and biscuits, including vegan options.
These biscuits and cookies are described as having a dark chocolate flavour. Choose based on the product type and pack size, but don’t treat ‘dark chocolate flavour’ as proof that a product contains dark chocolate or has a particular cocoa percentage. Check the current packaging if the ingredients, nutritional values or allergens will affect your choice.
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An option if you’re looking for cookies described as having a dark chocolate flavour. The pack contains 70 g; check the label for the cocoa percentage and nutritional information if you want to compare them.
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A chunky cookie for anyone who prefers this style to a biscuit with a chocolate coating. The pack contains 72 g; check the label to see what type of chocolate is used and compare the nutritional values with other biscuits before you buy.
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A 115 g pack of cookies for anyone looking for a dark chocolate flavour. Consider the portion you want in relation to the pack size, and check the current ingredients and nutritional values if they’ll affect your purchase.
No, the description alone doesn’t give you an exact cocoa percentage. If a high cocoa content is your main criterion, check the percentage of cocoa solids on the packaging of the variety you choose.
First compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how much of each product you want to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says manufacturers set their own portion sizes, so two stated portions aren’t necessarily the same size.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be shown on the label of pre-packed products. If you have a food allergy, read the current packaging of the product you’re actually going to eat.
No, ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you everything about a biscuit’s ingredients or nutritional value. Choose based on the ingredients, nutritional information per 100 g and the portion you want, rather than the flavour name alone.
