For an advent calendar for adults, biscuits with clear portion information can be handy if you don’t want to divide up 24 treats yourself. If you’re mainly looking for a pronounced chocolate flavour, check the cocoa percentage on the pack: ‘dark’ and the stated proportion of chocolate in a biscuit don’t tell you how much cocoa that chocolate contains. Also check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variant, especially if you’re choosing treats for someone else.
If you’re looking for a richer chocolate character, don’t rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. Product information from Lotus Bakeries Nederland, Jumbo and Albert Heijn, among others, states the proportion of chocolate in various biscuits, but that’s not the same as the cocoa percentage of that chocolate.
For them, the number of biscuits, individual packs and stated portions per pack all matter. A large pack can work if you want to divide the biscuits up yourself; smaller packs can mean less work.
Biscuits with dark chocolate can still contain milk, wheat or soya. If you need to avoid certain allergens, check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack of the exact variant.
Before choosing biscuits for your calendar, decide what matters most to you: the chocolate itself, dividing the treats across 24 days or the ingredients in each one.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate and cocoa | Look for an explicit cocoa percentage for the chocolate used. Don’t confuse this with the proportion of chocolate, chocolate pieces or chocolate coating in the biscuit as a whole. | I mainly want to know how pronounced the chocolate flavour is, so the word ‘dark’ alone isn’t enough for me. For around 45% of consumers, this chocolate requirement comes first. |
| Portions and packaging | Compare the number of biscuits or portions with the 24 days of the calendar, and check how to store an opened pack. | If I want to set out a treat for every day, the pack needs to be easy to divide up. Around 33% of consumers put portioning first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variant, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. | When I’m choosing treats for someone who avoids certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the pack itself. For around 22% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Jumbo states that its Chocolade Biscuits Puur contain 63% chocolate and that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces. Albert Heijn lists a 27% dark chocolate coating. These figures describe the proportion of the biscuit, not the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate.
Is a particular cocoa percentage essential? Look for it explicitly on the current pack or in the manufacturer’s product specifications.
According to Lotus Bakeries Nederland, Lotus Biscoff with dark chocolate contains milk and soya. Verkade lists wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients, for Duo’tjes Chocolade.
Check the ingredients and any warnings about traces on the exact pack; the type of chocolate doesn’t replace this check.
Jumbo states that Chocolade Biscuits Puur contains nine portions and Chocolate Cookies contains twelve. One pack of either won’t provide a stated portion for every day of the calendar.
Work out in advance how many treats you want to give each day and how many biscuits or portions are in the pack. If you buy a larger pack, also decide how you’ll divide and store the biscuits after opening.
Ingredients and nutritional information can change when products are updated, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information. This matters particularly if an allergen or specific ingredient affects your choice.
When your order arrives, check the physical packaging before dividing the biscuits between the calendar compartments.
Verkade Duo’tjes Chocolade are small oat biscuits with a dark chocolate cream filling.
The Original Speculoos with dark chocolate is a speculoos biscuit variant sold in a pack of 7 × 3 biscuits.
AH Gesuikerde Biscuits Pure Chocolade comes in a larger pack, ready for you to divide between calendar bags.
Jumbo lists both Chocolade Biscuits Puur and Chocolate Cookies met Stukjes Pure Chocolade. A biscuit with chocolate and a cookie with chocolate pieces are two different options.
Sondey is a Lidl biscuit range with various types of biscuits and cookies.
These two biscuits are described as having a dark chocolate flavour. When comparing them for an advent calendar, check the packaging and the number of biscuits per pack; the flavour description alone doesn’t confirm a high cocoa percentage.
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An option if you want to divide biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour between the days of your calendar.
The pack contains 70 g. Check how many biscuits it contains, and look for an explicit cocoa percentage on the label if that’s your main requirement.
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These cookies are a good match if you’re choosing by dark chocolate flavour, provided the number in each pack suits your calendar plans.
The pack contains 72 g. Before setting out portions, check the current label for the cocoa percentage, number of biscuits and allergens.
No. ‘Dark’, or a high proportion of chocolate in the biscuit, doesn’t in itself tell you the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. For example, Jumbo states that its Chocolade Biscuits Puur contain 63% chocolate, while Albert Heijn lists a 27% dark chocolate coating. Check the current label if the cocoa percentage will determine your choice.
At the very least, check the ingredients, allergens, best-before date, quantity, nutritional information and any storage instructions. The European Union’s Your Europe website describes this information for pre-packed foods sold in the EU; allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list.
No, you can’t tell from the type of chocolate. Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists milk and soya for Biscoff with dark chocolate; for Duo’tjes Chocolade, Verkade lists wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients. So check the allergen information and any warnings about traces for the exact variant too.
Follow the storage advice on the pack you’re using. For its sugared biscuits, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a sealed tin after opening; for Chocolade Biscuits Puur, Jumbo advises sealing the pack tightly after opening.
