When choosing biscuits for your Boxing Day buffet, look at their shape and the stated proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit, rather than relying on the words ‘pure’ or ‘dark’ alone. You could pair a biscuit with the chocolate flavour you’re after with an option that’s easier to portion out. Check the latest allergen information for every guest: the proportion of chocolate doesn’t tell you its cocoa percentage or whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.
Would you like to serve adult guests a biscuit with a distinct chocolate element? Compare whether the chocolate comes in pieces, as a bar or as a coating. The stated proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit is different from the cocoa percentage of that chocolate.
If you’re serving other desserts too, there’s no need to put out all the biscuits at once. Smaller individual packs can make it easier to top up; also check the number of biscuits and the storage instructions for an opened pack.
For a mixed group, the latest label matters more than the words ‘dark chocolate’. Products from brands including LU, Jumbo and McVitie’s that were checked list allergens such as milk, soya or wheat, or warn that other allergens may be present.
First decide what kind of chocolate element you want to serve. Then check which biscuits are suitable for your guests, and only after that work out how many packs and portions you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check whether the dark chocolate comes in pieces, as a bar or as a coating. If the cocoa percentage is what matters to you, look for it separately. | If I’m looking for a pronounced chocolate element for adult guests, I want to know what’s actually in the biscuit. Around 31% of consumers put this flavour choice first. |
| Sharing and variety | Compare the number of biscuits and any individual packs; for a selection, check which types of chocolate are included. | When there are several desserts, I want to be able to put out small amounts and top them up later. For around 23% of consumers, ease of sharing or variety is their main concern. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the latest pack. | If a guest has a food allergy, I need to be able to decide whether a specific pack is suitable to serve. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose the pack size and number of biscuits to suit the other desserts; after opening, follow the storage instructions on the label. | If there are likely to be biscuits left over, I’d rather not open more packs than necessary. This is the main consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
Jumbo says its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces; Albert Heijn says LU Scholiertje puur contains 48% dark chocolate. These percentages show how much of the whole biscuit is chocolate, not how much cocoa that chocolate contains.
If you’re looking for a particular cocoa content, check the pack for a separate statement. Don’t use the proportion of chocolate as a substitute for this information.
Both the biscuit and the chocolate may contain ingredients that matter to guests with allergies. Warnings about possible traces also vary from product to product.
Ask which allergies you need to cater for, read the label on the exact packs you’ll be serving, and keep the packaging handy in case guests have questions at the buffet.
A large pack isn’t automatically practical when there are already lots of desserts. For example, the two-biscuit packs of LU Scholiertje puur, as listed by Albert Heijn, offer a different way to top up the buffet than opening a large pack.
Take the expected number of guests and the other buffet options into account. Put some biscuits out first, and only open reserve packs when you need them.
A mixed chocolate biscuit pack won’t necessarily give you the dark chocolate flavour you’re after: for example, the Biscotto mix described by ALDI also contains white and milk chocolate.
Before buying, check which varieties are actually in the pack, and see what’s available shortly before Boxing Day.
Jumbo lists a cookie with dark chocolate pieces and a separate Chocolettes variety. They’re different types of biscuit, not interchangeable measures of chocolate flavour.
Albert Heijn describes LU Scholiertje puur as a butter biscuit topped with a bar of dark chocolate.
The Digestives Pure Chocolade checked are wheat biscuits coated with dark chocolate. They’re a different type of biscuit from a cookie with chocolate pieces.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour. It can add a different flavour alongside chocolate biscuits.
The Biscotto Chocolate Cookies described by ALDI are a mix of butter biscuits with different types of chocolate.
Lidl presents Sondey as a range of different cookies and biscuits.
These biscuits offer a range of options for your buffet, from biscuits with dark chocolate to smaller treats with a different flavour. Check the latest label for each product if the cocoa content or a food allergy will determine your choice. The description ‘dark chocolate flavour’ alone doesn’t confirm that the product contains a proportion of dark chocolate.
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A biscuit option for anyone looking to serve something with a chocolate element alongside cookies. The pack contains 150 g; check the latest label for the cocoa flavour you’re after and any allergens.
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A digestive biscuit with dark chocolate for anyone looking to offer a different type of biscuit alongside cookies. The pack contains 266 g; check availability before buying, and read the allergen information before serving.
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A small biscuit option combining dark chocolate and matcha, if you’d like to add a different flavour. The pack lists 12 pieces and 60 g; check the label if the proportion of chocolate or allergens matter to your guests.
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A 70 g pack to consider if you’re looking for a smaller quantity of biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour. The flavour description doesn’t indicate the cocoa content; also check the latest allergen information.
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A 72 g chunky cookie option for anyone looking to add a different biscuit shape to the buffet. If you’re specifically looking for dark chocolate, check the ingredients: the name describes a dark chocolate flavour, not the cocoa percentage.
No. For example, Albert Heijn lists milk in LU Scholiertje puur, while the Jumbo and McVitie’s products checked also list relevant allergens. Read the ingredients and any warnings on the latest pack of the specific biscuit.
Check the packaging of every product you’re actually serving. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends paying attention to the allergens listed. Read both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces, and keep the pack handy in case guests have questions.
Put some biscuits out first, then top them up from unopened packs. Match the quantity to the number of guests and the other desserts, and follow the storage instructions on the pack after opening.
No. The proportion of dark chocolate in the whole biscuit and the cocoa percentage of that chocolate are two different things. Look for a separately stated cocoa percentage if it’s a deciding factor in your choice of flavour.
