If you want to take a dark chocolate biscuit with you for a quick breakfast, choose based on the type of chocolate and the packaging: a chocolate coating, chocolate pieces and individually wrapped portions each offer something different. Also compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion. It’s best to enjoy a biscuit alongside other breakfast foods rather than assume it’s a complete breakfast on its own. The stated percentage of dark chocolate is not automatically the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit.
If you’re mainly looking for a biscuit with dark chocolate, check whether the label mentions a chocolate coating or chocolate pieces. Compare the stated percentage of chocolate, but don’t mistake it for the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit.
If you need a biscuit you can take with you without any preparation, it’s useful to check the number of biscuits in each packet and the portion size in advance. A large multipack calls for a different approach from individually wrapped packets or packs containing two biscuits.
Compare fibre and sugars per 100 g and per portion when choosing between biscuits. For breakfast, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) also recommends foods such as wholemeal bread, fruit and yoghurt. A biscuit can be an accompaniment.
Decide what matters most for your breakfast: chocolate flavour, a portion you can take with you, nutritional information, or checking the ingredients and allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate flavour | Check whether it’s a coating or pieces, and what percentage of chocolate or cocoa is stated in the ingredients list. | I mainly want to taste dark chocolate and don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. Around 34% of consumers prioritise this flavour preference. |
| A portion for on the go | Check the number of biscuits in each packet and the stated portion size. | If I need to head straight out, I want to be able to take the right amount without dividing up a multipack first. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this convenience. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and fibre per 100 g and per portion; also check which wholegrain ingredients are listed. | I eat the biscuit with breakfast and want to know how it compares with the other things I have alongside it. Around 25% of consumers give this consideration top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about traces. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, the specific pack must suit my needs. For around 8% of consumers, checking this comes before the other selection criteria. |
A percentage of dark chocolate may refer to a coating or to pieces in the ingredient breakdown. It doesn’t necessarily tell you how much cocoa the whole biscuit contains.
Compare the exact chocolate and cocoa details on the label, and choose the type of biscuit you want to eat.
The biscuits reviewed also contain sugars and fats. For breakfast, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) recommends, among other things, wholegrain foods, fruit and dairy or a fortified alternative.
Think about what you’ll eat alongside the biscuit if it’s part of your breakfast.
The number of biscuits on its own tells you little about a serving if portion sizes vary. For example, the product information gives a portion size of 13 g for AH Sugared Biscuits Dark Chocolate and 25 g for two LU Scholiertje Puur biscuits.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then work out how they relate to the stated portion and the amount you plan to eat.
A gluten-free oat biscuit may still contain oats and carry a ‘may contain milk’ warning. Other dark chocolate biscuits may contain wheat, milk or soya.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly stated on the label.
AH Sugared Biscuits Dark Chocolate are traditional biscuits with a dark chocolate coating, sold in a 400 g pack.
Jumbo also offers chocolate chip cookies with dark chocolate pieces. These are a different type of biscuit from one with a chocolate coating.
LU Scholiertje Puur combines a butter biscuit with dark chocolate and is individually wrapped in packs of two biscuits.
McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate combine a wheat biscuit with a dark chocolate coating.
Nairn's Chocolate Chip Biscuit Break is an oat biscuit with dark chocolate pieces, divided into four packets.
This digestive biscuit could suit you if you’re looking for a dark chocolate coating and want to compare nutritional information. Check the pack if having a pre-portioned serving for on the go is important to you.
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A wheat biscuit with a dark chocolate coating, for anyone who enjoys that combination as a quick breakfast.
The product information lists 30% dark chocolate and 9% wholemeal wheat flour; per 100 g, it lists 4.3 g of fibre and 26.6 g of sugars. The percentage of chocolate is not the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit. If you’re taking it with you, check the portion size on the pack. If you have allergies, read the latest information about wheat, milk and soya.
Don’t assume that it is. For breakfast, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) recommends, among other things, wholegrain foods, fruit and yoghurt or a fortified alternative. So think about what you’d like to eat alongside a biscuit.
No. On its own, the term doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit. For example, Albert Heijn states that its Sugared Biscuits Dark Chocolate have a coating made with 27% dark chocolate, while Jumbo lists 40% dark chocolate pieces for its Chocolate Cookies. These refer to different components in different biscuits.
A pack that clearly states how many biscuits are in each packet makes it easier to choose a portion in advance. LU Scholiertje Puur is wrapped in pairs, while Nairn's Chocolate Chip Biscuit Break has four packets, each containing four biscuits. If you choose a multipack, check how to store it after opening.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the product you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be clearly stated on the label; also look out for any ‘may contain’ warning.
No. According to the product information, Nairn's Chocolate Chip Biscuit Break contains gluten-free oats, may contain milk and is not suitable for people with an avenin allergy. So check the ingredients and allergens that are relevant to you, even if the packaging says ‘gluten-free’.
