Choose a biscuit shape and pack that suit your autumn half-term plans, but check for a clearly stated cocoa percentage if a pronounced cocoa flavour is important to you. The stated proportion of dark chocolate in a biscuit is not the same as the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. Also check the current ingredients and allergen list for each variety.
If you’re looking for a distinct cocoa flavour for a more grown-up snack, you can’t rely on the word ‘dark’ or the chocolate content alone. Look for a separately stated cocoa percentage if that will determine your choice.
If you’re taking biscuits with you or portioning them in advance, the packaging matters. LU, for example, says that Scholiertje comes in packs of two; check the number of biscuits and the packaging for other varieties.
The varieties discussed here include ingredients such as milk, wheat and soya. The ingredients and possible traces that are relevant vary by product, so check the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying.
When choosing a snack for the autumn half-term, decide what matters most to you: a verifiable cocoa content, allergens, portions or the type of biscuit. A high proportion of dark chocolate in the product doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much cocoa that chocolate contains.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Look for a clearly stated cocoa percentage, and distinguish it from the proportion of dark chocolate in the whole biscuit. | If I’m looking for a pronounced cocoa flavour, seeing ‘dark’ on the pack isn’t enough. Around 36% of consumers say cocoa content is their top requirement. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warnings on the packaging about possible traces of allergens. | If someone sharing the biscuits needs to avoid certain allergens, suitability comes before the chocolate flavour you’re after. For around 29% of consumers, checking allergens is the top priority. |
| Portions | Check the number of biscuits, whether they’re individually wrapped and the storage advice after opening. | For a day out or a snack to share, I want to be able to portion the biscuits easily in advance. Around 21% of consumers give portioning convenience top priority. |
| Biscuit type | Choose between a biscuit with a chocolate coating, a cookie with chocolate chunks or a smaller biscuit variety. | When putting together a sharing bowl, I’m mainly looking for a biscuit that suits the occasion. For around 14% of consumers, the type of biscuit is the first thing they consider. |
Albert Heijn states that AH Zaans huisje contains 63% dark chocolate in the biscuit; LU states that Scholiertje contains 48%. These figures describe the proportion of chocolate in the product, not how much cocoa that chocolate contains. So you can’t use them to rank the biscuits by cocoa intensity.
If cocoa content is your main criterion, look for a separately stated cocoa percentage on the packaging.
A biscuit made with dark chocolate can still contain milk, wheat or soya. Warnings about possible traces also vary by variety.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific product every time you buy it, rather than relying on the product name alone.
The own-brand range includes AH Zaans huisje with dark chocolate.
The own-brand range includes cookies with dark chocolate chunks and Chocolettes with dark chocolate.
Scholiertje combines a buttery biscuit with a bar of dark chocolate.
Digestives with dark chocolate are wheat biscuits with a chocolate coating.
These biscuits suit different snacking habits: a portion of two biscuits, a digestive with a chocolate coating or mini biscuits with dark chocolate and matcha. If a high cocoa content is a priority, always check the separate cocoa percentage on the packaging.
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An option if you want to portion out the biscuits in pairs before a day out or snack break.
The product contains 48% dark chocolate in the whole biscuit; this isn’t a cocoa percentage. Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens, including milk, wheat and soya.
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For anyone looking for a wheat digestive biscuit with a dark chocolate coating to enjoy alone or share.
The variety discussed contains 30% dark chocolate in the product; that doesn’t necessarily mean the chocolate contains 30% cocoa. Check the current packaging for milk, soya, wheat and any other relevant allergens.
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A smaller biscuit variety for anyone who wants to take dark chocolate with matcha on the go or share it.
The pack contains 12 biscuits and weighs 60 g. Check the label if cocoa content or allergen suitability will determine your choice.
No, the description ‘dark chocolate’ doesn’t guarantee that. The AH, McVitie's and LU varieties discussed list milk ingredients; check the ingredients and allergen list for the biscuit you want to buy.
No. For AH Zaans huisje, Albert Heijn says that 63% refers to the proportion of dark chocolate in the whole biscuit. If you want to assess the cocoa content of the chocolate, look for a separately stated cocoa percentage.
Follow the instructions on the packaging of your product. For Chocolate Cookies, Jumbo recommends sealing the pack securely after opening and eating the remaining biscuits within a few days.
