For your break, start by deciding what kind of biscuit you fancy: a biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate, a butter biscuit with a higher stated chocolate percentage, or a cookie with chocolate chips. Then compare the serving size, nutritional information per 100 g and allergens for the specific variety. The word ‘dark’ won’t tell you that.
Looking for a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea, with a noticeable chocolate flavour? Check what the stated percentage refers to. Albert Heijn lists one biscuit with a layer of 27% dark chocolate and another made with 63% dark chocolate. These percentages describe different types of biscuit.
If you want to decide in advance how many to take, the weight per serving and number of biscuits in the pack are more useful than the total pack weight alone. For example, the ALDI Biscotto pack we looked at contains biscuits wrapped in pairs, but also includes varieties with white and milk chocolate.
If you want to check sugars, saturated fat, ingredients or allergens, compare the same values per 100 g, then consider how much you plan to eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using the nutritional information per 100 g as the basis for comparing products.
First decide what flavour and texture you’re looking for. Then use the label to assess the amount of chocolate, your serving size and the nutritional information that matters to you for that specific variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check whether a percentage refers to a chocolate coating, chocolate chips or the biscuit as a whole. If you’re looking for a specific cocoa content, check the label. | I want a distinct dark chocolate flavour with my coffee, not just a biscuit with ‘dark’ in its name. This flavour preference comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Serving size and packaging | Compare the weight per serving with the number of biscuits you’ll actually take with you. Check whether the pack contains individually wrapped biscuits or pairs. | I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take for my break. This serving format is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare sugars and saturated fat per 100 g on the same basis. Then check what the chosen serving contains according to the label. | When choosing between two biscuits, I want to compare their nutritional information without mixing up different serving sizes. This is the most important consideration for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, including any ‘may contain’ information. | If I have an allergy or specific dietary requirement, I need to be able to check whether this particular variety is suitable. Ingredients and allergens are the first concern for around 19% of consumers. |
The product descriptions we looked at include an Albert Heijn biscuit with a layer of 27% dark chocolate and a Jumbo cookie with 40% dark chocolate chips. These are different components in different biscuits, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable.
Check what the percentage refers to. Use the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g for other comparisons.
The stated serving sizes of the products we looked at vary. Comparing a 13 g biscuit with an 18,75 g cookie serving without taking the weight into account isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison.
Compare products per 100 g first, then check the nutritional information for the amount you actually plan to eat.
According to the information for the products we looked at, a biscuit made with dark chocolate may contain milk, wheat or soya, among other things. The possible presence of other allergens varies by recipe.
Check the allergen information on the specific pack when you buy it, even if you already know the product name.
The Jumbo page we looked at says that the Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuit with dark chocolate is no longer in its online range. So an older product description doesn’t tell you whether you can buy the product now.
Check the current range before buying, and read the packaging again if ingredients or nutritional information matter to your choice.
These examples show the kinds of chocolate biscuits you might come across. The features mentioned apply to the products described, not to a brand’s entire range.
Two different biscuits: a sugared biscuit with a layer of 27% dark chocolate, and a Zaans huisje butter biscuit made with 63% dark chocolate.
A cookie we looked at, made with 40% dark chocolate chips, as an alternative to a biscuit with a chocolate coating.
A speculoos biscuit we looked at pairs the spiced biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate.
An ALDI pack of butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate, individually wrapped in pairs.
These biscuits are a good fit if you’re after a snack with a dark chocolate flavour. The flavour description alone doesn’t tell you how much dark chocolate they contain, so check the pack’s nutritional information and allergens too.
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For anyone looking for a chunky cookie with a dark chocolate flavour. The pack states 72 g; check the label for the chocolate content, serving size and nutritional information, including saturated fat.
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A dark chocolate-flavoured biscuit in a 70 g pack. Before your break, decide how many biscuits you want to take and check the pack for sugars and saturated fat.
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For anyone looking for dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits and considering a 115 g pack. To compare nutritional values, check the current sugars and saturated fat figures on the pack and decide on your own serving size.
No. The word ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar or saturated fat the whole biscuit contains. Compare the nutritional information for the specific variety per 100 g, then consider your serving size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that many snacks contain sugar or saturated fat.
Use the values per 100 g to compare different products on the same basis. Then check the stated serving size and how much you’ll actually eat; the biscuits and cookies described don’t all have the same serving weight.
Yes. The type of chocolate doesn’t determine which allergens are in the whole biscuit. The information for the products we looked at mentions milk and wheat, among other things. When buying, read the allergen information and any ‘may contain’ wording on the current pack.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack and seal the biscuits well after opening. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo product information we looked at recommends storing them in a cool, dark, dry place; for opened AH biscuits, it also suggests keeping them in a sealed tin.
