If you want a bold cocoa flavour for your Christmas party, choose a biscuit that clearly states what kind of chocolate it contains. If a specific cocoa percentage is your main priority, check that too. Dark chocolate pieces alone don’t prove that the whole biscuit has a high cocoa content. If you’re catering for a range of tastes, a mix with milk or white chocolate may be a better fit for your platter. Whichever you choose, check the current label for allergens.
If you’re after a deep, dark flavour, look beyond the word ‘dark’. A stated cocoa percentage matters if that’s what you want to base your choice on. Also check whether the percentage refers to the chocolate component or the whole biscuit.
A platter made up entirely of dark chocolate won’t suit every group. A mix of milk and dark chocolate, or an assortment, offers more variety, but may not fit a strictly dark chocolate theme.
If you’re serving biscuits to guests with allergies, check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on each pack. Keep the information handy so guests can check the label for themselves.
First decide whether you want one bold, dark flavour or would like to include other types of chocolate. Then work out how many biscuits you need and which labels are suitable for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa flavour | Check what ‘dark’ refers to and whether a stated cocoa percentage applies to the chocolate component or the whole biscuit. | If you want a bold cocoa flavour, the dark flavour name alone doesn’t give you enough information. This check is a top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Variety of flavours | Check whether the pack contains only dark chocolate or also includes milk or white chocolate. | If your guests enjoy different flavours, you may not want every biscuit to have the same dark profile. Variety matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity | Compare the number of biscuits, pack weight and any individually wrapped portions with your guest list. | For a shared platter, you’ll want to know whether you can put out enough individual biscuits. For around 20% of consumers, being able to share is the main concern. |
| Allergens | Check the current pack for both listed allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings. | If any guests have an allergy, you’ll need to check the information on the exact pack you’re serving. This check takes priority for around 27% of consumers. |
Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces. This figure describes the proportion of chocolate pieces, not the cocoa content of the whole biscuit.
If a high cocoa content is essential, check the exact pack to see which percentage is stated and what it applies to.
Albert Heijn states that AH Choc chip contains both dark and milk chocolate pieces. ALDI’s Biscotto assortment includes varieties with dark, white and milk chocolate. These options offer variety, but they don’t contain dark chocolate alone.
Before buying, decide whether you’d prefer a range of flavours or a consistently dark selection.
A flavour or product name doesn’t tell you which allergens are in a particular pack or what warnings apply.
Check the physical label before serving and keep the packaging by the platter.
An own-label option with dark chocolate pieces, for anyone looking to add a chocolate-forward biscuit to the platter.
An own-label option if a combination of dark and milk chocolate suits your guests.
An assortment for a platter where different types of chocolate are welcome.
An own-label option combining dark and white chocolate.
An extra coffee biscuit for anyone who wants to offer a different flavour alongside chocolate biscuits.
These biscuits have a flavour name that includes dark chocolate. Compare pack sizes and check the label on the exact product if cocoa percentage or allergens affect your choice; a flavour name doesn’t confirm a high cocoa content.
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An option to consider if you want to serve biscuits labelled Dark Chocolate Flavour. The pack contains 70g; check the current label for the relevant cocoa percentage and allergens before choosing these biscuits.
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For anyone considering a biscuit labelled Dark Chocolate Flavoured and looking for a 115g pack. If a high cocoa content is what you’re after, check the relevant percentage on the label and read the allergen information too.
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A 72G pack to consider if you’re looking for chunky biscuits labelled Dark Chocolate Flavour. Before buying, check the label for the relevant cocoa percentage and any allergens.
No. ‘Dark chocolate’ may refer to the pieces or a coating, without specifying the cocoa content of the whole biscuit. If a high cocoa content is your main criterion, check which percentage is stated on the exact product and what it applies to.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. Reseal an opened pack as directed and check the label for the instructions for those particular biscuits.
Yes, check the pack of the biscuits you’re actually serving. According to Ondernemersplein, mandatory label information must also be available online; the physical pack gives you the information for the product you’ve bought.
Check the listed allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on each pack, and let guests read the label for themselves. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes the mandatory labelling of 14 allergens; if someone has a specific allergy, don’t rely on the biscuit’s flavour name alone.
