For a Halloween party, start by choosing between biscuits coated in dark chocolate, cookies with dark chocolate pieces and smaller biscuits that are easy to arrange on a platter. If a high cocoa content is essential, check the cocoa percentage of the chocolate on the packaging: the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit won’t tell you this. Before serving, also check the quantity and allergens for the variety you’ve chosen.
You’re looking for a biscuit that lists dark chocolate in its product information. If you specifically want a high cocoa content, you’ll also need to check the label: a mention of dark chocolate or the proportion of chocolate in a cookie doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage.
You want to fill a platter or portion out the biscuits in advance. The number of biscuits, net weight and any individual wrapping can help you choose a pack that suits the way you plan to serve them.
You’re serving guests with different needs and want to check the ingredients and allergens for each variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) stresses that allergens must be clearly stated on the label.
First decide how important a clearly stated dark chocolate flavour is to you. Then compare the pack size with the number of guests and check the allergens for the variety you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate flavour | Look for a mention of dark chocolate. If you need a minimum cocoa percentage, check the cocoa content of the chocolate; the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit is different. | If I’m looking for a pronounced dark chocolate flavour for my party, I want to know what’s in the biscuit rather than judging by the packaging alone. This flavour preference comes first for around 38% of consumers. |
| Sharing and handing out | Compare the net weight, number of biscuits or portions, and any individual wrapping. | For a platter that guests can help themselves to, I want to make sure there are enough biscuits; individual portions are more useful when handing them out. Around 37% of consumers prioritise this practical approach to sharing. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the packaging. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check what I’m serving in each biscuit. For around 25% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate pieces; for McVitie’s Digestives with dark chocolate, Jumbo lists 30% dark chocolate. These percentages describe how much chocolate the biscuit contains, not how much cocoa is in that chocolate.
If a minimum cocoa content matters to your choice, look for that percentage on the current packaging rather than relying on the word ‘dark’.
The Biscotto Chocolate Biscuits described by ALDI combine dark, white and milk chocolate. This gives you variety, but the pack doesn’t contain only biscuits with dark chocolate.
Check which types of chocolate are in the pack before buying, and choose a mixed pack only if that variety suits your guests.
A name that includes ‘dark chocolate’ doesn’t tell you enough about the other ingredients. The product information for the biscuits discussed here lists ingredients including wheat, milk or soya; some varieties also carry warnings about possible traces.
Check the packaging for the product you’re actually serving. If someone has an allergy, check with them what information they need.
The Jumbo varieties discussed here offer two options for a party table: Chocolate Cookies with dark chocolate pieces and Chocolettes Dark with sugar decorations.
Digestives with dark chocolate are wheat biscuits coated in dark chocolate, for anyone who would prefer a chocolate-coated biscuit to a cookie with chocolate pieces.
The Chocolate Biscuits described by ALDI are an option if you’d like to offer a selection of different types of chocolate.
The chocolate variety of Lotus Biscoff is a good choice if you want to hand out speculoos biscuits in small packs.
Lidl includes a Double Chocolate Cookie in this biscuit range, for anyone who wants a combination of chocolate types.
These products offer different options for a Halloween platter: a biscuit coated in dark chocolate and three cookies described as having a dark chocolate flavour. That flavour description alone doesn’t confirm a high cocoa content.
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A good choice if you’re looking for a crunchy wheat biscuit with a chocolate coating for your platter.
The pack contains 266 g; this variety is listed as containing 30% dark chocolate. This isn’t the cocoa percentage of the coating.
According to the product information, this variety contains wheat, milk and soya. Check the current packaging before serving.
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The individual packs could be handy if you want to hand out the cookies to guests in advance.
The pack contains 70 g. The description ‘dark chocolate flavour’ doesn’t confirm that the cookies have a dark chocolate coating or a particular cocoa content; check the packaging if this matters to you.
According to the product information, this variety contains wheat, milk and egg, and may contain soya. Check the current allergen information.
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A chunky cookie for a relaxed get-together, as long as the quantity suits your guests.
The pack contains 72 g. If you want to plan portions or are specifically looking for dark chocolate, check the number of cookies and the type of chocolate on the packaging.
According to the product information, this variety contains wheat, soya and milk. Read the current allergen information before serving.
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The individually wrapped cookies are a good fit for a party where you want to hand out portions.
The pack contains 115 g. Check how many cookies are inside and whether the chocolate information matches the flavour you’re looking for.
According to the product information, this variety contains wheat, soya and milk. Check the current packaging for allergen information.
No, that description alone doesn’t confirm a particular cocoa content. For the cookies and biscuits discussed here, Jumbo lists the proportion of dark chocolate in the product as a whole; these percentages are different from the cocoa content of the chocolate itself. If you have a minimum in mind, check the latter on the packaging.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the biscuits you’ve chosen. Jumbo recommends sealing its Chocolate Cookies well after opening and advises storing Chocolettes Dark in a cool, dry, dark place. If you want to serve the biscuits while they’re crisp, arrange them on the platter shortly before serving.
Check the label on the pack you’re buying. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be listed clearly and correctly. Check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces for the specific variety.
You can’t tell from the type of chocolate alone. The product information for McVitie’s Digestives with dark chocolate lists milk, soya and wheat; the information for Jumbo Chocolate Cookies lists wheat and says they may contain traces of ingredients including milk and soya. Check the current packaging and, if someone has an allergy, ask them before serving anything.
