Who are these biscuits for?

Fans of a pronounced cocoa flavour

You want to choose chocolate with a distinctive cocoa profile, so you check the cocoa solids percentage on the label. The words ‘dark chocolate’ or dark packaging don’t tell you what that percentage is.

Hosts serving biscuits with coffee

For a sharing platter, the size of the biscuits, the number of portions and how to store them after opening all matter. Albert Heijn presents its sugar-coated biscuits with dark chocolate as a treat to enjoy with coffee or tea.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

If you’re serving food and drinks to others, you’ll want to know which allergens are present and what precautionary statements appear on the packaging. Chocolate biscuits can vary in this respect.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’d prefer a thin biscuit for a sharing platter or a chunkier chocolate cookie. Then compare the chocolate content, portions and information on the current packaging.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Cocoa percentage Look for the cocoa solids percentage of the chocolate, and distinguish it from the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit as a whole. If cocoa flavour is my deciding factor, I want to be able to compare a stated cocoa percentage. Roughly 33% of consumers put this information first.
Portions and texture Compare the number of portions and choose between a thin biscuit with a chocolate coating and a chunkier cookie with chocolate chips. For a platter to serve with coffee, I want to hand out biscuits that suit the occasion. This is the most important factor for around 27% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any warnings about possible traces. If I’m putting biscuits out for others, I want to know what’s in them and which warnings apply. Around 20% of consumers make this their priority.
Packaging and where to buy Check the pack size and whether you need to go to a shop to buy the product you’ve chosen. I want to buy a suitable quantity without relying on an uncertain shopping route. For roughly 20% of consumers, this is their first consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means a confirmed high cocoa content

    Albert Heijn states that its sugar-coated biscuits contain 27% dark chocolate coating; Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate chips. These percentages describe the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit, not the cocoa solids percentage of the chocolate.

    If you’re choosing based on cocoa content, look for an explicit cocoa percentage for the chocolate component on the packaging.

  • Checking only the front of the pack for allergens

    The biscuits mentioned differ in the allergens they contain and the possible traces they may include. A product name or chocolate variety won’t tell you everything you need to know before serving.

    Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack you’re actually buying.

  • Assuming a chocolate mix contains only dark chocolate

    The Biscotto chocolate biscuits described by ALDI combine dark, white and milk chocolate. They’re therefore suitable for a mixed platter, but not for a selection made up exclusively of biscuits with dark chocolate.

    Check which types of chocolate are included in the full pack before choosing a mixed variety.

  • Assuming the packaging and where to buy will stay the same

    Lidl lists the Sondey Chocolate chip cookies described here as an in-store product. Product information and packaging may also change.

    Check the store information shortly before buying, then check the label and best-before date when you receive the product.

Relevant brands to compare

Albert Heijn

An own-brand option if you’re looking for a biscuit with a dark chocolate coating to serve with coffee or tea.

  • Albert Heijn lists AH sugar-coated biscuits with dark chocolate in a 400 g pack, with around 30 portions and a 27% dark chocolate coating.
  • That percentage is not the cocoa percentage of the chocolate. Check the current label too: Albert Heijn lists milk, cereals containing gluten and soya among the ingredients.

Jumbo

An own-brand option if you’re after a chunky chocolate cookie with chocolate chips.

  • Jumbo describes its Chocolate Cookies as crunchy biscuits with 40% dark chocolate chips in a 225 g pack.
  • The proportion of chocolate chips doesn’t confirm the cocoa percentage. The nutritional information lists 32 g of sugars per 100 g; check the allergen information on the packaging too.

Sondey

A Lidl own brand to consider if chocolate chip cookies with dark chocolate pieces would suit your platter.

  • Lidl describes Sondey Chocolate chip cookies as crumbly biscuits with dark chocolate pieces, in a 225 g pack.
  • Lidl lists this product as an in-store item. A statement by Lidl about other Sondey varieties doesn’t tell you about the ingredients or dietary characteristics of these cookies.

Biscotto

An ALDI own brand for anyone looking to hand out individually wrapped biscuits with different types of chocolate.

  • ALDI describes a pack of 20 butter biscuits, weighing 250 g in total, wrapped in pairs.
  • The biscuits combine dark, white and milk chocolate, so they’re not an exclusively dark chocolate selection.

Lotus Biscoff

A caramelised, crunchy biscuit to consider when dark chocolate isn’t essential.

  • Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit that goes well with coffee, among other things.
  • Check the exact variety before choosing Lotus Biscoff for a platter specifically featuring dark chocolate.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘dark chocolate’ mean a biscuit has a high cocoa content?

No. You need to check the cocoa solids percentage of the chocolate separately. The 27% dark chocolate coating listed by Albert Heijn and the 40% dark chocolate chips listed by Jumbo tell you how much of that component is in the biscuit.

Should I check the allergens again if I’ve bought the same biscuits before?

Yes. Before serving, read the label on the pack you have now. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergen information may change, so check for any warnings about possible traces too.

How should I store opened chocolate biscuits for a King’s Day platter?

Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen, and put out only the biscuits you want to serve. Albert Heijn recommends storing its sugar-coated biscuits in a sealed tin after opening; Jumbo advises sealing the remaining Chocolate Cookies tightly and using them within a few days.