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.
For a sharing platter to enjoy with coffee or tea on King’s Day, you could choose a thin biscuit with a dark chocolate coating if you want to serve small portions. Prefer a chunkier cookie with chocolate chips? Look for chocolate cookies. The proportion of dark chocolate in a biscuit is not the same as the cocoa percentage of that chocolate, so check these separately, along with the ingredients and allergens.
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.
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.
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.
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. |
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.
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.
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.
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.
An own-brand option if you’re looking for a biscuit with a dark chocolate coating to serve with coffee or tea.
An own-brand option if you’re after a chunky chocolate cookie with chocolate chips.
A Lidl own brand to consider if chocolate chip cookies with dark chocolate pieces would suit your platter.
An ALDI own brand for anyone looking to hand out individually wrapped biscuits with different types of chocolate.
A caramelised, crunchy biscuit to consider when dark chocolate isn’t essential.
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.
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.
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.