Fans of dark chocolate flavour
You’re looking for a New Year biscuit where dark chocolate takes centre stage. Compare the ingredients and the proportion of dark chocolate in the biscuit, as well as the cocoa percentage of the chocolate, if stated.
Who are these biscuits for?
Hosts who want easy-to-share treats
You want to put biscuits out without having to cut them up or portion them in advance. Small biscuits and packs with individually wrapped portions are worth considering.
Shoppers who need to consider allergens
You’re buying for guests with different dietary needs. Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any cross-contamination warnings on each pack. The description ‘dark chocolate’ isn’t enough on its own.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether dark chocolate flavour, ease of sharing or allergen information matters most for your group. Then compare the biscuit shape and packaging.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate flavour | Compare the ingredients and the proportion of dark chocolate. Check separately whether the cocoa percentage of that chocolate is stated. | I want to choose a biscuit for its dark chocolate flavour, not just because the word ‘dark’ appears on the front. Around 50% of consumers would consider flavour and composition first. |
| Ease of sharing | Check the number of biscuits or portions, the type of packaging and whether you want to serve a biscuit, a soft cookie or a small biscuit. | For a platter that guests can help themselves to, I want to know how many pieces I can put out and whether they’re individually wrapped. This would be the first consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. | If a guest has a known allergy or intolerance, I want to be able to check whether this particular biscuit is suitable before serving it. This check would come first for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a specific high cocoa percentage
The percentage of dark chocolate in the whole biscuit tells you something different from the cocoa percentage of that chocolate. For example, Jumbo lists 40% dark chocolate chunks in its Chocolate Cookies; this doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the chunks.
Compare the two percentages only if they’re both listed separately on the packaging or product page. Otherwise, use the ingredients list and chocolate content as a limited guide when choosing, not as proof of a high cocoa content.
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Assuming a biscuit with dark chocolate is dairy- or nut-free
A biscuit may contain milk ingredients as well as dark chocolate, or carry a warning about nuts. According to Jumbo’s product information, LU Scholiertje Puur contains milk ingredients and may contain nuts.
For each guest, check the current packaging for allergens and ‘may contain’ warnings. Don’t rely on the type of chocolate or a previous purchase.
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Choosing a chocolate mix when you only want dark chocolate flavour
According to Albert Heijn, AH Soft chocolate cookies combine milk, dark and white chocolate. Biscotto’s chocolate biscuits also combine several types of chocolate, according to ALDI.
Check which types of chocolate the biscuit contains. Choose a mix if you want variety, but don’t treat it as if it contains only dark chocolate.
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Relying only on an online product description
Ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information can change when a product is updated, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information.
Use the online description to compare biscuits, then check the packaging before buying and serving. Check the best-before date and storage instructions too.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes chocolate-chip cookies, biscuits coated in dark chocolate and small biscuits with chocolate chunks.
- Jumbo lists 40% dark chocolate chunks in its Chocolate Cookies and 30% dark chocolate in its Digestive Biscuit Pure Chocolade. These figures describe the proportion in the biscuit.
- They don’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the chocolate used. Check allergens for each individual product.
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you’re also looking at soft cookies with a mix of chocolate types.
- According to Albert Heijn, AH Soft chocolate cookies contain 10% milk chocolate, 10% dark chocolate and 10% white chocolate.
- This is a chocolate mix, not a biscuit containing only dark chocolate. Check the packaging for the latest ingredients and allergen information.
LU
LU Scholiertje Puur is a chocolate-coated biscuit to consider with coffee or tea.
- Jumbo’s product information lists 48% dark chocolate in LU Scholiertje Puur, with two biscuits per pack.
- That proportion doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the chocolate itself. The product described contains milk, gluten-containing cereals and soya, among other ingredients, and may contain nuts.
Sondey
A Lidl own brand with various types of biscuits and cookies.
- The range is a useful starting point if you want to look at other biscuit styles as well as chocolate biscuits.
- Check the ingredients and label of each Sondey biscuit if dark chocolate or a particular cocoa percentage is important to you.
Biscotto
An ALDI own brand offering individually wrapped chocolate biscuits.
- ALDI describes a pack of 20 butter biscuits, wrapped in pairs, with dark, white and milk chocolate.
- The mix of chocolate types is less suitable if you’re looking specifically for dark chocolate.
Lotus Biscoff
A crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour, according to the description from Lotus Bakeries.
- An alternative flavour to consider if you don’t necessarily want to serve a chocolate biscuit.
- The Biscoff cookie described isn’t evidence of a biscuit containing dark chocolate or having a high cocoa percentage.
Biscuits on Joybuy
These biscuits include one to enjoy with coffee or tea and cookies whose names suggest a dark chocolate flavour. If you’re specifically looking for dark chocolate with a particular cocoa percentage, check the ingredients and packaging for each product; the flavour name alone doesn’t confirm this.
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LU Scholiertje Chocolate, 150 g
An option if you’d like to serve biscuits with coffee or tea. Check the packaging for this product to see what type of chocolate it contains, its cocoa percentage if that’s important to you, and the allergens.
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quduoduo Chunky Cookies Dark Chocolate Flavour, 72G
One to consider if you’re looking for a dark chocolate flavour for your biscuit platter. ‘Dark Chocolate Flavour’ describes the taste; check the ingredients if the type of chocolate or cocoa percentage matters to you.
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Franzzi Mellow Dark Chocolate Flavoured Cookies, 115g
An option if you’d like to hand round biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour. Check the packaging to see which ingredients provide that flavour and whether the allergen information is suitable for your guests.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark’ on a biscuit mean the chocolate has a high cocoa percentage?
No. That description alone doesn’t tell you a specific cocoa percentage. For its Chocolate Cookies, Digestive Biscuit Pure Chocolade and LU Scholiertje Puur, Jumbo lists the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit as a whole. Check separately whether the packaging states the cocoa percentage of the chocolate used.
How do I check allergens when buying chocolate biscuits for guests?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging of each product. According to Your Europe, allergens in prepacked foods must be highlighted in the ingredients list. Check for any ‘may contain’ warnings too, and choose according to the allergens that are relevant to your guests.
Are biscuits with dark chocolate automatically dairy-free?
No. According to Jumbo’s product information, LU Scholiertje Puur contains milk ingredients, while Jumbo’s Digestive Biscuit Pure Chocolade lists milk fat. So check the ingredients of the specific biscuit, not just the word ‘dark’ in its name.
How should I store chocolate biscuits after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the biscuits you’ve bought. For its Mini Koekjes Choco Chip met Pure Chocolade, Jumbo recommends a cool, dry, dark place. If the pack is open, check whether it includes any further instructions.