Dark chocolate lovers
You’re looking for a biscuit to serve your guests that clearly states it contains dark chocolate chunks or a dark chocolate coating. That gives you a more definite indication than simply the words ‘chocolate flavour’.
Who are these biscuits for?
Hosts who want biscuits to share
You want enough biscuits for a platter, but also the option to choose how many packs to open. The number of servings and the storage instructions after opening can help you decide.
Shoppers mindful of allergens
Before choosing biscuits for guests, check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
Before your New Year’s Eve get-together, decide which style and size of biscuit you want to serve. Then check the ingredients and allergens of the product you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate flavour | Check what proportion of dark chocolate chunks or dark chocolate coating is stated. Look separately for a cocoa percentage if you have a minimum in mind. | If I mainly want to taste dark chocolate, I want to know what kind of chocolate the biscuit contains rather than rely on its name. For around 37% of consumers, flavour is the top priority. |
| Servings and storage | Check the number of biscuits or individual packs, and read how to store them after opening. | I want to put out a platter without opening all the biscuits at once. Being able to share them and store leftovers are the biggest considerations for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, including any relevant ‘may contain’ statement. | If a guest has an allergy, I need to know whether this particular biscuit is suitable for them. For around 18% of consumers, checking this is the first concern. |
| Where to shop | Find out whether you can order the product online or need to buy it in store, and check availability shortly before you shop. | When planning my shopping for a get-together, I don’t want to count on ordering online a biscuit that’s only sold in store. Availability is the top priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a confirmed high cocoa percentage
Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate chunks, while Albert Heijn says its sugar-coated biscuits have a 27% dark chocolate coating. These percentages describe different parts of the biscuit; they don’t tell you how much cocoa the chocolate contains.
If a minimum cocoa percentage is important to you, look for that figure on the packaging rather than comparing the two chocolate proportions directly.
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Mistaking a chocolate mix for dark chocolate only
Biscotto chocolate biscuits from ALDI combine dark, white and milk chocolate. Lidl’s Double chocolate cookie contains dark and white chocolate chunks.
Read the full product description if you want to serve only biscuits with dark chocolate.
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Relying only on the online product description when someone has an allergy
Allergens vary from biscuit to biscuit, and a warning about the possible presence of other allergens may also matter to a guest. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens that must be declared need to be clearly identifiable on the label.
Check the current packaging and any relevant ‘may contain’ statement before serving the biscuits.
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Leaving storage and availability checks until the last minute
If a pack isn’t properly sealed after opening, the biscuits may lose their crunch. Lidl lists its Double chocolate cookie as available in store only.
Read the storage advice on the packaging and check how the product you want is available before you go shopping.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
The own-brand range includes options such as cookies with dark chocolate chunks and biscuits with dark chocolate.
- Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate chunks and provide 12 servings.
- That proportion isn’t a cocoa percentage. If you have allergies, check the current packaging; the product information lists wheat and gluten, and warns of the possible presence of other allergens.
Albert Heijn
The sugar-coated biscuits with dark chocolate are an option if you want to serve small biscuits on a platter.
- Albert Heijn states that they have a 27% dark chocolate coating, come in a 400 g pack and provide 30 servings.
- The product also contains decorative sugar and, according to the product information, 35 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the listed allergens before serving them to guests.
Lotus Biscoff
The chocolate version reviewed combines speculoos with a chocolate coating and comes in smaller packs.
- Albert Heijn states that Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Belgian chocolate contains 22% chocolate and comes as six packs of three biscuits each.
- This doesn’t indicate a high cocoa percentage. The product information lists wheat, milk and soya; check the current packaging to see whether it meets your dietary requirements.
Sondey
Lidl uses Sondey for a variety of biscuits and snacks.
- The range includes a Double chocolate cookie with dark and white chocolate chunks.
- This combination isn’t suitable if you’re looking for dark chocolate only. Lidl lists this product as available in store only.
Biscotto
The chocolate biscuits from this ALDI brand that we reviewed combine different types of chocolate and come in individually wrapped portions.
- ALDI lists 20 butter biscuits in a 250 g pack, individually wrapped in pairs.
- The biscuits combine dark, white and milk chocolate, so they’re not suitable if you’re looking for dark chocolate only.
Dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits on Joybuy
These products are suitable if you’re looking for dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits for New Year’s Eve. A flavour description alone doesn’t prove that a product has a high cocoa percentage. Choose the size you want, and check the packaging if the ingredients or allergens are important to you.
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quduoduo Chunky Cookies Dark Chocolate Flavour, 72 g
A 72 g pack for serving dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits on a smaller platter.
Dark Chocolate Flavour doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage. Check the current ingredients and allergen information before serving to guests.
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Franzzi Premium Dark Chocolate Flavour Cookies, 70 g
For anyone looking for a 70 g pack of dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits to serve at a get-together.
If you want a particular cocoa percentage, don’t rely on the flavour description alone; check the allergens on the current packaging too.
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Franzzi Mellow Dark Chocolate Flavoured Cookies, 115 g
A 115 g pack for serving dark chocolate-flavoured biscuits at your get-together.
Check the packaging for the cocoa percentage you want and the allergen information; the flavour description doesn’t confirm either.
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Bourbon Alfort Mini Chocolate Dark Matcha, 12 pieces, 60 g
For anyone who wants to serve matcha alongside dark chocolate on their biscuit platter.
According to the product description, the pack contains 12 individually wrapped mini biscuits. Before serving, check the current packaging for the ingredients, allergens and any cocoa percentage you’re looking for.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark’ mean the whole biscuit has a high cocoa content?
No. ‘Dark’ in a product name doesn’t specify the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit. For example, Jumbo states that its Chocolate Cookies contain 40% dark chocolate chunks, while Albert Heijn says its sugar-coated biscuits have a 27% dark chocolate coating. If it affects your choice, look for a separate cocoa percentage on the packaging.
Which allergens should I check when serving biscuits to guests?
Check the allergens for the product you’ve chosen on its current packaging, rather than relying on the information for similar biscuits. The product information reviewed lists ingredients including wheat and gluten, milk or soya, depending on the biscuit. Any relevant ‘may contain’ warning is also worth checking. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens that must be declared need to be clearly identifiable on the label.
How should I store opened biscuits for later in the evening?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal opened biscuits properly. Jumbo recommends resealing its Chocolate Cookies carefully after opening; Albert Heijn advises storing its sugar-coated biscuits in a sealed tin. That way, you don’t have to put the whole pack out at once.