If you’re looking for a chocolate biscuit with a pronounced dark chocolate flavour for adults, don’t rely on the word ‘dark’ or dark packaging alone: check whether a minimum percentage of cocoa solids is stated for the chocolate. For snacks during the school holidays, also consider the portion packaging, and always read the label on the product you’re buying if allergies are a concern.
A biscuit can be called ‘dark’ without making it clear how much cocoa the chocolate contains. If you want to compare products on this basis, look for a percentage of cocoa solids for the specific chocolate layer or chocolate pieces, rather than just the percentage of chocolate in the whole biscuit.
If you’re taking biscuits out with you or handing them out in advance, the number of biscuits in each individual pack may be a deciding factor. Lotus Biscoff with dark chocolate is described as seven packs of three; LU Scholiertje puur as packs of two biscuits.
Chocolate biscuits may contain ingredients such as milk, wheat and soya. Warnings such as ‘may contain nuts’ also vary by product. So check the current packaging for the person who’ll be eating the biscuits.
Start with any requirements that rule a product out, such as an unsuitable allergen label. Then compare the cocoa specification and choose packaging that suits sharing at home or taking out with you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa specification | Look for a minimum percentage of cocoa solids for the chocolate. Don’t confuse this with the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit. | If I’m buying specifically for the dark chocolate flavour, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. For around 25% of consumers, the cocoa specification comes first. |
| Portion packaging | Check how many biscuits are in each individual pack and how to store an opened pack. | For a day out, I want to be able to portion out biscuits in advance without opening the whole pack. That’s the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients list and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the current packaging. | If someone in the family needs to avoid a particular allergen, a suitable label matters more than flavour or convenient portions. For around 31% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
| Pack size | Match the pack weight to the number of snack occasions and check the storage instructions once opened. | For a few days at home, I want to have enough biscuits to serve without opening more than necessary. Around 19% of consumers put pack size first. |
Jumbo states that Chocolade Biscuits Puur contains 63% chocolate, while Albert Heijn says its Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade have a 27% dark chocolate layer. Both figures describe how much chocolate is in the biscuit, not how much cocoa that chocolate contains.
If you want to choose by cocoa content, look on the label for a minimum percentage of cocoa solids in the chocolate used. Without this information, you can’t rank these biscuits by cocoa content.
A biscuit made with dark chocolate may still contain milk, wheat or soya. Some products also carry warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging every time you buy, even if you’ve bought the product before.
A product listing doesn’t guarantee it’ll be available for a later snack occasion. For example, Jumbo says that Rioba Biscuits Premium Chocolate Mix is no longer part of its online range.
Check the current range shortly before you buy, and only choose an alternative after checking its ingredients and packaging too.
According to Verkade, Chocolate Chip Melk & Puur combines dark and milk chocolate pieces.
Lotus Biscoff biscuits with dark chocolate are an option to compare if you’re looking for smaller packs.
AH Gesuikerde biscuits pure chocolade come in a larger sharing pack of 400 g.
Jumbo Chocolade Biscuits Puur comes in a 125 g pack containing nine biscuits.
Lidl is a place to browse the current range of biscuits and chocolate.
Biscotto offers chocolate biscuits in a range of pack formats.
This biscuit may suit you if you’re looking for a dark chocolate flavour in a small pack. If you specifically want to choose by high cocoa content, check the cocoa specification on the current packaging.
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An option if you’re looking for biscuits with a dark chocolate flavour. The pack contains 70 g; before buying, check the cocoa content and current allergen information if these are important to your choice.
Look for a stated minimum percentage of cocoa solids in the chocolate used in the biscuit. A percentage for the chocolate layer or the chocolate in the whole biscuit measures something different and isn’t a substitute.
Not based on the word ‘dark’ alone. Some biscuits with dark chocolate contain milk, so read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging of the exact product.
Small individual packs are handy if you want to portion out biscuits in advance or take them with you. Lotus Biscoff with dark chocolate is listed as seven packs of three, and LU Scholiertje puur as packs of two biscuits; follow the storage instructions for any opened pack.
Yes. Use online nutritional information to narrow down your options, then check the packaging of the product you buy. Ingredients and allergen information can change; if you have an allergy, the information for the exact product is what matters.
Not always. According to the Dutch government, the spring and autumn holiday dates are advisory, and schools may choose different dates. Check the school handbook before planning snacks for a particular holiday week.
