Who is this choice for?

Anyone with coeliac disease looking for dark chocolate

You’re looking for a biscuit made with dark chocolate, but first you check that the specific finished product is labelled gluten-free. The type of chocolate alone doesn’t tell you whether it is.

Anyone who enjoys spritz biscuits

You want to keep the shape and texture of a spritz biscuit. You’ll need to check each variety individually: for example, Verkade lists wheat flour among the ingredients in Nobo Sprits Melk.

Anyone who wants to bake dark spritz biscuits at home

You want to choose the shape and ingredients yourself, and have time to bake. Be mindful of crumbs and shared kitchen utensils too; the Dutch Coeliac Society warns about cross-contamination via items such as chopping boards and knives.

What should you look for when choosing?

When choosing a biscuit for someone with coeliac disease, the gluten-free label on the finished product matters more than whether it’s made with dark chocolate or shaped like a spritz. The three options below differ mainly in how closely they match what you’re looking for in a biscuit.

Gluten-free chocolate biscuit

When to choose it: Choose this option if dark chocolate matters more than the spritz shape. Jumbo lists Zonnatura Bio Pure Chocolade Koeken as gluten-free; check the packaging of the pack you choose.

The trade-off: This isn’t a spritz biscuit. And the words ‘dark chocolate’ in the product name don’t tell you how much cocoa it contains.

Regular chocolate spritz biscuit

When to choose it: Only consider a spritz variety for someone with coeliac disease if the current packaging confirms that it’s gluten-free.

The trade-off: A familiar spritz shape isn’t worth the risk of a source of gluten in the biscuit: according to Verkade, Nobo Sprits Melk contains wheat flour.

Bake your own gluten-free spritz biscuits

When to choose it: This option is right for you if you specifically want the spritz shape and can check each ingredient individually.

The trade-off: Baking takes time, and you’ll need to take care to avoid cross-contamination from crumbs, work surfaces and utensils.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free status Check the current packaging for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients too. When I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to know the biscuit meets the gluten-free requirement before I consider the flavour. For around 50% of consumers, this certainty comes first.
Dark chocolate flavour Once you’ve checked for a gluten-free label, look at the type of chocolate and, if you’re looking for a particular percentage, the cocoa content on the packaging. I’m drawn to biscuits made with dark chocolate, but I don’t want to assume how rich the cocoa flavour is from the product name. Around 30% of consumers say this flavour preference is their top priority.
Spritz shape or convenience Decide whether another gluten-free biscuit will do, or whether you’d rather bake your own to get the spritz shape. I’d like a spritz biscuit rather than another chocolate biscuit, or I’d prefer to choose a suitable biscuit straight away instead of baking. For around 20% of consumers, this preference for a particular shape or convenience matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means gluten-free

    The colour or type of chocolate doesn’t tell you whether the biscuit contains wheat flour. According to Verkade, Nobo Sprits Melk contains wheat flour. The European Commission only allows food labelled ‘gluten-free’ to contain up to 20 mg/kg of gluten.

    First, check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the specific pack. Only then choose based on the chocolate flavour.

  • Mistaking a chocolate biscuit for a spritz biscuit

    A biscuit made with dark chocolate and sold as gluten-free may suit your flavour preference, but the product name doesn’t confirm that it has a spritz shape, a similar texture or a particular cocoa content.

    Decide whether you’re mainly looking for a gluten-free chocolate biscuit or whether the spritz shape is essential.

  • Relying on outdated online product information

    Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information can change. So a product page you viewed earlier may not match the pack you buy.

    Check the current packaging every time you buy, even if you already know the product.

  • Underestimating the risk of cross-contamination when baking

    Gluten-free ingredients can come into contact with crumbs containing gluten during preparation. The Dutch Coeliac Society gives shared chopping boards and knives as examples.

    Check all the ingredients and use clean work surfaces and utensils that haven’t come into contact with dough or crumbs containing gluten.

Brands to consider

These brands can help you narrow down your search for biscuits and check their labels more closely. A brand name alone doesn’t confirm that a specific variety is suitable for someone with coeliac disease.

Zonnatura

Jumbo lists Zonnatura Bio Pure Chocolade Koeken as a gluten-free biscuit alternative.

  • Jumbo’s product listing describes this specific biscuit as made with dark chocolate and labelled gluten-free.
  • It isn’t described as a spritz biscuit. Check the current packaging if you want to assess the ingredients and cocoa content.

Céréal

Jumbo includes Céréal Glutenvrije & Lactosevrije Chocoladekoekjes in its gluten-free range.

  • The range listing explicitly describes these chocolate biscuits as gluten-free.
  • The listing doesn’t describe them as spritz biscuits or as made with dark chocolate; check the specific pack for these details.

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn’s AH Glutenvrij range includes products such as Double cookies and Chocolate chip cookies.

  • The range includes specific biscuits you can check individually.
  • The range listing doesn’t confirm that any product is a dark spritz biscuit or has a high cocoa content.

Verkade

Verkade is a point of reference for spritz biscuits, but each variety needs to be assessed individually if you have coeliac disease.

  • Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Nobo Sprits Melk. The name of another chocolate variety doesn’t prove that it’s gluten-free.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are dark chocolate spritz biscuits suitable for someone with coeliac disease?

Not based on the chocolate alone: check for a gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol on the specific finished product. Verkade lists wheat flour in Nobo Sprits Melk, so that variety isn’t suitable.

What should I look for on the packaging?

Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol, and read the ingredients for that variety. The Dutch Coeliac Society explains that the symbol involves checks on the manufacturing process too.

Can I rely on an online supermarket listing?

Use it to help with your search, but check the pack you buy. Albert Heijn points out that ingredients and allergen information can change.

Can a gluten-free biscuit made with dark chocolate be an alternative to a spritz biscuit?

Yes, if you’re happy with a different biscuit shape and check for a gluten-free label on the current packaging. Jumbo lists Zonnatura Bio Pure Chocolade Koeken as gluten-free, but the product name doesn’t confirm a spritz shape or a particular cocoa content.

What should I bear in mind when baking gluten-free spritz biscuits?

Check the ingredients and prevent contact with crumbs containing gluten while baking. The Dutch Coeliac Society lists shared chopping boards and knives as possible sources of cross-contamination.