If you want dark chocolate on the buffet
You want to serve spritz biscuits whose label specifies dark chocolate. The proportion of chocolate in the biscuit doesn’t tell you the cocoa content of that chocolate.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you’re preparing allergen information
You want to take the biscuits out of their packaging and put them on a platter, while checking in advance which allergens and warnings apply to the products you’ve chosen.
If you’re considering a separate option
You may want to offer a product with no added sugar alongside the regular spritz biscuits. Check the product information for sweeteners, allergens and usage warnings, and serve this option separately.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the chocolate description and allergen information, then decide which packs and options will work for your buffet display.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate | Look for the words ‘dark chocolate’ on the label. If the cocoa content matters to your choice, ask for the cocoa content of the chocolate used. | I want to be sure the spritz biscuits contain dark chocolate, without mistaking the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit for the cocoa content; around 34% of consumers prioritise this product feature. |
| Allergens | Check the packaging of the batch you buy for allergens present and warnings about possible traces. If you’re serving the biscuits unwrapped, prepare the information needed for your chosen way of presenting them. | If guests are helping themselves from a platter, I want to be able to give them clear information about the ingredients; around 33% of consumers prioritise allergen information. |
| Portions and presentation | Compare the net weight and the number of biscuits or stated portions. Use your serving plan to work out how many packs you want to set out. | I want to know how many biscuits I can serve and whether larger ones will fit the platter layout; around 20% of consumers give portion planning top priority. |
| Having the right option in time | Check that your chosen option is available in good time, and check its best-before date. If you’re serving a separate option, read its storage and usage instructions too. | If I want to offer a specific option separately, it needs to be available in time and easy to identify; around 13% of consumers consider availability the most important factor. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking the chocolate content for the cocoa content
The 18% dark chocolate listed by Jumbo and PLUS for their spritz biscuits is the proportion of chocolate in the whole biscuit. It isn’t the cocoa percentage of that chocolate.
Use ‘dark chocolate’ to identify the product variety. Ask about the cocoa content separately if you want to base your buffet description or choice on a specific cocoa content.
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Serving unwrapped biscuits without allergen information
Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn list different allergens present in their chocolate spritz biscuits; Albert Heijn also mentions possible traces of other allergens. In the Netherlands, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority requires businesses serving unpackaged food to consumers to provide allergen information where the food is offered. This isn’t necessarily the same situation as a private, invitation-only buffet.
Keep the current packaging or product information with your buffet plans. Where those rules apply, make sure guests can access the required information alongside the product. For cereals containing gluten and for nuts, specify the particular cereal or nut where applicable.
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Offering a no-added-sugar option as a biscuit for everyone
The Damhert Nutrition Sprits Pure Chocolade described by Jumbo contains sweeteners and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. So ‘no added sugar’ alone isn’t a reason to serve this option as the standard biscuit.
Consider offering it only as a separate, clearly identifiable option, and read the usage warnings and allergen information on the packaging you actually buy.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo Spritsen met Pure Chocolade comes in a 200 g pack and is an option if you’re looking for spritz biscuits that explicitly contain dark chocolate.
- Jumbo states that the biscuits contain 18% dark chocolate.
- According to Jumbo, the product contains egg, wheat/gluten, milk and soya. The 18% figure isn’t the cocoa content of the chocolate.
PLUS
PLUS Chocolade sprits Fairtrade is a spritz biscuit with dark chocolate, sold in a 200 g tray.
- PLUS describes the product as spritz biscuits with 18% dark chocolate.
- PLUS lists wheat/gluten, egg, soya and milk as allergens. The proportion of chocolate doesn’t tell you its exact cocoa content.
Albert Heijn
AH Choco spritz biscuits are butter-rich spritz biscuits with dark chocolate, packaged as five larger biscuits.
- Albert Heijn states that this product contains 15% dark chocolate and 25% butter.
- According to Albert Heijn, it contains milk, wheat/gluten and soya, and may contain egg, oats, rye and almonds. The 15% figure doesn’t tell you the cocoa content of the chocolate.
Verkade
Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade may be an alternative, but only if milk chocolate works for your buffet.
- Jumbo describes these Verkade spritz biscuits as biscuits with chocolate pieces and a milk chocolate coating.
- These aren’t spritz biscuits with a confirmed dark chocolate coating. According to the product information, they contain milk, soya and wheat, and may contain nuts and sesame.
Lidl / Sondey
Lidl describes Sondey as a brand of biscuits and snacks. If you’re considering a Sondey product, check whether it’s a spritz biscuit with dark chocolate.
- The brand name can help you search for biscuits in Lidl’s range.
- A general brand or range description doesn’t confirm the chocolate variety, ingredients or allergens of a specific spritz biscuit.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘dark chocolate’ on a spritz biscuit mean it contains a lot of cocoa?
No. The description doesn’t tell you the exact cocoa content of the chocolate in the biscuit. If Jumbo or PLUS states that a product contains 18% dark chocolate, that refers to the proportion of chocolate in the biscuit. If the cocoa content is important to your choice, ask about it separately.
Which allergens are listed for these dark chocolate spritz biscuits?
The product information from Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn lists wheat/gluten, milk and soya, among other allergens; Jumbo and PLUS also list egg. For AH Choco spritz biscuits, Albert Heijn additionally mentions possible traces of egg, oats, rye and almonds. Always check the label on the packaging you’ll actually use for your buffet.
Does allergen information need to be available for unwrapped spritz biscuits at a wedding buffet?
If a caterer, hospitality business or other provider serves unwrapped spritz biscuits to consumers in the Netherlands, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must be available where the product is offered. For cereals containing gluten and for nuts, the specific cereal or nut must also be identified. Information can be provided in writing, electronically or, under certain conditions, verbally. Don’t assume these rules automatically apply to a private, invitation-only buffet.
Are spritz biscuits with no added sugar suitable as the standard biscuit?
Not on the basis of that description alone. The Damhert Nutrition Sprits Pure Chocolade described by Jumbo contains sweeteners and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. If you choose this kind of product, serve it separately and provide the information from the packaging you bought.
How do I choose between smaller biscuits and larger spritz biscuits for the buffet platter?
First decide how many biscuits you want to serve and how much space you have on the platter. Jumbo and PLUS describe 200 g packs of spritz biscuits with dark chocolate; Albert Heijn packages AH Choco spritz biscuits as five larger biscuits. Check the net weight and packaging of your chosen product before deciding how many packs you’ll need for the buffet.