Choose a spritz biscuit for Christmas baking based on its ingredients and type of chocolate, not just a name such as ‘double chocolate’. Product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn lists milk chocolate, chocolate pieces and cocoa nibs in Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade, but does not confirm a high cocoa content for the biscuit as a whole. If you want to control the chocolate flavour yourself, you can use a plain butter spritz biscuit and add chocolate or cocoa to your recipe; in either case, check the current packaging for allergen information.
For a tart base, dessert glass or biscuit platter, you’ll want to know which chocolate ingredients the biscuit contains. A dark-sounding product name alone doesn’t tell you what type of chocolate has been used.
You use spritz biscuits as a crisp base and add cocoa, dark chocolate or icing yourself. A plain butter spritz biscuit gives you a different starting point from a biscuit that’s already coated.
When choosing spritz biscuits for a Christmas dish to share, it’s important to check both the allergens present and any ‘may contain’ warnings. Read the packaging of the product you’re actually using.
First decide whether you want the chocolate to be in the spritz biscuit already or to add it yourself. Then compare the type of chocolate, any stated percentages and the allergen information on the packaging.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate ingredients | Check which type of chocolate and cocoa ingredients are listed. See whether a percentage refers to the biscuit, an ingredient or just the coating. | For a biscuit layer with a chocolate flavour, I want to know what’s actually in the spritz biscuit rather than relying on the name. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Using it as a baking base | Choose between a pre-coated biscuit and a plain spritz biscuit to which you add chocolate or cocoa yourself. Check the storage advice if you’ll use the pack over several baking sessions. | If I want to build the flavour of a tart base myself, I’d rather have a biscuit base without an existing chocolate layer. This is the most important consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the current packaging for both the allergens present and any ‘may contain’ warnings. | When I’m baking for someone who needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s listed on this pack. This check comes first for around 17% of consumers. |
A chocolate layer, chocolate pieces and cocoa powder are different ingredients. For example, product information for Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade lists 15% milk chocolate and 2.3% chocolate pieces; Jumbo lists 0.3% low-fat cocoa powder and a 10% coating for Lunetta Spritsen met Cacao en Glazuur. These percentages don’t confirm a high cocoa content for the biscuit as a whole.
Before choosing a spritz biscuit for a recipe where the cocoa flavour needs to come from the biscuit itself, check the type of chocolate and what each percentage refers to.
On the Jumbo and Albert Heijn product pages consulted, Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade was listed as no longer part of the online range. So visible ingredient information doesn’t necessarily mean you can order the product.
Check the range at your chosen shop before settling on your baking recipe. A plain spritz biscuit with chocolate or cocoa added separately may be a different option for your recipe.
A last-minute change could mean an extra trip to the shops or an adjustment to your recipe.
Recipes and warnings can change. Product information for the spritz biscuits discussed lists different combinations of ingredients, including wheat, milk and soya, along with additional warnings about possible other allergens.
Read the label on the pack you’ve bought before using it. If you’re buying unwrapped spritz biscuits, ask for the allergen information before you purchase them.
Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade is worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate ingredients in the spritz biscuit itself.
Lunetta Spritsen met Cacao en Glazuur is a spritz biscuit with a cocoa ingredient and a coating.
AH Spritsen is a plain butter spritz biscuit for recipes where you’ll add chocolate or cocoa yourself.
No, the name doesn’t confirm a high content of pure cocoa. Product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn lists 15% milk chocolate, 2.3% chocolate pieces and cocoa nibs for Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade. Check the packaging if you’re looking for a specific type of chocolate or a cocoa percentage for the biscuit as a whole.
Check both the allergens present and any warnings about possible traces on the current packaging. According to Jumbo’s product information, Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade contains milk, soya and wheat, and may contain nuts and sesame. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the spritz biscuits you’re using. For Verkade Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade, the product information says to store in a cool, dry place and reseal the pack after opening. For another variety, check its own storage instructions and the date on the packaging too.
