Cake makers looking for a crunchy finish
If you want to make a biscuit border, decoration or crumb topping, consider ready-made spritz biscuits with dark chocolate. Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn list these biscuits in their product information.
Which option is right for you?
Bakers looking for a stated cocoa percentage
If you’re adding chocolate to cake batter, ganache or a filling, the cocoa percentage of a separate chocolate product tells you more than simply seeing ‘dark’ on a spritz biscuit packet. Verkade and PLUS state the percentage of cocoa solids in their chocolate products.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
If you’re sharing a cake with others, it’s important to check the ingredients and allergens in the product you use. The spritz biscuits we looked at list ingredients including wheat, egg, milk and soya. Check the packet of the product you buy before using it.
What should you look for when choosing?
Dark chocolate spritz biscuits
Choose these: if you want a ready-made biscuit for decorating a cake or adding a crumb topping.
Bear in mind: the stated proportion of dark chocolate isn’t the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit. Jumbo and PLUS state 18% dark chocolate; Albert Heijn states 15%.
Chocolate with a stated cocoa percentage
Choose this: if the cocoa percentage matters to you and you’re looking for chocolate to use in a cake. Verkade states that its cooking chocolate contains at least 71% cocoa solids.
Bear in mind: chocolate won’t give you the shape or texture of a spritz biscuit. If you choose another product, check separately that it’s suitable for the way you plan to use it.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate in the cake | Check the stated percentage of cocoa solids and whether the product is suitable for the way you plan to use it. | If I want to add chocolate to batter or filling, I look for a product that clearly states its cocoa percentage on the packet. This is the main priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| A crunchy finish | Check that they’re spritz biscuits with dark chocolate and see what proportion of chocolate is stated. | For a border or crumb topping, I want a biscuit I can use straight away to decorate the cake. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about cross-contamination or sweeteners. | When other people will be eating the cake, I want to know what ingredients and allergens it contains before choosing a product. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘with dark chocolate’ means a cocoa percentage for the whole spritz biscuit
Jumbo and PLUS state that their spritz biscuits contain 18% dark chocolate, while Albert Heijn states 15%. These proportions aren’t comparable with the percentage of cocoa solids stated for a separate chocolate bar.
Choose spritz biscuits when you’re looking for biscuits to decorate a cake. If you want to add chocolate to batter or filling, check the cocoa percentage and whether the chocolate product is suitable for your intended use.
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Guessing allergens from the product name
A name such as ‘dark chocolate spritz biscuits’ doesn’t tell you which allergens the whole product contains. The spritz biscuits we looked at list ingredients including wheat, egg, milk and soya.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packet, especially if you’re sharing the cake with someone who has an allergy.
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Assuming an old product listing guarantees availability
A spritz biscuit you found previously may no longer be available: Jumbo lists Verkade Specials Nobo Sprits Dubbel Chocolade as no longer available.
Before baking, check that your chosen product is available and that the ingredients on the current packet still suit your plans.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo lists ready-made spritz biscuits with dark chocolate that you can use to decorate a cake or make a crumb topping.
- The product information gives a pack size of 200 g and states that the biscuits contain 18% dark chocolate.
- The proportion of chocolate doesn’t indicate the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit. Check the stated allergens too.
PLUS
PLUS lists chocolate spritz biscuits as a ready-made option for decorating cakes.
- The product description states that the 200 g pack contains spritz biscuits with 18% dark chocolate.
- Check the current packet for ingredients and allergens, including wheat, egg, soya and milk.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists butter spritz biscuits with dark chocolate as another option for decorating cakes.
- The product information states that the 180 g pack contains butter spritz biscuits with 15% dark chocolate and 25% butter.
- Here too, the proportion of chocolate doesn’t indicate the cocoa percentage of the whole biscuit. Albert Heijn advises checking the current packet.
Verkade
Verkade Kookchocolade is an option if you’re looking for chocolate rather than the texture of a spritz biscuit.
- Verkade states that it contains at least 71% cocoa solids and provides instructions for melting the cooking chocolate.
- This product isn’t a spritz biscuit. The manufacturer states that it may contain traces of nuts, milk and gluten.
Products for chocolate or cake decoration
These Joybuy products include chocolate bars with a stated cocoa percentage and chocolate sprinkles for decorating. The sprinkles aren’t spritz biscuits. Check whether the bars themselves are suitable for the way you plan to use them in your cake.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark, 100 g
A chocolate bar for anyone comparing products by their stated cocoa percentage; the product information states 90% cocoa. If you want to melt it or use it in a cake, check that it’s suitable for your needs. If you have allergies, also check the current packet for possible traces of hazelnuts, other nuts, milk and soya.
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De Ruijter Intense dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
These chocolate sprinkles are intended as a topping; the product description also mentions cupcakes. The product is stated to contain at least 52% cocoa solids. It isn’t a spritz biscuit, and you’ll need to check separately whether it’s suitable for adding to batter or filling. Milk and soya are listed as allergens.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao, 100 g
A chocolate bar with at least 78% cocoa, for anyone who wants to take the stated percentage into account when choosing. Before using it in a cake, check that it’s suitable for your intended use. Milk is listed; hazelnuts, almonds, other nuts and soya may also be present.
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Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
A chocolate bar with at least 70% cocoa, for anyone looking for a clearly stated cocoa percentage. Check that the bar is suitable for adding to batter or filling. The product information states that it may contain traces of nuts, milk, soya and sesame seeds. If you have allergies, check the current packet.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose spritz biscuits or chocolate for my cake?
Choose dark chocolate spritz biscuits for a biscuit border or crumb topping. Choose a chocolate product with a stated cocoa percentage if you want to add chocolate to batter or filling. Check that the chocolate product is suitable for the way you plan to use it.
Does a dark chocolate spritz biscuit have a high cocoa percentage overall?
You can’t tell from the description ‘with dark chocolate’. Jumbo and PLUS state that their spritz biscuits contain 18% dark chocolate, while Albert Heijn states 15%. These percentages describe the proportion of chocolate, not the cocoa solids in the whole biscuit.
Which allergens should I check in chocolate spritz biscuits?
Always check the current ingredients and allergen information for the spritz biscuits you buy. The products we looked at list ingredients including wheat, egg, milk and soya. If the cake is for someone with an allergy, also look for any cross-contamination warnings.
How should I store spritz biscuits after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on the packet of your spritz biscuits. Jumbo says to store them in a cool, dry, dark place. Albert Heijn says to store them in a cool, dark, dry place and recommends resealing the packet securely after use.