If you want to hand out biscuits or decorate them yourself, a 400 g pack of plain digestives is a practical choice. A chocolate variety is better if you want to serve biscuits with a chocolate flavour straight away. For guests who need to avoid gluten, choose a biscuit clearly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too. If you’re considering a no-added-sugar variety, also check which sweeteners it contains and read the warnings on the pack.
You want to hand out biscuits without any preparation and need a pack size that helps you estimate how many guests it will serve. Albert Heijn, Jumbo, ALDI and Lidl list 400 g packs of plain varieties. Check how many biscuits are in each pack if you want to plan portions.
You’re looking for a biscuit you can decorate with icing, chocolate or other toppings. Halloween recipes from Albert Heijn and Jumbo show how to decorate biscuits. A plain digestive leaves more room for you to choose the flavour and finish than a chocolate-coated biscuit.
You need to know which guests avoid gluten or other allergens before handing out biscuits, or you’re specifically looking for a no-added-sugar variety. The regular digestives mentioned contain wheat. The Schär gluten-free biscuit mentioned contains soya and may contain lupin and egg, so check the current ingredients list on the pack you choose.
First, decide whether the biscuits will be served straight away or decorated first. Then choose a flavour or nutritional profile, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you plan to serve if any guests have specific requirements.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Enough biscuits to hand out | Compare the net weight and, if stated, the number of biscuits or portions per pack. | I want to fill a plate without baking and have enough biscuits ready for my guests. Having enough to go round is a priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Decorating them yourself | Choose a plain biscuit if you want to decide on the flavour and finish yourself; match the biscuit to your decorating or dessert plans. | If I want to add icing or chocolate as decoration, I’d rather start with an uncoated biscuit. Around 30% of consumers prioritise being able to add their own finishing touches. |
| Flavour and nutritional information | Compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g. If a variety contains sweeteners, read the warnings on the pack too. | I want to choose between plain, chocolate, wholemeal or a no-added-sugar variety. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current ingredients list and any warnings on each pack. Check the gluten-free label and any other relevant allergens separately. | If guests need to avoid certain allergens, I want to know what’s in each biscuit before serving. This check comes first for around 20% of consumers. |
The regular digestives mentioned contain wheat. Schär Digestive Landtaler is described as gluten-free, but contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
For guests who need to avoid gluten, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free. Then check the current pack for other allergens.
AH Digestive 0% sugar contains the sweeteners maltitols and isomalt. The product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Choose this variety only if you’re specifically looking for a biscuit with no added sugar. Read the ingredients and warning before handing them out too.
A chocolate coating already determines some of the flavour and appearance. The McVitie’s dark chocolate variety mentioned also contains wheat, milk and soya.
Choose a plain digestive if you want to decorate the biscuits yourself; consider chocolate if you’d rather serve them without any extra decoration.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. For a party, what matters is the composition of the packs you actually serve.
Before handing out the biscuits, check the ingredients, allergens, best-before date and storage instructions on the current pack.
The differences below relate to the biscuit varieties mentioned, not every product from each brand. Choose based on the packaging and ingredients of the variety you want to serve.
A 400 g pack of Original digestives and a dark chocolate variety offer two different ways to serve these biscuits.
The range includes regular, wholemeal and 0% sugar varieties of AH Digestive.
Jumbo Krokante Digestive Biscuit is a regular 400 g variety; Jumbo also lists a separate gluten-free digestive from Schär.
Digestive Landtaler is sold as a gluten-free biscuit in a pack of 3 x 50 g.
Biscotto Digestive Biscuits are crunchy wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.
Lotus describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour. It’s a different type of biscuit, not a digestive variety.
For a plate of plain biscuits or your own Halloween decorations, you could consider this 400 g pack of Original digestives. Before serving, check that the ingredients are suitable for your guests.
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This Original digestive is an option if you want to hand out plain biscuits or decorate them yourself for Halloween.
400 g pack. Contains wheat; may contain milk. Check the current pack if allergens are a concern.
The regular varieties from McVitie’s, AH and Jumbo mentioned here aren’t suitable: they contain wheat or gluten. Choose a biscuit clearly labelled gluten-free and check for other relevant allergens too. Schär Digestive Landtaler is gluten-free, but contains soya and may contain lupin and egg.
Yes, a plain digestive lets you choose how to decorate it. Halloween recipes from Albert Heijn and Jumbo show decorations using ingredients such as icing and chocolate. Decide in advance how you want to decorate the biscuits and which ingredients you’ll need.
Seal the pack or a biscuit tin tightly and store the biscuits according to the instructions on the pack. The product information mentioned recommends storing them in a cool, dry place, among other guidance.
Yes, check the pack of the biscuits you’re actually serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergens must be listed on the label, but product information can change. If you have specific requirements, also read any warnings about allergens the product may contain.
