Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re buying a treat for someone with coeliac disease

You’re looking for a Mother's Day treat where the gluten-free label, the allergens listed on the packaging and careful serving matter more than an exact Kano's lookalike.

If you’re looking for a soft little cake

For coffee or a gift bag, you’d prefer a small, cake-like treat to a crunchy biscuit. Gluten-free pink iced cakes and madeleines fit the bill in terms of texture.

If you’re making breakfast or brunch yourself

You want to serve something homemade to several people and are taking extra ingredients, preparation time and keeping food containing gluten separate into account.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the current gluten-free label and allergen information for the specific product. Then choose between a soft little cake, a crunchy biscuit or something you can make yourself for Mother's Day.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free status and allergens Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of the variant you’ve chosen. If I’m buying a treat for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a familiar brand name or the shape of a biscuit. For around 50% of consumers, checking the product comes first.
Soft, cake-like presentation Compare a soft cake biscuit or madeleine with a crunchy oat biscuit, and check the storage and defrosting instructions too. For a special coffee break, I’d rather serve a little cake, even if it tastes different from Kano's. For around 30% of consumers, presentation matters most.
Making it yourself Check which ingredients you need to add and how to prepare it using clean, separate utensils. For breakfast with several people, I’d rather make something myself, even if it takes time. Making it yourself is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing based only on how much it resembles Kano's

    The shape of a biscuit and its brand name tell you nothing about whether that specific variant is labelled gluten-free.

    Check the physical packaging just before buying, including the ingredients, allergens and any warnings.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens

    A gluten-free product can still contain egg, milk or soya, or carry a warning about nuts.

    Read the allergen information for the product you’ve chosen as well as checking its gluten-free label.

  • Leaving the treat unwrapped next to ordinary biscuits

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs and shared kitchen utensils can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.

    Keep the treat wrapped for as long as possible. When serving, use clean hands, a clean work surface and separate utensils.

  • Forgetting to defrost or prepare it

    According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Roze koeken should be defrosted in their packaging. Koopmans gluten-free pancake mix needs milk and eggs, and has to be prepared.

    Read the storage and preparation instructions before deciding what to serve on Mother's Day.

    A homemade breakfast also needs a clean work surface and time for cooking.

Relevant brands to consider

AH Glutenvrij

This range includes pink iced cakes and egg cakes for anyone looking for a soft, individually portioned treat.

  • According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Roze koeken are gluten-free and wheat-free, topped with icing and packed in pairs.
  • Albert Heijn says the pink iced cakes need to defrost in their packaging at room temperature for around 1.5 hours. They contain egg, milk, soya and lactose.

Schär

Madeleines are a cake-like option in small, individually wrapped portions.

  • Albert Heijn lists Schär Madeleines as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free.
  • They contain egg and may contain nuts. Their shape and taste are different from Kano's.

Verkade

Gluten-free Oaties are an option if you’d prefer to bring along a crunchy biscuit from Verkade.

  • Albert Heijn describes the milk chocolate variant as a biscuit made with gluten-free oats and coated in milk chocolate.
  • This variant contains milk and soya, and may contain nuts. A crunchy oat biscuit isn’t a substitute for the soft texture of a little cake.

Koopmans

The gluten-free pancake mix is suited to a homemade breakfast or brunch, rather than choosing a ready-to-eat biscuit.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the mix makes 9 to 11 pancakes; you add 550 ml of milk and three eggs.
  • The mix may contain egg and milk. When preparing food for someone with coeliac disease, you also need to prevent gluten being transferred via work surfaces and utensils.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for if the treat is for someone with coeliac disease?

Check that the current packaging for the variant you’ve chosen clearly says ‘gluten-free’. Also read the ingredients and allergen information, and keep the treat separate from food containing gluten when serving.

Are all Verkade biscuits gluten-free if they also make gluten-free Oaties?

No, the label applies to the specific product and variant. Albert Heijn lists Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties as gluten-free, while Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Nizza Kaneel.

How should I serve gluten-free biscuits alongside ordinary biscuits?

Keep the gluten-free treat wrapped for as long as possible and set it aside in a clean place. Use clean hands and separate utensils to prevent crumbs from ordinary biscuits getting onto the treat, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.

Can I serve pink iced cakes or pancakes straight away?

It depends on the product. According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Roze koeken need to defrost in their packaging at room temperature for around 1.5 hours. Koopmans gluten-free pancake mix needs to be prepared with milk and eggs.