If your guests need to eat strictly gluten-free, don’t serve regular kano pastries: the Jumbo and Albert Heijn varieties described here contain wheat or declare gluten. A filled biscuit, cake or other treat clearly labelled gluten-free may work well with afternoon coffee, but it won’t necessarily have the same filling or texture. Before serving, also check the other allergens and serving size on the current packaging.
If someone has coeliac disease or another strict need to avoid gluten, the label on the current packaging matters more than a familiar biscuit name or shape. The regular Jumbo and Albert Heijn kano pastries described here are not gluten-free.
A gluten-free filled biscuit, mini cake or oat biscuit could be an alternative, as long as a different filling, shape or texture is acceptable. Jumbo lists gluten-free filled biscuits and mini cakes among its products.
If you regularly serve something with afternoon coffee, you can compare portion sizes and nutritional information without assuming that a gluten-free biscuit is automatically a nutritious snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snacks are high in sugar or saturated fat.
First, decide whether gluten-free is essential. Then choose the type of biscuit you want and, if coffee and biscuits are a regular habit, compare portion sizes and nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free status and allergens | Read the current gluten-free label and allergen information, and check for any other relevant allergens. | If gluten must be strictly avoided, I want to know which biscuit is suitable before serving it. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Type of biscuit | Choose between options such as a filled biscuit, mini cake or oat biscuit. None will necessarily have the filling and texture of a kano pastry. | For a special coffee occasion, I’m mainly looking for a type of biscuit my guests will enjoy, even if it’s different from a kano pastry. For around 30% of consumers, the biscuit experience is the deciding factor. |
| Portion size and nutritional information | Compare the portion size and the stated sugar and saturated fat per portion and per 100 g. | If biscuits are often served with coffee, I want to know how much one portion contributes to my diet. This is the first consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
According to Jumbo, its regular Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter contain wheat flour and declare gluten. The AH BASIC Kano's described here also declare wheat gluten. So the shape of a product tells you nothing about whether it’s suitable for someone who needs to eat strictly gluten-free.
If a guest needs to eat gluten-free, choose a product with a clear gluten-free label and check the current packaging.
Other allergens still matter. PLUS lists milk, egg and hazelnut among the allergens in its gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. The Consenza raisin and cranberry biscuits described here may contain traces of nuts.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and check the information for each product you’re considering.
The gluten-free label alone tells you nothing about sugar, fat or portion size. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snacks are high in sugar or saturated fat.
Treat biscuits as a treat. If you regularly serve them with coffee, compare the portion sizes and nutritional information of the options you’re considering.
Jumbo lists a range of gluten-free biscuits in its Lekker Vrij range that could go well with coffee.
Verkade describes its Oaties as gluten-free oat biscuits: a different type of biscuit from kano pastries.
PLUS gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are an alternative for anyone looking for a biscuit other than a kano pastry.
The Consenza raisin and cranberry biscuits described here offer a gluten-free oat biscuit as an alternative to serve with coffee.
This oat biscuit is an option if you’re looking for a gluten-free alternative to serve with afternoon coffee, without expecting it to have the filling of a kano pastry.
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For anyone who’d like a gluten-free oat biscuit with their coffee instead of a kano pastry with almond paste. Before serving, check the current gluten-free label and other allergens on the packaging.
Not the regular varieties from Jumbo and Albert Heijn described here. Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten for its Kano's met Roomboter; Albert Heijn lists wheat gluten for AH BASIC Kano's. For a strictly gluten-free coffee occasion, choose a separate product clearly labelled gluten-free and check the current packaging.
No. Don’t rely on the word ‘oat’ alone. Choose a product that’s clearly labelled gluten-free and check the other allergens too. Verkade describes its Oaties as gluten-free and lists gluten-free oats in the ingredients information.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and keep gluten-free biscuits separate from regular biscuits when serving. The PLUS and Consenza products described here advise storing them in a cool, dry, dark place. If you’re serving guests with coeliac disease, use clean serving utensils too.
No. The gluten-free label doesn’t provide an overall assessment of nutritional value. If biscuits are served regularly with coffee, compare the portion size and nutritional information. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that many snacks are high in sugar or saturated fat.
