Who are these biscuit alternatives for?

Coffee drinkers with coeliac disease

For anyone who enjoys a biscuit with their afternoon coffee but gives more weight to the gluten-free label on the packaging than to how closely it resembles a sprits biscuit.

Fans of a crisp alternative to sprits

For anyone looking for a satisfyingly crisp bite and considering a gluten-free biscuit or oat biscuit. If you’re choosing oats, you’ll also need to check whether the person eating the biscuit can tolerate them.

Hosts and carers

For anyone who wants to serve a gluten-free biscuit separately to an older person or another guest. The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that crumbs in the kitchen can cause cross-contamination.

What should you look for when choosing?

First check for a gluten-free label and any other allergens. Then choose the type of biscuit that suits afternoon coffee and decide how to serve it separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free label Look for ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free logo on the current packaging. If there are other allergies to consider, check the allergen information too. If I’m serving coffee to someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to have to judge a biscuit by its shape. For around 50% of consumers, a clear gluten-free label would be their main purchasing concern.
Flavour and texture Compare options such as a butter biscuit, crisp oat biscuit, lemon biscuit, filled biscuit or coconut biscuit. If you’re considering oats, check that your guest can tolerate them. Anyone who misses sprits is likely to be looking for a biscuit with a bite and flavour that suits that familiar coffee break. Around 30% of consumers would consider this their main selection criterion.
Serving separately Check whether the biscuit is easy to serve separately, and use a clean plate and clean serving utensils. When I’m making coffee for a guest, I want to stop their biscuit coming into contact with regular biscuits or crumbs. For around 20% of consumers, serving it safely would therefore be the main priority.

Common mistakes when buying and serving

  • Choosing a biscuit because it looks like sprits

    Its appearance and buttery flavour don’t tell you whether it has a gluten-free label. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s sprits recipe uses wheat flour.

    Check the current packaging first, then compare the flavour and texture with sprits.

  • Relying on the ingredients list alone

    An ingredients list with no obvious gluten-containing ingredient doesn’t provide the same information about possible cross-contamination as a gluten-free label.

    For someone with coeliac disease, look for ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free logo, and check for any other relevant allergens too.

  • Serving an oat biscuit without checking first

    According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, most people with coeliac disease can tolerate pure oats, but this isn’t true for everyone. Verkade Oaties is an oat biscuit, not a sprits biscuit.

    Ask your guest whether oats are suitable for them. If not, consider a gluten-free biscuit that doesn’t contain oats.

  • Putting gluten-free and regular biscuits together

    Crumbs from regular biscuits can land on the gluten-free biscuit. The Dutch Coeliac Society identifies contact with crumbs as a possible cause of cross-contamination.

    Serve the gluten-free biscuit separately, on a clean plate and with clean serving utensils.

Brands and supermarket ranges to explore

Albert Heijn / AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn’s biscuit range includes several types labelled gluten-free, giving you options to compare for afternoon coffee.

  • Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Koekjes citroen as being made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • A lemon biscuit isn’t a sprits biscuit. If your guest has other allergies, check the current ingredients and allergen information too.

Verkade

Verkade makes both Nobo Sprits Original and the separate Oaties range, which the brand describes as gluten-free.

  • Verkade describes Oaties as crisp biscuits made with gluten-free oats.
  • Oaties is an oat biscuit, not a gluten-free version of Nobo Sprits. If your guest has coeliac disease, check whether they can tolerate oats.

Jumbo / Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo features gluten-free biscuit options in its range, including products from the Lekker Vrij line.

  • Jumbo includes Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas in its range.
  • Speculaas and the other biscuits shown are different from sprits, so compare the flavour and packaging of each product.

PLUS

PLUS offers biscuits labelled gluten-free for anyone who prefers cocoa or chocolate with their coffee.

  • PLUS describes its gluten-free double cookies as cocoa biscuits filled with vanilla cream.
  • A filled cocoa biscuit tastes and is made differently from sprits. Check the allergen information on the packaging.

ALDI

ALDI lists gluten-free coconut rings and coconut macaroons as biscuits to enjoy with coffee.

  • ALDI describes its coconut rings as gluten-free ring-shaped biscuits.
  • The coconut flavour is different from sprits. Check the current packaging and availability before choosing them for a coffee break.

Lidl

Lidl has a range page for gluten-free products.

  • Only choose a particular biscuit after checking for a gluten-free label on the current packaging.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular sprits biscuits gluten-free?

Don’t assume they are: Albert Heijn Allerhande’s classic sprits recipe contains wheat flour. For someone with coeliac disease, choose a biscuit based on the gluten-free label on the current packaging, not its name or shape.

What should I look for on the label of a gluten-free biscuit?

Look for the words ‘gluten-free’ or a gluten-free logo. If there are other allergies to consider, check the ingredients and allergen information too. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, an ingredients list with no obvious gluten-containing ingredient alone doesn’t provide the same information about possible cross-contamination.

Is a gluten-free oat biscuit an alternative to sprits?

Yes, if your guest would like an oat biscuit and can tolerate oats, although the flavour and texture will still be different from sprits. The Dutch Coeliac Society says most people with coeliac disease can tolerate pure oats, but not everyone can. So check before serving a biscuit such as Verkade Oaties.

How should I serve a gluten-free biscuit alongside regular biscuits?

Serve the gluten-free biscuit separately on a clean plate, and use clean serving utensils. This helps avoid contact with crumbs from regular biscuits or bread, which the Dutch Coeliac Society identifies as a source of cross-contamination.

Should I check the packaging if I’ve chosen the biscuit online?

Yes. Before buying and serving, check the current packaging for a gluten-free label, ingredients and any relevant allergens. A product name or online description alone isn’t the packaging you’ll show your guest.