A host welcoming a guest with coeliac disease
You’re looking for biscuits to serve with coffee and want to stop crumbs from regular biscuits getting onto the gluten-free ones via a serving plate or tongs.
Who is this choice relevant to?
A household that often shares gluten-free biscuits
You want to keep enough biscuits at home for several people, but even with a familiar brand, you check the current gluten-free labelling and ingredients.
A shopper taking other allergies into account
You’re looking for a biscuit for someone with coeliac disease and also checking whether anyone else needs to avoid, for example, almonds, eggs or soya. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from these allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by checking the gluten-free labelling on the current packaging. Then work out how many biscuits you need and check the allergen information for everyone who’ll be eating them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and serving separately | Check the gluten-free labelling and ingredients on the current packaging. Use clean, separate serving dishes. | If someone with coeliac disease is joining us, I want to be sure which biscuits are for them and avoid crumbs from regular biscuits getting mixed in. Around 50% of consumers put this suitability check first. |
| How many to share | Compare the net weight and number of biscuits; don’t judge by the size of the packaging alone. | When people come round, I want to know if there’ll be a biscuit for everyone without having to open several small packs. For around 30% of consumers, having enough in the pack is the first consideration. |
| Other allergens and preferences | Read the full allergen information, then choose a flavour that suits your guests. | If a guest needs to avoid ingredients other than gluten, I don’t want to assume that a gluten-free label is enough to establish whether the biscuits are suitable. For around 20% of consumers, this additional suitability check comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a large pack means the biscuits are gluten-free
Biscuits in sharing packs can still contain wheat. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff Original.
Check the gluten-free labelling and ingredients for the specific product first; only then consider the pack size.
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Overlooking other allergens
Albert Heijn lists almonds, eggs and soya among the ingredients in its gluten-free almond biscuits. The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable for people with these allergies.
Read the full allergen information for everyone who’ll be eating them, and if you’re unsure, ask the guest concerned what’s suitable for them.
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Serving gluten-free and regular biscuits together
Crumbs from regular biscuits can get onto the gluten-free ones if they’re served on the same plate or with the same tongs.
Keep the gluten-free biscuits separate and use clean serving dishes when you put them out.
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Relying on a changing range in store
A pack you saw on a previous visit may not be available every time you shop, especially if it’s part of a limited range.
Before a planned coffee break, check which options are available and have a back-up whose label you can check.
Brands and shops to consider
Jumbo Lekker Vrij
You can compare different pack sizes within this gluten-free range. Jumbo lists, among other products, 240 g syrup waffles and 230 g mini cakes.
- The pack sizes listed give you a practical starting point for planning a sharing occasion.
- Syrup waffles and mini cakes are different products; check the labelling, ingredients and number of pieces on each pack.
Albert Heijn / AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn has a separate category for gluten-free biscuits. A 45 g pack of AH Glutenvrij almond biscuits is more of a small option than a large sharing pack.
- The separate category makes it easy to compare biscuits labelled gluten-free.
- Albert Heijn lists almonds, eggs and soya in its almond biscuits; check each product for any other allergens.
ALDI
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket coconut macaroons as a gluten-free pack containing 6 pieces and weighing 360 g.
- The stated number of pieces helps you decide whether the pack is right for your group.
- Check current availability and read the label on the pack you buy.
Lidl
Lidl is worth checking for gluten-free options, but a changing range of additional products isn’t a reliable basis for counting on a specific large pack of biscuits.
- Checking the current range may reveal another option in store.
- Check the gluten-free labelling and ingredients on each pack of biscuits you find.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff Original is a useful comparison if you’re considering a familiar pack of speculoos biscuits for a group with different dietary needs.
- Lotus Bakeries lists wheat flour in Lotus Biscoff Original. Don’t serve this product as a gluten-free biscuit to someone with coeliac disease.
Biscuits for a smaller sharing occasion on Joybuy
The 150 g pack below is better suited to a small coffee break than to anyone looking for a large sharing bag. Before serving, check the current gluten-free labelling and allergen information.
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Verkade Gv Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g
An option to consider for a small sharing occasion when you’re looking for biscuits labelled gluten-free. Check the current packaging to make sure the gluten-free labelling and allergen information suit everyone who’ll be eating them.
Net weight: 150 g. Check the number of biscuits in the pack to see whether there are enough to share.
Frequently asked questions
Is a biscuit without wheat automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease?
No. Other grains, including rye and barley, also contain gluten. Don’t rely on the absence of wheat alone; check the gluten-free labelling and ingredients on the current packaging.
Can I choose oat biscuits for someone with coeliac disease?
Not just because they contain oats. Check whether the specific oat biscuit is labelled gluten-free and read the current packaging before serving it.
How can I tell whether one pack is enough to share?
Compare the number of biscuits with the number of people you’re serving, as well as checking the net weight. The weight on the pack doesn’t tell you how many individual biscuits or portions it contains.
What if the online ingredient information differs from the packaging?
Before serving, rely on the label on the pack you actually have. If the gluten-free labelling or allergen information is still unclear, ask the manufacturer or seller for clarification first.