Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re buying biscuits for someone with coeliac disease

You’re hosting tea for someone who needs to avoid gluten. A gluten-free label on the packaged biscuit, together with up-to-date ingredient and allergen information, is your starting point.

If you’re mainly looking for a crisp biscuit to enjoy with tea

You want something that suits the same tea-time occasion as spritz biscuits, but you’re happy to try a different flavour or shape. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, ALDI and Céréal includes almond biscuits, chocolate cookies, filled biscuits and coconut rings.

If you’re buying for guests with multiple dietary restrictions

As well as gluten-free, you may need a product that’s lactose-free, or you may need to exclude specific allergens. So compare the information for the biscuit you’ve chosen rather than assuming all gluten-free products have the same ingredients.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the gluten-free label and current allergen information, then choose the type of biscuit that suits your tea-time occasion. Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ label applies to products containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.

What to consider What to check Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free label Check the label on the packaging and read the current ingredients and allergen list. If I’m serving biscuits to someone with coeliac disease, I want to check the gluten-free label before choosing based on taste. For around 46% of consumers, checking the label comes first.
Type of biscuit and eating experience Compare a crisp almond biscuit with a chocolate cookie, filled biscuit or coconut ring; none of these names promises the flavour or shape of spritz biscuits. When I’m having tea, I’m mainly looking for a small, crisp biscuit and don’t need to serve an exact spritz substitute. Around 27% of consumers put this eating experience first.
Other allergens and lactose Read the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for each product; check for a lactose-free label too, if needed. If a guest needs to avoid something other than gluten as well, I want to know whether that ingredient is in the biscuit before serving it. For another 27% of consumers, these additional restrictions are the main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing ordinary spritz biscuits because they look crisp

    Shape and brand don’t tell you whether a product is labelled gluten-free. Verkade lists wheat flour and the possible presence of other gluten-containing cereals for NoboSprits Melk.

    If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, choose a biscuit labelled gluten-free and check the packaging.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens

    Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Céréal lists ingredients such as almond, egg, milk, soya or lupin in various gluten-free biscuits. ‘May contain’ statements also vary from one product to another.

    Choose with your guests’ dietary requirements in mind, and check both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging for each biscuit.

  • Relying on the online product description alone

    Product information can change. On 9 September 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority issued a specific warning about AH Glutenvrij Speculaasbrok with a best-before date of 26-3-2027, because almond may not be listed on the label; this warning does not apply to all AH gluten-free products.

    Before serving, check the physical packaging, the best-before date and any warnings that apply to that specific product.

Brands to compare for alternatives to spritz biscuits

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn offers gluten-free almond biscuits as a different kind of biscuit to enjoy with tea.

  • The almond biscuits are labelled gluten-free and lactose-free and, according to Albert Heijn, are made in a completely gluten-free environment.
  • According to the product information, they contain almond, egg, soya and wheat as allergens. Check the current packaging if a guest also needs to avoid any of these ingredients.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo lists several types of biscuits in this range, including speculaas, syrup waffles and digestives.

  • You can choose a type of biscuit to suit your tea-time occasion, rather than looking only for a spritz shape.
  • According to Jumbo, its Jumbo Gevulde Koek Gluten Vrij contains almond, egg, lupin, milk and soya, and may contain sesame. Check allergens for each product.

Céréal

Céréal makes a chocolate cookie that Jumbo’s product information labels gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • The chocolate cookie is worth considering if you need a product that’s lactose-free as well as gluten-free.
  • The product contains soya and, according to that product information, may also contain egg, milk, nuts, sesame and lupin. It isn’t a type of spritz biscuit.

Consenza

Consenza describes several types of gluten-free biscuits in its own range, including speculaas biscuits and coconut varieties.

  • These biscuit types offer a choice of flavours when you don’t need an exact spritz shape.
  • Don’t use the range description as an allergen list: read the label on the specific product you want to serve.

Verkade

Verkade NoboSprits Melk is included here as an example of ordinary spritz biscuits, not as a gluten-free alternative.

  • The product name helps make clear what type of biscuit you’re looking to replace.
  • Verkade lists wheat flour and the possible presence of other gluten-containing cereals. Don’t choose NoboSprits Melk as a gluten-free biscuit for someone with coeliac disease.

Biscuit alternatives at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I serve ordinary spritz biscuits to someone with coeliac disease?

Not if you’re considering Verkade NoboSprits Melk: according to Verkade, this variety contains wheat flour and may contain other gluten-containing cereals. Choose a biscuit labelled gluten-free and check the packaging.

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a packet of biscuits?

Under European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the ‘gluten-free’ label applies to products containing no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Also read the ingredients and allergen information for any other dietary requirements of the person you’re buying for.

Can a gluten-free biscuit still contain wheat?

Yes. Albert Heijn labels AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel as gluten-free, but also lists wheat as an allergen, alongside almond, egg and soya. If someone has a separate wheat allergy, don’t rely on the gluten-free label alone.

Which biscuit should I consider if it also needs to be lactose-free?

Jumbo’s product information labels Céréal Glutenvrije & Lactosevrije Chocoladekoekjes gluten-free and lactose-free. They’re chocolate cookies, not spritz biscuits; if there are other allergies, check the statements about allergens that are present or may be present too.

How should I store gluten-free biscuits once opened?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. For AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dry place and keeping them in a sealed tin after opening.