A traditional canoe pastry containing wheat and gluten is not suitable for a guest with coeliac disease. Jumbo Gluten-Free Filled Cake comes close to the idea of a canoe pastry thanks to its individual size and almond ingredient, but it isn’t the same oval shape and contains other allergens. If you’re catering for several guests, a gluten-free cake or small pastries may be a better fit for the buffet, provided you also check the current packaging, storage instructions and separate presentation.
They’re looking for an individual pastry with a clear gluten-free label. Almond as an ingredient may make it a more appealing choice, but the shape or filling is no substitute for checking the label.
They want to serve individual portions of sweet treats and need to check each product for other allergens. A separate area and dedicated serving utensils help prevent contact with regular biscuits.
They’re looking for a gluten-free biscuit to serve with coffee or tea as well as dessert, even if it doesn’t look like a canoe pastry.
When choosing a gluten-free sweet treat for your Boxing Day buffet, first check the gluten-free label and allergens on the current packaging. Then consider how closely it resembles a canoe pastry and how many portions you need for the buffet.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free food | Check for a ‘gluten-free’ label and review the allergens on the packaging; use a separate area and dedicated serving utensils at the buffet. | If I’m serving a pastry to a guest with coeliac disease, I want to avoid making it unsuitable with crumbs or a shared serving utensil. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Resemblance to a canoe pastry | Compare a gluten-free filled cake in terms of filling, ingredients and individual size; check for other allergens too. | Anyone looking specifically for a filled pastry won’t want to end up with an unfilled biscuit. This canoe-like experience matters most to roughly 30% of consumers. |
| Portions and preparation | Check the number of portions and, for chilled or frozen pastries, the defrosting and storage instructions. | When I’m hosting several guests, I want to be able to have bites or slices of cake ready in time. Around 20% of consumers put buffet convenience first. |
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the label ‘gluten-free’ may only be used if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. The label doesn’t tell you whether a product is also free from allergens such as nuts, eggs or milk.
Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten in its regular butter canoe pastries. A similar shape or the presence of almond paste says nothing about whether a product is gluten-free.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a product with a current gluten-free label and read the packaging before serving.
At a buffet, crumbs and shared serving utensils can bring gluten-free pastries into contact with regular biscuits. The Dutch Coeliac Society’s guidance for the hospitality industry emphasises practices that prevent cross-contamination.
Put the gluten-free pastries in a separate area, use dedicated tongs or a serving spoon, and keep the label visible.
According to the product information, Jumbo’s gluten-free filled cake contains almonds, eggs, lupin, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Gluten-free cakes and small pastries may contain other allergens too.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and check the current packaging of every product you choose.
Defrosting and chilled storage are part of the buffet planning for Albert Heijn’s gluten-free cocoa and hazelnut cake.
Before buying and preparing it, read the defrosting, storage and serving instructions to make sure they fit your buffet schedule.
These examples range from a filled cake to cake and biscuits to serve with coffee. Check the current gluten-free label and allergens for each product; a brand being mentioned doesn’t mean its entire range is gluten-free.
Jumbo Gluten-Free Filled Cake, 60 g, is an individual filled cake for anyone looking for something like a canoe pastry.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Gluten-Free Cocoa and Hazelnut Cake is a gluten-free, lactose-free cake with 6–8 portions.
PLUS offers gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and also lists a box of eight lactose-free, gluten-free vegan pastries.
Verkade describes its Oaties as gluten-free oat biscuits.
ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket Coconut Macaroons as six gluten-free coconut-flavoured biscuits.
Not necessarily: Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten in its butter canoe pastries, while Albert Heijn lists wheat gluten in AH BASIC Canoe Pastries. So check the current packaging rather than relying on the product name or appearance.
Jumbo Gluten-Free Filled Cake comes close to the idea of a canoe pastry thanks to its filling, almond ingredient and individual size. It isn’t oval and contains other allergens too, so check whether these are a concern for the guest in question.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if the food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Also read the allergen information for other ingredients that may matter to your guests.
Put the gluten-free pastries in a separate area, provide dedicated serving utensils and make it clear which product they are. In its guidance for professional buffets, the Dutch Coeliac Society recommends a separate or raised area and clear labelling as ways to prevent cross-contamination.
The current packaging is the best source of information about the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for the product you’re actually serving. Albert Heijn notes that this product information can change, so check it even if you’ve bought the same pastry before.
