Brunch host with a guest who has coeliac disease
Wants to choose a clearly labelled gluten-free product and make sure ordinary kano pastries don’t end up on their guest’s plate.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Kano pastry fan who wants a similar flavour
It’s the combination of pastry and almond paste that matters most. Baking your own is a better bet than choosing any old gluten-free biscuit; Annemieke Glutenvrij has published a recipe for this.
Brunch host looking for a quick sweet treat
Wants to offer a separate gluten-free cake or biscuit without having to bake, even if it doesn’t look like a kano pastry.
What should you look for?
First, decide whether the product is for someone with coeliac disease. Then consider how important it is for the alternative to resemble a kano pastry, be ready to serve or simply add a little something to the buffet.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free suitability | Check the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. Keep your chosen product separate from gluten-containing baked goods. | If I’m serving someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want an ordinary kano pastry to end up on their plate by mistake. For around 42% of consumers, this reassurance matters most. |
| Resemblance to a kano pastry | Look for pastry and almond paste. If you’re baking your own, you’ll need gluten-free ingredients and a clean work surface. | I want the alternative to look recognisably like a kano pastry, even if that means baking it myself. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this resemblance. |
| Ready to serve | Choose a product labelled gluten-free in a suitable size, and check the packaging before serving. | If I don’t have time to bake, I’m looking for a sweet treat I can serve separately. Convenience is the deciding factor for around 17% of consumers. |
| Variety on the buffet | Decide whether a small biscuit or another sweet treat would work, and check for any other allergens that may be relevant to your guests. | Alongside the other brunch dishes, I want to put out a small gluten-free sweet treat without pretending it’s a kano pastry. Around 16% of consumers value this variety most. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming almond paste makes a kano pastry gluten-free
Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten for its Kano's met Roomboter. So the filling tells you nothing about whether the whole biscuit is suitable.
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. If it’s for someone with coeliac disease, choose a product labelled gluten-free.
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Assuming any gluten-free biscuit can replace a kano pastry
A brownie, cake or oat biscuit can make a sweet addition to brunch, but it won’t automatically have the pastry and almond paste of a kano.
Choose a ready-made option if any gluten-free sweet treat will do. Consider baking your own if it’s important for it to look recognisably like a kano pastry.
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Relying on a product page you looked at before
A product’s ingredients and allergen information can change.
Check the packaging of the product you’re actually serving, even if you’ve bought it before.
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Overlooking other allergens
Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all other allergens. For example, Verkade lists milk and soya for Oaties Melkchocolade.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and check the full information on the packaging.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
A place to look for different kinds of gluten-free sweet snacks and cakes.
- Albert Heijn’s online range includes gluten-free brownies, cake and pink iced biscuits.
- That doesn’t make these products kano pastries with almond paste. Check the label of the item you choose.
Jumbo
A place to look for individual gluten-free cakes.
- Jumbo lists gluten-free apple bavarois cake and a gluten-free chocolate-flavoured mini cake as individual portions.
- Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter are not suitable for a guest with coeliac disease: Jumbo says they contain wheat flour and lists gluten.
Verkade
A biscuit option when a small sweet treat will do instead of a kano pastry with almond paste.
- Verkade labels Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free.
- Oaties is an oat biscuit with milk chocolate, not a kano pastry; Verkade also lists milk and soya among its ingredients.
Gluten-free brunch products on Joybuy
These products offer two different gluten-free options for brunch: a biscuit and granola. Neither has the shape or almond paste filling of a kano pastry. Always check the current packaging for the guest you’re serving.
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Verkade Oaties Milk Chocolate, 150 g
An oat biscuit labelled gluten-free for anyone looking for a small sweet addition to brunch who isn’t expecting a kano shape.
Verkade lists milk and soya for Oaties Melkchocolade. Check the current packaging for any other allergens and warnings relevant to your guest.
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Holie's Granola Glutenfree Peanut Chocolate, 330 g
Gluten-free granola for anyone looking for a brunch addition rather than a biscuit or cake.
The flavour is called Peanut Chocolate and the pack contains 330 g. Check the label for ingredients, allergens and warnings relevant to your guest.
Frequently asked questions
Can I serve ordinary kano pastries to someone with coeliac disease?
Not if you mean Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter: Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten for this product. Choose an alternative labelled gluten-free for your guest, and keep it separate from gluten-containing baked goods when serving.
What should I check on the label of a gluten-free alternative?
Check the gluten-free label, ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the ‘gluten-free’ label must meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) No 828/2014. Also check for any other allergens relevant to your guest.
How can I avoid contact with gluten when baking kano pastries myself?
Use gluten-free ingredients and keep the pastry and filling away from crumbs and utensils used for ordinary baked goods. Use clean baking tins and serve the gluten-free kano pastries separately with clean serving utensils.
What can I serve instead of kano pastries without baking?
A cake or biscuit labelled gluten-free can make a separate sweet addition to Easter brunch. Albert Heijn’s range includes gluten-free brownies and pink iced biscuits, while Jumbo lists gluten-free individual cakes. Choose based on the size and flavour you’re after, but don’t automatically expect the almond paste found in a kano pastry.