If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, don’t choose a regular kano pastry without checking the label: Jumbo lists wheat flour and gluten in its Kano’s met Roomboter. If you need something for the Easter table at short notice, you could choose a packaged alternative labelled ‘gluten-free’, while also checking for other allergens. If the shape and almond paste filling are what matter, you can bake your own using gluten-free ingredients, as long as you prevent cross-contamination during preparation and serving.
You’re looking for an alternative to a regular kano pastry that is clearly labelled gluten-free, and want to avoid it coming into contact with gluten crumbs when it’s served. The Dutch Coeliac Association highlights the risk of cross-contamination.
The shape and almond paste filling matter to you. A gluten-free kano recipe, such as Annemiekeglutenvrij’s, is a better fit for your plans than an unfilled biscuit; you’ll also need to pay separate attention to the ingredients and where you prepare it.
You want to bring a packet of biscuits or small pastries and don’t mind if they aren’t exactly like a kano. Albert Heijn and Jumbo have gluten-free categories where you can look for products of this kind.
Choose this if: you want to buy biscuits or small pastries for the Easter table without baking, and want the packaging to say ‘gluten-free’.
Bear in mind: a filled biscuit could suit the occasion, but it won’t necessarily have the same shape, filling or portion size as a kano.
Choose this if: you want to keep the kano shape and almond paste filling, and have time to bake.
Bear in mind: as well as using gluten-free ingredients, it’s important to have a clean work surface and separate utensils to avoid contact with gluten crumbs.
When choosing a gluten-free Easter treat inspired by kano pastries, first decide what matters most to you. Then check the label, or the ingredients and preparation method relevant to your choice.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling | Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ and read the ingredients and allergen list, including any other allergens relevant to the person eating it. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to judge by the appearance of a kano. For around 50% of consumers, a clear gluten-free choice comes first. |
| Shape and almond paste filling | Compare the fillings and, if baking your own, check the ingredients and how to prevent contact with gluten crumbs. | If you want to serve the familiar kano with almond paste, a standard gluten-free biscuit may not be a suitable alternative. For around 30% of consumers, that kano experience comes first. |
| Buying without baking | Check the current product and packaging before choosing biscuits or small pastries for Easter. | If you need a treat for the Easter table without the baking, a suitable packaged alternative matters more than an exact kano shape. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
An ingredient such as almond doesn’t make the whole pastry gluten-free. Jumbo lists wheat flour, gluten and wheat in its Kano’s met Roomboter.
Check the current packaging and, if you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, choose an alternative labelled ‘gluten-free’.
The words ‘gluten-free’ don’t tell you whether a product contains other allergens, such as nuts, milk, egg or soya. Verkade lists milk and soya in Oaties Melkchocolade.
Check the full ingredients and allergen information for everyone who’ll be eating the pastries.
The Dutch Coeliac Association says gluten can get into gluten-free food via items such as a used chopping board, a knife or a shared jar.
Use clean or separate utensils, and keep gluten-free pastries separate from products containing gluten during preparation and serving.
ALDI warns that special offers can sell out quickly due to demand. A seasonal product isn’t a reliable option for your Easter shopping.
Check what’s currently available, and think ahead about whether another type of gluten-free biscuit or baking your own would also suit your plans.
Albert Heijn’s gluten-free snack range is a good place to look for a packaged sweet treat.
Jumbo has a gluten-free category that includes biscuits, snacks and bakery products.
Verkade describes its Oaties as gluten-free oat biscuits, for anyone who’d rather serve a biscuit than a kano.
Schär features in the gluten-free supermarket ranges at Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
Not necessarily: Jumbo lists wheat flour, gluten and wheat in its Kano’s met Roomboter. Always check the packaging of any other kano instead of relying on its name or appearance.
Under Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food can be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten when sold. Also read the ingredients and allergen information for any other restrictions relevant to the person eating it.
As well as checking the ingredients list, make sure the packaged alternative is labelled ‘gluten-free’. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed in the ingredients; the ‘gluten-free’ label has a separate condition under EU rules.
Keep them separate from pastries containing gluten, and use clean or separate preparation and serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Association says gluten crumbs can get into gluten-free food via items such as a chopping board, knife or shared jar.
A filled biscuit is closer in type to a filled kano than an unfilled biscuit, but it isn’t the same pastry. Albert Heijn stocks AH Glutenvrij Gevulde koek in its gluten-free snack range; check the current packaging and allergen information before you buy.
