Who is this choice for?

Bakers with coeliac disease

You want to check that the flour and all the other ingredients are explicitly labelled gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends checking the label.

Home cooks who want to choose their ingredients

You want to decide for yourself which flour, fat and spices go into the dough. Recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo use different flour combinations. Baking from scratch also takes time and requires you to check each individual pack.

Shoppers with an additional dietary requirement

As well as a gluten-free option, you might be looking for a vegan product or need to avoid another allergen. So check the ingredients and allergen information for each product.

What should you look for when choosing?

Bake your own kruidnoten

A good fit if: you want to choose the ingredients for the dough yourself.

Things to consider: check every ingredient and use clean utensils and a clean work surface.

Packaged gluten-free kruidnoten

A good fit if: you want to serve kruidnoten without making the dough yourself.

Things to consider: a gluten-free label doesn’t mean the product is free from other allergens.

Serve with rusks or chocolate sprinkles

A good fit if: you’re looking for something to serve separately or use as a topping.

Things to consider: check the label on these too; neither can replace the flour in kruidnoten dough.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Gluten-free base Look for an explicit gluten-free label on the current pack of flour or kruidnoten, and read the ingredients too. If I’m baking for someone with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. Around 36% of consumers prioritise a gluten-free base they can verify.
Making up the dough yourself Choose a suitable recipe and check the specified types of flour and all the other ingredients individually. I want to decide which types of flour and other ingredients go into my kruidnoten, even if it takes more preparation. Around 29% of consumers prioritise having that control.
Other allergens and vegan requirements Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warning about possible traces. Check any vegan label separately. I need to consider a dietary requirement in addition to gluten, so a gluten-free label alone isn’t enough for me. Around 21% of consumers prioritise an additional requirement.
Rusks or chocolate sprinkles as an extra Decide whether you’ll serve the product separately or use it as a topping, and check whether it’s labelled gluten-free. I’m mainly looking for something to serve alongside kruidnoten, not a replacement for the dough. Around 14% of consumers say they prioritise this kind of separate extra.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from other allergens

    According to Albert Heijn’s product information, AH Glutenvrij Kruidnoten contain egg and may also contain milk, sesame and hazelnut, among other allergens. For its Vegan & Glutenvrij kruidnoten, Jumbo warns that they may contain nuts, lupin, sesame and soya, among other allergens.

    If you have an additional dietary requirement, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, even if it says ‘gluten-free’ or ‘vegan’.

  • Assuming a product listing means it’s currently available

    A product page may still show ingredients even when an item is no longer in stock, as with a Consenza listing at Jumbo that was checked.

    Check that the item is available before buying, and compare the current packaging with your dietary requirements.

  • Using iodised baker’s salt as a way to check for gluten

    The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s information about iodine in baker’s salt concerns the composition of bakery products, not whether they are gluten-free.

    Check the gluten-free label and ingredients separately from any information about iodine.

  • Thinking rusks with chocolate sprinkles can replace kruidnoten dough

    Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo’s gluten-free kruidnoten recipes use flour as the base for the dough. Rusks and chocolate sprinkles don’t serve the same purpose.

    First, choose a suitable dough base or packaged kruidnoten. Check rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately if you want to serve them alongside.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn / AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn offers both a recipe for homemade gluten-free kruidnoten and product information for its packaged AH Glutenvrij Kruidnoten.

  • Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe uses gluten-free self-raising flour and almond flour.
  • According to the product information, the packaged AH kruidnoten contain egg and may also contain milk, sesame and hazelnut, among other allergens. Check the current pack.

Jumbo

Jumbo has a gluten-free kruidnoten recipe and product information for its packaged Kruidnoten Vegan & Glutenvrij.

  • The recipe uses buckwheat flour and almond flour. According to Jumbo, the packaged version is labelled gluten-free and vegan.
  • The recipe contains egg and butter. For the packaged version, Jumbo warns that it may contain nuts, lupin, sesame and soya, among other allergens.

Consenza

The relevant Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages describe Consenza kruidnoten as gluten-free. Check the packaging for the specific variant.

  • The product information lists ingredients and allergens so you can assess the specific variant.
  • The variants checked have different allergen information. A Jumbo listing was also marked as no longer available, so check availability and packaging again.

Flour for baking your own

These flours are suitable if you’re planning to bake your own kruidnoten. If you have coeliac disease, check the gluten-free label and information about possible cross-contamination on the current pack, and make sure the flour is suitable for your chosen recipe.

Koopmans self-raising almond flour, 200 g

Koopmans self-raising almond flour 200 g

An option to consider if you want to make up your own dough. The product name specifies self-raising almond flour in a 200 g pack. Check the allergen information and gluten-free label, and make sure this flour will work in your chosen kruidnoten recipe without any adjustments.

View at Joybuy
FEN DU XIANG buckwheat flour, 500 g

FEN DU XIANG buckwheat flour 500 g

An option to consider for a recipe that uses buckwheat flour, such as Jumbo’s kruidnoten recipe. The product name specifies buckwheat flour in a 500 g pack. Check the gluten-free label, information about possible cross-contamination and the preparation instructions for your chosen recipe.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for in packaged kruidnoten if I have coeliac disease?

Look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the current packaging. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends using the label to check whether a product is gluten-free. Also check the ingredients and allergen information for any other dietary requirements.

Will kruidnoten be gluten-free if I only swap the chocolate sprinkles?

No, that won’t change the base of the dough. Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo’s gluten-free kruidnoten recipes use flour in the dough. Check those ingredients first, then assess any chocolate sprinkles separately.

Are gluten-free kruidnoten also vegan or free from other allergens?

Not necessarily. According to Albert Heijn, AH Glutenvrij Kruidnoten contain egg. For its Vegan & Glutenvrij version, Jumbo warns that it may contain nuts, lupin, sesame and soya, among other allergens. Check the ingredients and allergen information on each pack.

Does iodine in baker’s salt tell me anything about gluten?

No. Iodised baker’s salt doesn’t indicate that a kruidnoot is gluten-free. To check, look at the gluten-free label and ingredients for the product you’re using.