Who is this choice important for?

Hosting a guest with coeliac disease

You want to serve a clearly labelled gluten-free treat and keep ordinary biscuits and crumbs out of the gluten-free serving dish.

Hosting guests with different dietary requirements

Alongside gluten-free options, you may need to consider vegan diets or allergens such as egg, milk, nuts, sesame, soya or lupin. Check each product individually.

Planning pakjesavond and looking for variety

You might also want to serve speculaas or taaitaai, or bake kruidnoten yourself. For every option, check the gluten-free claim and allergen information again.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by checking the gluten-free claim on the exact packaging. Then decide which other ingredients and what quantity will suit your guests. A gluten-free option won’t automatically be suitable for everyone.

What to consider What to check when buying Who this matters most to
Gluten-free options for coeliac disease Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the exact packaging. Keep the treats separate from ordinary biscuits when serving. If my guest has coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on rice or corn flour alone, and I want to keep crumbs out of their serving dish. For around 50% of consumers, that assurance of a gluten-free option would be the top priority.
Other allergens or vegan diets Read the ingredients list and ‘may contain’ statements for the option you’ve chosen; check any vegan claim separately. If a guest also needs to avoid certain allergens or follows a vegan diet, ‘gluten-free’ on its own isn’t enough. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise these additional requirements.
Variety and quantity Consider which gluten-free products will suit your table and compare the net weight. If you’re baking, check the ingredients and preparation too. If I’m putting out a larger platter or more than one type of biscuit, I want to know whether ready-made options will be enough or whether I’ll bake them myself. This would be the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘wheat-free’ with ‘gluten-free’

    An ingredient such as rice or corn flour doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether cross-contamination may have occurred during processing. This distinction matters when someone with coeliac disease is eating with you.

    Check for a gluten-free claim or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging of the exact product.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    Gluten-free kruidnoten may still contain other ingredients or carry ‘may contain’ warnings. The options reviewed differ in terms of egg, milk, nuts, sesame, soya and lupin, among other things.

    Ask about your guests’ dietary requirements and restrictions, then read the full allergen information for each product.

  • Assuming ordinary seasonal kruidnoten are gluten-free

    Sinterklaas packaging or a large bag doesn’t make ordinary kruidnoten suitable for a guest with coeliac disease. The regular kruidnoten described by ALDI Nederland aren’t a reason to assume a product is gluten-free.

    Serve ordinary and gluten-free treats in separate dishes, and check the packaging before putting anything in the gluten-free dish.

  • Relying on a seasonal product without checking it

    A product featured in a Sinterklaas round-up may not be available when you do your shopping. That could disrupt your plans for a particular treat.

    Check availability shortly before pakjesavond, and read the packaging of your chosen product again when you buy it.

Brands to consider

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn’s gluten-free Sinterklaas range includes kruidnoten, speculaasbrok, gevulde speculaas and taaitaai.

  • AH Glutenvrij Kruidnoten are labelled gluten-free and come in a 180 g pack.
  • These kruidnoten contain egg. Albert Heijn also notes that they may contain milk, sesame, lactose and hazelnut; check other options individually.

Jumbo

Jumbo sells Kruidnoten Vegan & Glutenvrij in a 150 g pack for anyone looking for both claims.

  • The product information includes a gluten-free claim and the Crossed Grain symbol.
  • According to the product information, it may contain almonds, hazelnuts, lupin, sesame and soya. Vegan and gluten-free therefore don’t mean that these allergens are excluded.

Consenza

Consenza Kruidnoten are a 150 g gluten-free kruidnoten option featured in Albert Heijn’s Sinterklaas round-up.

  • Albert Heijn describes this option as gluten-free and wheat-free.
  • The product information lists milk, egg and lupin, and says it may contain nuts and sesame. Check that the product is available before you rely on it.

Joybuy products for pakjesavond

AH Glutenvrij Kruidnoten, 180 g

Gluten-free kruidnoten for your Sinterklaas table. Contains egg and may contain milk, sesame, lactose and hazelnut. Check the packaging for the latest ingredient and allergen information.

Jumbo Kruidnoten Vegan & Glutenvrij, 150 g

A vegan and gluten-free kruidnoten option carrying the Crossed Grain symbol. May contain almonds, hazelnuts, lupin, sesame and soya. Check the packaging before serving.

Consenza Kruidnoten, 150 g

Gluten-free and wheat-free kruidnoten. The product information lists milk, egg and lupin, and notes possible traces of nuts and sesame. Check availability and the packaging before buying.

Frequently asked questions

Is kruidnoten dough made with rice or corn flour automatically gluten-free?

No. The type of flour used isn’t enough to confirm that a product is gluten-free. For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a product whose exact packaging explicitly says ‘gluten-free’ or carries the Crossed Grain symbol.

Are gluten-free Sinterklaas biscuits also free from other allergens?

Not automatically. Gluten-free options may contain egg, milk or lupin, for example, or warn that they may contain nuts, sesame or soya. Read both the ingredients list and the ‘may contain’ statement for the product you plan to serve.

How can I serve gluten-free kruidnoten alongside ordinary biscuits?

Use a separate, clean dish and clean serving utensils for the gluten-free kruidnoten. Keep ordinary biscuits and crumbs out; the Voedingscentrum points out that even a small amount of gluten can matter for someone with coeliac disease.

When is it useful to bake your own gluten-free kruidnoten?

Baking your own is an option if you want to tailor the ingredients or quantity to your guests and have time to prepare them. Albert Heijn’s recipe uses gluten-free self-raising flour and gluten-free almond flour. Check every ingredient, and keep your worktop, utensils and serving dish free from crumbs from ordinary biscuits.