Who might this choice be relevant to?

Host welcoming a guest with coeliac disease

You want to serve a treat where the base, sprinkles and any other decorations are all suitable for your guest. Choosing gluten-free biscuits or rusks alone doesn’t make the whole treat gluten-free.

Keeping the tradition when visiting a new baby

You want to keep serving rusks with festive sprinkles, but don’t want to use the usual muisjes without checking the label. Albert Heijn lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Roze en witte muisjes.

Looking for an easy option to hand out

You’re looking for gluten-free biscuits that you can hand out individually. You’re happy for the treat to look different from rusks topped with muisjes.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether serving rusks with muisjes is important, or whether individual biscuits will do. Then check the current packaging of every component you plan to serve.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Every component Read the gluten-free claim, ingredients and allergen information for the base as well as the sprinkles, topping or decorations. Look out for warnings about cross-contamination too. If someone with coeliac disease is eating, I don’t want one unchecked component to make the treat unsuitable. This is the main concern for around 50% of consumers.
Traditional presentation Choose gluten-free rusks if you want a base to add toppings to, and check the sprinkles separately; according to Albert Heijn, De Ruijter Roze en witte muisjes contain wheat starch. When visiting a new baby, I want to keep serving rusks with muisjes, not just something that looks similar. Around 30% of consumers give this familiar presentation top priority.
Individual treats Check the gluten-free claim and allergen information on the biscuits. If you’re choosing oat biscuits, also make sure that variety is suitable for the person you’re buying them for. For a party platter, I want to be able to hand out biscuits without having to top rusks on the spot. Convenience matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Checking only the rusk or biscuit

    A gluten-free base doesn’t make the combination gluten-free if the sprinkles contain wheat. Albert Heijn lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Roze en witte muisjes.

    Check the packaging for the base, sprinkles and any topping or decorations separately.

  • Assuming ‘wheat-free’ means you’ve checked everything

    For someone with coeliac disease, it’s also important to check for other ingredients containing gluten and any risk of cross-contamination. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends checking labels and warnings carefully.

    Look for the current gluten-free claim on the product you’ve chosen, then read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings too.

  • Relying on an old listing for gluten-free rusks

    Jumbo states that Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit 120 g is no longer part of its online range. An old product listing is therefore no guarantee that you’ll be able to buy it.

    Check the current product page in advance or ask your shop about the rusks you’ve chosen.

  • Presenting biscuits as the same kind of treat

    Gluten-free biscuits are an option to hand out individually, but they don’t replace rusks topped with muisjes.

    Choose rusks if that way of serving them matters; choose biscuits if a different kind of treat for a new baby will work just as well.

Brands to consider

Schär

Schär offers rusks for a traditional presentation, as well as baking mixes if you’d like to make something yourself.

  • Albert Heijn describes Schär Zwieback as gluten-free and wheat-free rusks. According to Albert Heijn, Schär Mix Kuchen und Kekse is a gluten-free mix for cakes and biscuits.
  • Even with gluten-free rusks, you’ll need to check muisjes and other toppings separately.

AH Glutenvrij

A supermarket own-label range to explore for gluten-free biscuits and other baked goods.

  • Albert Heijn includes products such as Chocolate chip cookies in this range.
  • Check the current packaging of the variety you choose; biscuits don’t automatically give you the traditional presentation of rusks with muisjes.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten

A Jumbo own-label range that includes gluten-free biscuits and snacks.

  • Jumbo lists Lekker Vrij van Gluten Digestives Melkchocolade in its gluten-free range.
  • Jumbo states that Lekker Vrij van Gluten Beschuit 120 g is no longer part of its online range, so check what’s currently available before relying on it.

Verkade

A biscuit option if you want to hand out individual treats for a new baby instead of topping rusks.

  • Joybuy describes Verkade GV Oaties Melkchocolade as gluten-free.
  • This isn’t a rusk; check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you choose too.

Stadsgenootjes

A possible option for sprinkles if you want to keep the traditional presentation with birth sprinkles.

  • Stadsgenootjes states that its birth sprinkles are gluten-free.
  • Check the brand’s claim against the current label on the packaging you choose; sprinkles also don’t replace the rusks.

Products by purpose

This curated order is based on each product’s role in a gluten-free treat for a new baby: rusks as the base first, then sprinkles as a separate component, followed by biscuits to hand out individually. It isn’t an independent product test or an overall quality ranking.

Rank Product Features Role in the treat Retailer
1 Schär Zwieback gluten-free rusks 175 g Gluten-free rusks; 175 g pack. Albert Heijn describes Schär Zwieback as gluten-free rusks. This is the option to choose as a base if you want to serve rusks with muisjes; the sprinkles need to be checked separately. Albert Heijn
2 Stadsgenootjes birth sprinkles Birth sprinkles; described as gluten-free by the brand. Stadsgenootjes states that its muisjes are gluten-free. They can be used as sprinkles if the current label on the variety you choose confirms this, but they aren’t a rusk base. Stadsgenootjes
3 Verkade GV Oaties Melkchocolade 150 g Biscuits with milk chocolate; 150 g pack. Joybuy describes the product as gluten-free. This is an option to hand out as individual biscuits, not the same way of serving a treat as rusks with muisjes. Check the current packaging for the person you’re serving. Joybuy

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are pink and white muisjes automatically gluten-free?

No. Albert Heijn lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Roze en witte muisjes. Don’t use this variety as part of a gluten-free treat for someone with coeliac disease, and always check the label on any other sprinkles you choose.

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on a food label?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, the ‘gluten-free’ claim means that a product contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Also check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current packaging.

Should I take a warning about possible cross-contamination into account?

Yes. A warning about possible gluten-containing cereals is relevant when you’re serving someone with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Society treats these warnings as information about a possible risk of cross-contamination; read them alongside the rest of the label information.

Can I hand out gluten-free biscuits instead of rusks with muisjes?

Yes, if individual treats for a new baby suit what you have in mind. Biscuits don’t have the same topped presentation as rusks with muisjes. You should also check the gluten-free claim and allergen information for the specific biscuits you choose.

What should I look out for if I’m baking or topping the rusks myself?

Keep gluten-free ingredients and preparation separate from products and crumbs containing gluten. Check the sprinkles and every topping separately too; according to the Dutch Coeliac Society, cross-contamination can also happen during food preparation in the kitchen.