If you’re hosting a Halloween party for someone with coeliac disease, a biscuit clearly labelled gluten-free is a practical choice if it doesn’t have to be shaped like a spritz biscuit: according to Verkade, Verkade NoboSprits Melk contains wheat flour, so it’s not suitable. If you’re set on a spritz-style shape, you can bake your own using ingredients explicitly labelled gluten-free. However, don’t assume the dough will be suitable for piping until you’ve tested it, and avoid contact with crumbs and equipment that have been in contact with gluten.
For you, a clear gluten-free label matters more than the shape of the biscuit. Check the packaging and keep the biscuits separate from regular snacks when serving, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
You’d like that familiar piped shape, but need to choose between baking your own and serving another type of gluten-free biscuit. An oat biscuit or an almond biscuit isn’t the same as a spritz biscuit.
You want to serve biscuits without first having to prepare dough and baking equipment. A packaged option can also be kept separate from the other treats, but be sure to check the current label.
Choose this if: you want a biscuit to serve separately to a guest with coeliac disease, without baking it yourself.
The trade-off: Verkade Oaties and AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel are sold as gluten-free, but neither is a spritz biscuit. Check the packaging when you buy them.
Choose this if: you want to decide how they look and have time to test a gluten-free recipe in advance.
The trade-off: A gluten-free biscuit recipe won’t necessarily make dough that’s suitable for piping into spritz biscuits. You’ll also need clean equipment kept separate from ingredients containing gluten.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Look for a gluten-free label on the current packaging. When serving, use a separate plate and clean cutlery. | If a guest has coeliac disease, my main concern is keeping their biscuits away from crumbs containing gluten. Around 50% of consumers put gluten safety first. |
| Spritz shape and presentation | Decide whether another type of biscuit will do. If the piped shape matters, try the gluten-free dough in advance. | For the Halloween spread, I’d prefer a recognisable spritz-style biscuit rather than just any alternative. That shape is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Convenience and other allergens | Check the packaging and, where necessary, the listed ingredients and allergens. | When I need to shop quickly, I look for a suitable packaged biscuit that I can serve without baking. For around 20% of consumers, convenience, along with other dietary requirements, matters most. |
The shape tells you nothing about the ingredients: Verkade lists wheat flour in NoboSprits Melk.
For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a biscuit clearly labelled gluten-free on its current packaging. If baking your own, use ingredients explicitly labelled gluten-free.
Crumbs and serving cutlery can transfer from regular snacks to gluten-free biscuits.
Serve them on a separate plate or leave them wrapped, and use clean cutlery, in line with the advice of the Dutch Coeliac Society.
For AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including egg, soya and almond. So a gluten-free product won’t necessarily be suitable for someone with another food allergy.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guests and read the information on each product you choose.
A product listed online may not be in stock when your party takes place. Lidl says the availability of its additional gluten-free range may vary.
Check in good time that your chosen biscuits are available, and keep another clearly labelled gluten-free biscuit as a back-up.
Compare two different types of biscuit here: Oaties, which are sold as gluten-free oat biscuits, and NoboSprits Melk, a regular spritz biscuit.
AH Glutenvrij Koekjes amandel are a packaged biscuit alternative, not a spritz biscuit.
Jumbo has a range of gluten-free biscuits and snacks.
An option to consider if you’re looking for a different type of gluten-free party biscuit.
At PLUS, you can look for packaged gluten-free biscuits or find a recipe to bake your own.
A shop to check for gluten-free biscuits, rather than one to rely on for a particular type of spritz biscuit.
No. Verkade lists wheat flour as an ingredient in NoboSprits Melk and warns that the biscuit may contain other gluten-containing cereals. Don’t choose this product as a gluten-free biscuit for a guest with coeliac disease.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term gluten-free means a product contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Oats in a product presented as gluten-free must also meet specific conditions to avoid contamination with gluten-containing cereals. Check the label on the product you buy.
You can’t tell from its appearance alone. Look for a clear gluten-free label or symbol and read the current product label. The Dutch Coeliac Society also highlights the importance of avoiding cross-contamination.
Keep gluten-free biscuits separate from regular biscuits, using their own plate and clean serving cutlery, or leave them wrapped. This helps prevent crumbs or used cutlery from coming into contact with them, as advised by the Dutch Coeliac Society.
