Who should consider this choice?

Host with a guest who has coeliac disease

You’re looking for a separate treat for your guest and checking the gluten-free label on the current packaging. A biscuit’s name or shape isn’t enough.

Home baker who wants to keep the spritz shape

You want to make piped biscuits rather than serve a different type. Heel Holland Bakt’s recipe for gluten-free Viennese Whirls has a spritz-like shape and calls for certified gluten-free flour and ground almonds, as well as care to avoid cross-contamination.

Shopper putting together a shared biscuit platter

You want to serve a gluten-free-labelled biscuit alongside the regular biscuits without taking on a separate baking project. Check the label of each product you choose and keep the treats separate.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out what you can safely offer your guest with coeliac disease. Then choose between the convenience of a different type of biscuit and the extra effort of baking spritz-style biscuits yourself.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Suitable for someone with coeliac disease Check the current packaging for an explicit ‘gluten-free’ label and the allergen information for that exact product. If I’m buying for a guest with coeliac disease, I don’t want to rely on a familiar spritz shape or brand name. For around 50% of consumers, checking the label comes first.
Spritz-style shape If you’re baking, choose certified gluten-free basic ingredients and use equipment free from gluten residue. If you enjoy serving piped biscuits, you’ll want to keep the familiar shape and may be able to make time for baking. For around 30% of consumers, this is the top priority.
Convenience when shopping Look for a gluten-free-labelled biscuit alternative and check the packaging of your chosen product and local availability. If I’m short on preparation time, I want to be able to serve a separate biscuit without baking it myself. Around 20% of consumers prioritise convenience.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Assuming a familiar spritz biscuit is gluten-free

    Albert Heijn lists wheat flour, wheat and cereals containing gluten for Verkade Nobo Sprits naturel. The regular variety is therefore not a gluten-free treat.

    For a guest with coeliac disease, choose a separate product with an explicit gluten-free label on its current packaging, and keep it away from regular spritz biscuits.

  • Looking only at the recipe title when baking gluten-free

    The ingredients and preparation matter too. For its spritz-style Viennese Whirls, Heel Holland Bakt calls for certified gluten-free flour and ground almonds to help prevent cross-contamination.

    Check every ingredient individually and use clean baking equipment and a clean work surface.

  • Relying on an online range without checking the packaging

    The biscuit shown online may be a different variety from the one you eventually pick up in store. An online range also doesn’t tell you what’s available at your local shop.

    Check local availability before Sinterklaas Eve and read the packaging of your chosen product when you buy it.

  • Overlooking other allergies

    A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable for someone with another food allergy.

    If other guests will be eating too, read the full ingredients and allergen information for them as well.

Brands and shops to explore

Verkade

Verkade sells regular spritz biscuits as well as other types of biscuits marketed as gluten-free; check each product individually.

  • Albert Heijn lists Verkade Glutenvrije Oaties as a biscuit alternative, not as a spritz biscuit.
  • According to Albert Heijn, Verkade Nobo Sprits naturel contains wheat flour and lists wheat and cereals containing gluten.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists various types of gluten-free biscuits for anyone looking for a ready-made alternative.

  • The online range includes AH Glutenvrij Speculaas and gluten-free syrup waffles.
  • Another type of gluten-free biscuit isn’t automatically a spritz biscuit; check the label of the product you choose.

Jumbo

The Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten range offers biscuit alternatives for a Sinterklaas platter.

  • The range includes gluten-free speculaas and syrup waffles.
  • These types of biscuits don’t have the spritz shape; check the current packaging and availability.

PLUS

PLUS lists a gluten-free biscuit alternative for anyone who doesn’t want to bake.

  • The gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are a different type of biscuit.
  • They aren’t spritz biscuits; if you’re concerned about other allergies, check the rest of the allergen information too.

ALDI

ALDI lists gluten-free rice cookies as a ready-made alternative.

  • ALDI describes Trader Joe's Rice Cookies as gluten-free rice cookies.
  • Rice cookies aren’t spritz biscuits; check the packaging of the product you buy.

Lidl

Lidl provides information about its gluten-free range, though other products may vary.

  • The range information can be a useful starting point when looking for gluten-free products.
  • On the page consulted, Lidl said that additional gluten-free products weren’t available at the time; check the current range.

Joybuy products for this occasion

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular spritz biscuits gluten-free?

Not necessarily: according to Albert Heijn, Verkade Nobo Sprits naturel contains wheat flour and lists wheat and cereals containing gluten. Don’t choose this variety as a gluten-free treat for someone with coeliac disease.

What does ‘gluten-free’ on packaging mean?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, a product can be labelled this way if it contains less than 20 mg of gluten per kg of product. Check that the label appears on the current packaging of the biscuit you choose.

Can I bake gluten-free spritz-style biscuits myself?

Yes. For example, you could follow Heel Holland Bakt’s recipe for gluten-free spritz-style Viennese Whirls. Use the certified gluten-free flour and certified gluten-free ground almonds specified in the recipe, and take care to prevent cross-contamination while baking.

What should I do to help prevent cross-contamination when baking?

Use certified gluten-free basic ingredients, clean equipment and clean work surfaces. For its Viennese Whirl recipe, Heel Holland Bakt also recommends avoiding the fan setting if the oven is used for products containing gluten; changing the oven setting alone doesn’t replace the other precautions.

Why should I check the label again if I’ve already viewed the biscuit online?

The packaging of the product you buy is the final check for its ingredients and allergens. Compare it with the product you chose online, especially if you’re shopping for a guest with coeliac disease or someone with another allergy.