If chocolate is your priority
If you want chocolate to take centre stage on your sharing platter, a chocolate-coated biscuit could be a good choice, even if that means giving up the kano shape and almond paste filling.
Which option is right for you?
If you want to serve classic kano pastries
If your guests are expecting kano pastries filled with almond paste, a classic version is the obvious choice. Check separately whether the product you choose also has a chocolate coating.
If you need to consider allergens
When serving a shared platter, keep the labels for all the products you’ve chosen to hand. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list allergens in their kano pastries including almonds, egg, milk, gluten-containing ingredients and soya.
What should you look for when choosing?
Classic kano pastries
Choose this option: if kano pastries filled with almond paste are the starting point for your sharing platter.
The trade-off: don’t assume they have a chocolate coating unless you can see it on the pack you’ve chosen.
Chocolate-coated biscuits
Choose this option: if chocolate matters more to you than the kano shape and filling.
The trade-off: a coated biscuit or wafer isn’t a kano pastry filled with almond paste.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate coating | Check that the product name and ingredients confirm both the type of biscuit you want and the chocolate coating. | If chocolate is the main thing for me, I’d rather choose a coated biscuit than a classic kano pastry without a coating. Around 38% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Kano pastries and portions | Compare the almond paste filling, net weight and stated number of pieces or portions. Jumbo lists five portions for 275 g. | I want to serve recognisable kano pastries filled with almond paste and plan enough portions. Around 37% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Allergens | Check the current ingredients and allergen information on every pack, including any warnings about possible traces. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check what I’m putting on the shared platter. This matters most to around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Calling a chocolate biscuit a kano pastry
The chocolate-coated biscuits and wafers described by Verkade don’t automatically have the shape or almond paste filling of a kano pastry.
If you specifically want to serve chocolate-coated kano pastries, check the full product name and packaging. Otherwise, make a deliberate choice between classic kano pastries and chocolate biscuits.
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Assuming allergens based on the type of biscuit
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list several allergens for their kano pastries; ingredients and warnings can vary from product to product.
Read the label on every pack you buy, and keep the packaging by the shared platter so guests who need the information can check it.
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Comparing pack weight alone
Weight doesn’t tell you how many individual biscuits or stated portions you can serve. Jumbo, for example, lists five portions for 275 g; ALDI also lists a 14-piece pack of Mini-kano’s.
Before your get-together, check both the net weight and the number of pieces or portions on the pack.
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Leaving opened biscuits uncovered
For biscuits, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed pack.
Keep the biscuits sealed until you’re ready to serve them, and follow any storage instructions on the pack.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Roomboter kano’s are a classic option filled with almond paste.
- Albert Heijn lists a pack weight of 270 g and 41% almond paste filling.
- A chocolate coating isn’t listed among this product’s features. Check the label for allergen information.
Jumbo
Jumbo Kano’s met Roomboter list the number of portions, which can help you plan your platter.
- Jumbo lists a pack weight of 275 g, five portions and 38% almond paste filling.
- This product isn’t described as a chocolate-coated kano pastry; check the allergen information too.
Heerlijck Banket / ALDI
ALDI lists Kano’s at 330 g and Mini-kano’s in a 14-piece, 308 g pack.
- The listed pack sizes give you different quantities to compare with the size of your group.
- Check the pack itself to see whether your chosen version has a chocolate coating and which allergens it contains.
Sondey / Lidl
Lidl lists Sondey Kano’s as a kano product.
- Before choosing this version, check the pack for ingredients, allergens, quantity and whether it has a chocolate coating.
Verkade
Verkade describes chocolate-coated biscuits and wafers for anyone who’d rather serve chocolate than classic kano pastries.
- According to Verkade’s product descriptions, Choco S’mores Kokos and Chocowafel Karamel are coated in milk chocolate.
- These products aren’t kano pastries; check the ingredients and allergens on each pack you choose.
Chocolate-coated alternatives on Joybuy
These products suit a sharing platter where chocolate takes centre stage: they’re wafers or biscuit alternatives, not kano pastries filled with almond paste. Use the number of pieces to plan, and check the allergens on the pack before serving.
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Nestle Kitkat Strawberry Short Cake, 9 pieces, 104,4 g
An alternative if you’d like to serve a chocolate-coated wafer at your get-together instead of kano pastries filled with almond paste.
The product name lists nine pieces and a total weight of 104,4 g. Check the current allergen information on the pack.
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Kahve Dunyasi Gofrik Pistachio Paste Milk Chocolate, 10 × 12,5 g
A chocolate-coated alternative for anyone who doesn’t need a kano shape or almond paste filling.
The product name lists ten portions of 12,5 g each. Before sharing, check the current allergen information and any warnings on the pack.
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KitKat Gold Wafer Chocolate Salted Caramel Flavor, 9 pieces
A chocolate-coated wafer for a platter of individually wrapped pieces, rather than for guests specifically expecting kano pastries filled with almond paste.
The product name lists nine pieces. Check the current label: the product information lists wheat, milk and soya, and says it may contain egg, almonds and sesame.
Frequently asked questions
Is a chocolate-coated biscuit the same as a chocolate-coated kano pastry?
No. A chocolate-coated biscuit or wafer doesn’t automatically have the shape and almond paste filling of a kano pastry. If you’re specifically looking for chocolate-coated kano pastries, check both details on the product name and packaging.
How can I make sure I have enough kano pastries for the neighbourhood get-together?
Check the number of pieces or stated portions, not just the pack weight. Jumbo lists five portions for 275 g; ALDI also lists Mini-kano’s in a 14-piece pack. Choose based on the number of guests, and check the allergens before filling your platter.
Where can I check the allergens in the biscuits?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of every product you serve, including any warnings about possible traces. Keep the packaging by the shared platter so guests can check the listed ingredients for themselves.
How should I store the biscuits until the get-together?
Store biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a tightly sealed pack, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen.