Parents looking for less sugar
You want to choose something to serve after baking that’s supported by its nutritional information, without treating an ordinary kano as a low-sugar option.
Who is this choice for?
Families who want to bake together
Children can join in by adding ingredients, stirring, cutting out shapes and decorating. A ready-made kano doesn’t offer that baking activity.
Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens
If children with different dietary needs will be sharing the food, check the latest packaging for allergens and any sweeteners before serving it.
What should you consider when choosing?
Ordinary kano pastries
When: Choose a kano if its shape and almond paste filling matter more to you than reducing sugar.
Trade-off: It’s a ready-made biscuit; the varieties reviewed aren’t a well-supported low-sugar choice.
A different type of biscuit
When: A ready-made biscuit will do, and you don’t need the kano shape or filling.
Trade-off: A biscuit with no added sugar isn’t a kano; check the sugars in the nutrition table too, as well as any sweetener warnings.
Bake biscuits yourself
When: The aim is to mix, cut out shapes and decorate together.
Trade-off: Sugar also affects texture and colour. Use a recipe developed to contain less sugar rather than changing a standard recipe at random.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare sugars per 100 g and check the serving size separately. Read any claim about reduced sugar alongside information about the comparable product. | If I’m serving biscuits after baking, I want to be able to judge whether the sugar content really suits my choice. For around 50% of consumers, choosing with sugar in mind comes first. |
| Baking together | Decide whether you’re looking for a ready-made biscuit or a recipe with tasks children can help with. | If mixing, cutting out shapes and decorating are the highlights of the afternoon, I don’t want a shop-bought biscuit to replace the activity. Around 30% of consumers prioritise baking together. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest allergen information. For biscuits containing sweeteners, check the ingredients and any usage warnings too. | If several children will be sharing the food, I want to know in advance which ingredients matter to them. For around 20% of consumers, these checks are the top priority. |
Common pitfalls
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Assuming a smaller portion means a lower-sugar kano
A smaller portion doesn’t change the nutritional value per 100 g. Jumbo, Albert Heijn and PLUS list 36.8 g, 37 g and 37.6 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for the kano pastries mentioned.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read any reduction claim in relation to the comparable product.
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Treating a biscuit as the same kind of product
A biscuit with no added sugar doesn’t automatically have the shape or almond paste filling of a kano.
Before buying, decide whether you’re mainly looking for the kano experience or a different type of biscuit with nutritional information that suits you.
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Overlooking warnings and allergens
For Verkade San Francisco Zero, the product information lists maltitols and a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess. The ordinary kano pastries mentioned contain various allergens.
Before children share the food, check the latest packaging for allergens, sweeteners and usage warnings.
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Leaving sugar out of a recipe without making other adjustments
According to Laura's Bakery, sugar affects not only sweetness but also texture, colour and the baking result.
For your baking session, choose a recipe already designed to contain less or no refined sugar.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists its own-brand butter kano pastries in a 270 g pack.
- The product information lists ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
- The stated 37 g of sugars per 100 g doesn’t support choosing it as a low-sugar kano.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists butter kano pastries with 38% almond paste filling in a 275 g pack.
- The shape and filling suit anyone specifically looking for an ordinary kano.
- The product information lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g and various allergens.
Aviateur
PLUS lists kano pastries from Aviateur with a 46% almond paste filling.
- The product information gives details of the filling and nutritional value.
- PLUS lists 37.6 g of sugars per 100 g; check the allergen information too.
Verkade
San Francisco Zero is a biscuit alternative, not a kano with almond paste filling.
- For this product, Albert Heijn lists the claim ‘no added sugar’ and 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The product information mentions maltitols and a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.
Heerlijck Banket
ALDI lists Heerlijck Banket kano pastries in a 330 g pack.
- The product listing makes clear that these are kano pastries.
- Check the latest packaging for sugar content, ingredients and allergens.
Ready-made biscuit alternatives on Joybuy
These biscuits and cookie bars are for anyone considering a ready-made alternative to a kano. They won’t replace baking together; check any sugar claims against the latest packaging and nutritional information.
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Panpan Low GI Sugar-Free Oat High Fiber Biscuits, 216 g
A ready-made biscuit for anyone who doesn’t necessarily want a kano. The product name states that the pack contains 216 g. Don’t take the ‘Sugar-Free’ wording as proof that the product contains no sugars; check the latest nutritional information.
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Organix Bio Farm Animal Biscuits, 100 g
A ready-made biscuit for when you don’t need the kano shape or almond paste filling. The product name states that the pack contains 100 g; check the latest ingredients and nutritional information if the source of the sugars or any allergens matter to you.
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g'woon Cookie Bars Less Sugar, 6 pieces
A ready-made cookie bar for anyone considering a different shape from a kano. The product name states that the pack contains six pieces; check the latest packaging to see what ‘Less Sugar’ means for this variety.
Frequently asked questions
Are ordinary kano pastries a low-sugar choice?
The kano pastries mentioned from Jumbo, Albert Heijn and Aviateur aren’t a well-supported choice if you’re specifically looking for less sugar. Their product information lists 36.8 g, 37 g and 37.6 g of sugars per 100 g respectively. Compare another variety using the latest nutritional information and any relevant claim.
When can a product claim to have a reduced sugar content?
According to the EU rules published by EUR-Lex, a ‘reduced sugars’ claim requires at least 30% fewer sugars than a comparable product. The energy content must also be equal to or lower than that of the comparable product. So, simply having a lower figure than some other biscuit doesn’t prove that the claim is valid.
Does ‘no added sugar’ also mean sugar-free?
No, they’re different claims. Albert Heijn describes Verkade San Francisco Zero as having ‘no added sugar’, but also lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g. So check both the exact claim and the nutrition table.
Can I simply leave sugar out of a biscuit recipe?
Not without allowing for a different baking result. According to Laura's Bakery, sugar also affects texture and colour, so it’s better to choose a recipe developed specifically to contain less or no refined sugar.
How can children help with baking biscuits?
Depending on their age, children can add ingredients, stir, handle the dough, cut out shapes and decorate. Rutger Bakt suggests these as ways to get children involved; choose tasks that suit their abilities and supervise them while they bake.