Who might this choice be relevant to?

Sugar-conscious kano fans

If you want to cut down on added sugar, check the total sugars per 100 g too. A biscuit with no added sugars is a different type of product from a kano with almond paste filling.

Fans of the classic kano

If you’re looking for a butter pastry with almond paste to enjoy with a coffee or serve as a treat, the filling may matter more to you than reducing sugar. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 36.8 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g for their standard kano pastries.

Shoppers checking ingredients and portions

If you need to avoid certain allergens or keep track of your carbohydrate intake, read the information for the specific version you’ve chosen. A claim about added sugars doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates a portion contains.

What should you look for when choosing?

Standard kano with almond paste

A good fit if: the butter pastry and almond paste filling are what matter most to you.

The trade-off: Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 36.8 to 39 g of sugars per 100 g for their kano pastries.

Biscuit with no added sugars

A good fit if: avoiding added sugars matters more to you than having a kano with almond paste filling.

The trade-off: Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, not a filled kano; Verkade lists maltitols among its ingredients.

Bake your own kano pastries

A good fit if: you want to keep the kano shape and decide for yourself how much sugar to add to the dough and filling.

The trade-off: Weekend Bakery’s traditional recipe includes sugar in the dough, and almonds and sugar in the filling. Changes may affect the baking results.

What to consider What should you check? Who does this matter to?
Sugars Compare the total sugars per 100 g and, if the product makes a sugar claim, read the ingredients list too. If I want to limit added sugar, I need to know how much sugar the product contains overall, even when the packaging says ‘no added sugars’. For around 42% of consumers, this sugar trade-off is the deciding factor.
Shape and filling Check whether the product really is a kano with almond paste filling, or an unfilled biscuit. For my treat, I want the familiar kano with almond paste filling, not just a biscuit to have with my coffee. This product shape comes first for around 33% of consumers.
Allergens and portion Read the allergen information and, if carbohydrates matter to your choice, the nutritional values per portion. I want to be able to check whether this particular version suits my dietary requirements and how many carbohydrates my portion contains. Around 25% of consumers put this check ahead of their other shopping priorities.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    These terms don’t mean the same thing. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero and includes maltitols as an ingredient.

    As well as checking the front of the pack, read the ‘of which sugars’ figure, total carbohydrates, portion size and ingredients.

  • Using a biscuit as a like-for-like kano substitute

    A biscuit without almond paste filling isn’t the same type of product as a kano with almond paste. This matters if you want to serve a particular kind of treat or adapt a kano recipe.

    First decide whether the filling or avoiding added sugars matters more to you. If you want to keep the kano shape and choose the recipe yourself, you can bake your own.

  • Comparing nutritional values for different portion sizes

    A value per portion can’t be compared directly with one per 100 g. For example, Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g and 20.2 g per 55 g portion for its kano pastries.

    Compare products per 100 g first, then check the size of the portion you’ll actually have.

  • Overlooking allergens in the version you’ve chosen

    Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s kano pastries list wheat, milk, egg, soya and almonds, among other ingredients. Verkade’s biscuit lists wheat, milk and soya.

    Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact product you’ve chosen.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

AH Roomboter kano's are filled butter pastries; Albert Heijn lists 41% almond paste filling.

  • Albert Heijn lists ingredients and nutritional values, including 39 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The same product information lists 38 g of added sugars per 100 g and ingredients including wheat, soya, milk, egg and almonds.

Jumbo

Jumbo Kano's met Roomboter are butter pastries with 38% almond paste filling, according to Jumbo.

  • Jumbo gives sugar values per 100 g and per 55 g portion.
  • Jumbo lists 36.8 g of sugars per 100 g and 20.2 g per portion; the ingredients include wheat, milk, soya, egg and almonds, among others.

PLUS

PLUS Roomboter kano's are a standard kano option with almond paste filling.

  • PLUS lists both total and added sugars per 100 g.
  • According to PLUS, the product contains 38.9 g of sugars and 38.5 g of added sugars per 100 g; check the allergen information too.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit that Verkade describes as having ‘no added sugars’, not as a kano with almond paste filling.

  • Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit.
  • According to Verkade, it contains maltitols, wheat, milk and soya. A biscuit isn’t a substitute for a filled kano.

Sondey

Lidl describes Sondey Kano's as butter pastries filled with almond paste, in a 325 g pack.

  • The product description makes it clear that these are filled kano pastries.
  • If you want to compare the sugar content of this version, check the nutritional information on the pack.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are standard kano pastries a good choice if I want less sugar?

Don’t assume they contain less sugar based on the product name. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list 39 g, 36.8 g and 38.9 g of sugars per 100 g respectively for their standard kano pastries. Compare other versions using their own nutritional information.

Is a biscuit with no added sugars also sugar-free?

No, that description doesn’t mean the product contains no sugars at all. Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g for San Francisco Zero. Check the carbohydrates and ingredients too if they’re relevant to your choice.

Can I use a biscuit instead of a kano?

Not if you’re expecting the same filled pastry: Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit, while standard kano pastries from retailers including Jumbo are butter pastries with almond paste filling. If the kano shape and filling matter for your treat, choose a kano or bake one yourself.

Which ingredients need extra attention?

Check the allergens in the specific version before you choose. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s kano pastries list wheat, milk, egg, soya and almonds, among other ingredients; Verkade lists wheat, milk and soya for San Francisco Zero.