A standard spritz biscuit isn’t automatically a lower-sugar choice. Look for an explicit sugar-reduction claim and compare the sugars per 100 g with those in a similar standard spritz biscuit. For the standard spritz biscuits discussed here, Albert Heijn, Verkade, PLUS and Jumbo list between 21.4 and 28 g of sugars per 100 g. If you bake your own, you can decide how much sugar to add, but test an adapted recipe first.
You’re looking for a spritz biscuit or an alternative with a verifiable reduction in sugar to serve at Christmas or include in a gift hamper. A smaller biscuit or a different brand name isn’t enough: you want to be able to check the claim and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
You want to serve a familiar spritz biscuit and know in advance how many to put out per person. Albert Heijn, Verkade and PLUS list different amounts of sugars per 100 g for the varieties discussed here; portion size is a separate consideration.
You’re making spritz biscuits for Christmas and want to decide how much sugar to add to the dough. That means making a test batch: an adapted recipe may taste or bake differently from the original.
A packaged biscuit with a lower-sugar claim, a classic spritz biscuit and an adapted recipe you make yourself each meet different needs. First decide what matters most for your Christmas baking, then check the exact product or test the recipe.
When to choose it: Choose this option if a demonstrable sugar reduction matters more to you than the shape of a classic spritz biscuit.
Trade-off: Check that the claim specifically relates to sugar; choosing a different type of biscuit doesn’t make it a spritz biscuit.
When to choose them: Choose this option if you mainly want to serve a familiar spritz biscuit and plan your portions.
Trade-off: A smaller portion doesn’t change the sugars per 100 g or prove that the product contains less sugar.
When to choose this option: Choose it if you want to decide how much added sugar goes into your own recipe.
Trade-off: Test any changes on a small scale first; the taste and texture won’t necessarily be the same.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrably less sugar | Read what the claim relates to and compare the sugars per 100 g with those in a similar standard product. | If I want to choose a lower-sugar option for Christmas, the difference needs to be verifiable, not just down to a smaller portion. Around 42% of consumers prioritise a demonstrable sugar reduction. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Check the ingredients and the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for the exact product. | For guests with a food allergy, I first want to know whether the biscuit I’ve chosen is suitable, even if it carries a sugar claim. For around 33% of consumers, ingredients and allergens are the first things they consider. |
| Classic spritz biscuits and portions | Check the portion size as well as the sugars per 100 g, and keep the two measures separate. | For my Christmas table, I mainly want to serve a familiar spritz biscuit and decide how many to put out. That combination of choosing spritz biscuits and planning portions is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A smaller portion limits how much you eat at that time, but it doesn’t show that the biscuit contains less sugar than a similar spritz. For the standard varieties discussed here, Albert Heijn, Verkade, PLUS and Jumbo list between 21.4 and 28 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare the figures per 100 g. If you need a demonstrable sugar reduction, look for an explicit claim that relates to sugar.
Added sugars and the total amount of sugars are two different figures on the label. And a biscuit labelled this way isn’t automatically a spritz biscuit.
Read the ingredients and compare the sugars and energy per 100 g in the products you’re actually considering.
The spritz varieties discussed here include ingredients such as wheat and milk; other ingredients and allergens vary by product. Recipes can also change.
Check the packaging for the exact variety before baking for guests or putting biscuits out to serve.
Adding less sugar can change the taste, colour and texture of homemade spritz biscuits. The basic PLUS recipe hasn’t been tested as a lower-sugar recipe.
Bake a small test batch well before Christmas, and make a note of how much sugar or sweetener you used before making a larger batch.
Compare the exact spritz variety: another biscuit from the same brand may have a different composition or claim.
Worth considering if you want to compare Nobo Sprits Original with an alternative.
Offers several spritz varieties, each with its own nutritional information.
A useful point of comparison for spritz varieties, including Lunetta with cocoa and icing.
Offers both packaged spritz biscuits and a basic recipe for anyone who wants to bake their own.
An option if you’re looking for butter spritz biscuits.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘light’ can refer to energy, fat or sugar, so check the packaging to see exactly what has been reduced. If you’re looking to cut down on sugar, also compare the sugars per 100 g with those in a similar standard biscuit.
Not based on size alone. A smaller biscuit can reduce how much sugar you eat in one sitting, but it doesn’t change the nutritional information per 100 g. If an explicit sugar-reduction claim is a requirement for your purchase, check for one.
Check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information per 100 g, pack size, best-before date and storage instructions for the exact biscuits you’re serving. If any guests have a food allergy, also check the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements.
Yes. Read the ingredients to see which sweeteners have been used. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that a high intake of polyols can cause wind and diarrhoea, so also check the portion size of the biscuit you choose.
