If you want to portion them in advance
If you’re setting out biscuits for each table or coffee round, individual packs and stated serving sizes can help you plan. Just check how many biscuits each individual pack actually contains.
Who does the format make a difference to?
If you’re putting out a sharing plate
Loose mini stroopwafels and small speculaas biscuits let guests help themselves to a biscuit with their coffee. You can decide in advance how many to put on the plate.
If you need to consider ingredients
If you’re buying for guests with an allergy or dietary preference, check each product individually. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the label, so it’s important to check the current packaging before serving.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning in advance | Check the number of individual packs and biscuits in each pack, or the stated serving size. | If I want to set out a specific amount for each coffee round, I don’t want to assume that one pack contains just one biscuit. Around 36% of consumers prioritise being able to portion them out predictably. |
| Serving with coffee | Choose between loose mini stroopwafels, small speculaas biscuits and filled biscuits. | For a plate next to the coffee, I’m looking for a small biscuit that guests can help themselves to. This serving format is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging. | If I’m buying for guests with different dietary requirements, I need to be able to check what’s in each biscuit. This is the most important consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check just before buying that the format you want is available at the shop in question. | If I’m shopping for a planned coffee break, I don’t want to rely on a temporary in-store product. Around 14% of consumers give availability the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming an individual pack contains one biscuit
According to ALDI Supermarkets, a pack of Biscotto Mini Biscuits contains six biscuits. Jumbo lists a 24 g nutritional serving for its mini stroopwafels; that doesn’t mean one waffle is one serving.
Decide how many biscuits you want to offer each guest, then compare that with the number in each individual pack or the full packet.
-
Confusing a vegan label with being allergen-free
Joybuy describes the 250 g pack of Lotus Biscoff speculaas biscuits as suitable for vegans, while the product information also lists wheat and soya. So that label doesn’t tell you which allergens a guest needs to avoid.
Ask which ingredients are relevant and check the current ingredients list and allergen information for every product before serving.
-
Relying on a temporary in-store product
Lidl offers some of its mini biscuit range during specific promotional periods. A product you saw before may not be available when you want to buy it.
Check the shop’s information shortly before your coffee break and choose another suitable format if needed.
Brands to compare
Lotus Biscoff
Small speculaas biscuits to enjoy with coffee, plus a separate range of filled sandwich biscuits.
- According to Joybuy, the 250 g pack of speculaas biscuits contains around 32 biscuits, which makes it easier to plan if you’re serving them individually.
- The filled sandwich biscuits are a different variety. Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack; Joybuy lists wheat and soya for the speculaas biscuits.
Jumbo
Own-brand mini stroopwafels to serve loose on a plate.
- For its 300 g pack of Mini Stroopwafels met Roomboter, Jumbo lists a 24 g serving and around twelve servings.
- A stated nutritional serving doesn’t tell you how many waffles to offer each guest. The ingredients information lists wheat, milk and soya.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand mini stroopwafels, including a salted caramel variety.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists a 200 g pack, a serving size of 8 g and 25 servings.
- Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergy information can change. So be sure to check the current packaging for this variety too.
Biscotto
ALDI own-brand mini biscuits in individual packs, as well as mini stroopwafels.
- ALDI Supermarkets lists six individual packs of six biscuits in the 225 g pack of Biscotto Mini Biscuits.
- That means one individual pack isn’t the same as one biscuit per guest. Check the current in-store information for the variety you want.
Sondey
Lidl own-brand biscuits, including Mini star biscuits.
- Another mini biscuit variety to consider if you’re choosing in store.
- Lidl’s mini biscuit range is sold in store during specific periods. Check availability shortly before buying.
Biscuits for coffee on Joybuy
These biscuits are options for a plate with coffee or for handing out in advance. For the two LU varieties, note the difference between a clearly stated mini format and a biscuit you’ll need to assess by checking the packaging and how you plan to portion it.
Image unavailable
Lotus Biscoff speculaas biscuits, 250 g
For a plate of biscuits you can serve individually with coffee.
According to Joybuy, the 250 g pack contains around 32 biscuits. The product information lists wheat and soya; if you have an allergy, check the current packaging.
Image unavailable
Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
A chocolate biscuit to consider if you want to hand out biscuits in advance for a coffee round.
The pack contains 150 g. Check how many biscuits you want to offer each guest, and read the label if you have an allergy.
Image unavailable
Lu Bastogne Mini Biscuits, 160 g
The mini format is a good fit if you want to put loose biscuits out on a plate with coffee.
The pack contains 160 g. If you want to portion them out for each guest in advance, check the number of biscuits on the pack. If you have an allergy, check the label too.
Frequently asked questions
Does one mini biscuit or individual pack automatically count as one portion per guest?
No. Decide how many biscuits you want to offer and check what the pack actually contains. According to ALDI Supermarkets, Biscotto Mini Biscuits come in six packs of six biscuits; Jumbo lists a 24 g nutritional serving for its mini stroopwafels, not a set number of waffles per guest.
What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?
Before serving, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current packaging for each biscuit. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that labels must list fourteen allergens. Don’t rely solely on the small size or an online product description.
Does vegan also mean free from wheat or soya?
No. Joybuy describes the 250 g pack of Lotus Biscoff speculaas biscuits as suitable for vegans, but also lists wheat and soya in the product information. Check vegan suitability and allergens to avoid separately on the packaging.
Which ingredients information should I use if I buy the biscuits in store later?
Use the current packaging when you buy and serve the biscuits. Albert Heijn points out that information about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change. An online description is useful for comparing products in advance, but it doesn’t replace the label.
How can I plan a coffee break around mini biscuits bought in store?
Shortly before buying, check that the product you want is available at the shop in question. Lidl offers some of its mini biscuit range during specific periods, so have another suitable biscuit format in mind if you’re relying on it.