Who is this relevant to?

People filling 24 small compartments

You want to have a treat ready for every day. Check both the number of biscuits and the space taken up by each one, including its packaging.

People portioning treats themselves

You’re looking for small individual chocolate biscuits or biscuit bites and want to decide how many go in each compartment.

Families checking labels

You want to check the ingredients and allergens before filling the calendar. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods.

What should you look for?

First, measure a compartment with the intended packaging inside it. Then compare the number of usable portions with the number of days in the calendar, and only then choose the type of biscuit you want.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Space in each compartment Compare the internal dimensions of the compartment with one complete treat, including any wrapper or multipack packaging. If a compartment is small, I want to avoid squashing a wrapped biscuit. That’s why around 33% of consumers put portion fit first.
Number of daily portions Count the biscuits and the individually usable portions; a pack containing several biscuits is not the same as several separate wrappers. I want to fill every day in the calendar without having to find a different treat at the last minute. This is the main concern for around 27% of consumers.
Type of biscuit Check whether you’re buying a chocolate biscuit, a chocolate-coated biscuit bite or a mixed chocolate snack. If I want to give a recognisable chocolate biscuit every day, a mix containing other snacks doesn’t fit my plan. Around 20% of consumers give the type of biscuit their highest priority.
Ingredients and allergens Read the label on the pack you’re buying; if it’s a mix, check every variety and look at the use-by information too. When I’m filling a calendar for someone else, I want to know which ingredients and allergens are in each treat. This check matters most to around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘mini’ means individually wrapped

    A small biscuit may be loose in a bag or packed with other biscuits in a multipack. Dividing them up yourself takes time and may require extra packaging.

    Before buying, check whether you’ll get loose biscuits, small multipacks or individually wrapped biscuits.

  • Looking only at the size, not the quantity

    ALDI Nederland lists 20 Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes, packed in pairs. That doesn’t give you one individual biscuit for each of 24 compartments.

    Work out how many biscuits you want for each day, then compare the total with the number of biscuits and how they’re packaged.

  • Confusing a chocolate mix with a pack of chocolate biscuits

    Albert Heijn’s Chocolade mini’s mix contains a variety of snacks; having one biscuit variety in the mix doesn’t make the whole pack chocolate biscuits.

    Choose a mixed pack if variety fits your plan, or look for a single biscuit product if you want the same type of biscuit every day.

  • Relying on a product photo for ingredients and use-by information

    A photo of the front of the pack won’t show all the label information. What’s more, recipes may vary between varieties in a mixed pack.

    Read the current packaging before filling the calendar, and keep the label information for the person receiving the treats.

Brands worth considering

Verkade

An option if you want to divide loose biscuit bites between the compartments yourself.

  • Verkade describes its Bites Koekballetjes met Melkchocolade as pieces of biscuit coated in milk chocolate.
  • Check the number of pieces and whether your chosen portion, including any packaging, will fit in a compartment.

Lotus

A brand to consider if a stated piece count helps you plan.

  • Lotus Biscoff lists 28 pieces in its Mini Biscuits pack.
  • The name Mini Biscuits doesn’t mean they’re chocolate biscuits; check the variety if chocolate is a must.

Jumbo

An own-brand option for small biscuits with chocolate.

  • Jumbo describes its Mini Koekjes Choco Chip met Pure Chocolade as butter biscuits with dark chocolate pieces.
  • The pack weight alone doesn’t tell you how many individual portions you can make for the calendar.

ALDI / Biscotto

An option for comparing pack formats in advance.

  • ALDI Nederland lists six small packs for Biscotto Mini Biscuits and 20 Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes, packed in pairs.
  • The Mini Biscuits aren’t automatically chocolate biscuits; and 20 Chocoladekoekjes aren’t enough for 24 days if you want one biscuit a day.

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if individually wrapped, assorted mini snacks are also an option.

  • Albert Heijn describes its Chocolade mini’s mix as individually wrapped portions; the mix also contains a biscuit variety.
  • It isn’t a pack of chocolate biscuits only. Check the ingredients and allergens for every variety.

Lidl / Sondey

A brand to look out for in store if you’re after chocolate biscuits.

  • Lidl Nederland lists Sondey Choco Biscuits Melk in a 125 g pack.
  • Check the size, number of biscuits and pack format in store before assigning them to days in your calendar.

Products at Joybuy

These products offer a milk chocolate biscuit and a chocolate-flavoured biscuit bar as possible advent calendar treats. Measure the compartments and check the number of usable portions before planning them for individual days; the product name doesn’t confirm that they’re mini-sized.

Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g pack

Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g

Worth considering if you want to divide milk chocolate biscuits between the days in your calendar. The pack contains 150 g; check how many individual portions you can make and whether one portion will fit in a compartment.

View at Joybuy
Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor 47 g IN

Glico Pocky Cookie Bar Chocolate Flavor, 47 g IN

Worth considering if a chocolate-flavoured biscuit bar suits your calendar better than a classic round biscuit. The pack contains 47 g; check the number and size of the usable portions before assigning them to compartments.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How many biscuits do I need for 24 compartments?

For one biscuit a day, you’ll need 24 individual biscuits, provided they fit in the compartments. ALDI Nederland lists 20 Biscotto Chocoladekoekjes, packed in pairs: that’s four fewer than 24, and the biscuits aren’t individually wrapped.

Are mini biscuits always individually wrapped?

No. ‘Mini’ describes the size, not the way the biscuits are packaged. Check whether they’re loose, in small multipacks or individually wrapped, and measure the complete portion for your calendar.

How should I store biscuits after opening the pack?

Follow the storage advice on the pack you buy, and keep any unused biscuits well sealed. For its Mini Koekjes Choco Chip met Pure Chocolade, Jumbo recommends storing the biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place; don’t assume the same advice applies to other products without checking the label.

Where can I find the allergens in advent calendar treats?

According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods. Read the packaging of the product you actually buy, and check every variety in a mix before filling the compartments.