If you want to serve a smaller filled almond biscuit to each person at Sunday breakfast, a pack that states the serving size is useful: Albert Heijn and Jumbo both list a 30 g serving for their mini versions. A standard canoe pastry is a better choice if you deliberately want to serve a larger biscuit; Jumbo’s butter canoe pastries, for example, have a serving size of 55 g. For either option, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and for the amount you’ll actually serve, and check the allergens for the version you choose.
You want to serve a filled almond biscuit with coffee or tea without immediately giving everyone a standard canoe pastry. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list a 30 g serving for their packaged mini versions, so you can decide in advance how much to serve each person.
You want to look beyond the word ‘mini’. For similar biscuits, compare the sugars, saturated fat and energy per 100 g, then consider how much will actually go on the plate. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing labels per 100 g.
If, for example, a guest needs to avoid almonds, gluten, milk or eggs, the ingredients list for the exact biscuit matters more than its size. For a version labelled ‘gluten-free’, also check which other allergens it contains.
First decide how much biscuit you want to serve each person, then check whether the pack gives a serving size in grams. Next, compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the remaining options: a mini filled almond biscuit and a standard canoe pastry don’t necessarily have the same serving size.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving size | The weight per serving and the number of servings or pieces in the pack. | If you want to set out one biscuit for everyone, you need to know how many grams you’re serving. For around 42% of consumers, serving size comes first. |
| Nutritional information | Sugars, saturated fat and energy per 100 g; then check the values for the amount on the plate. | If you want to compare two sweet biscuits, the ‘mini’ label alone—or serving values based on different serving sizes—won’t tell you much. Around 33% of consumers give nutritional information top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The allergens listed on the current pack for the exact version, including any ‘may contain’ statements. | If a guest needs to avoid a particular allergen, the biscuit you choose must meet their requirements, whatever its size. For around 25% of consumers, this is the first consideration. |
The difference in size is clear: Albert Heijn and Jumbo each list a 30 g serving for their packaged mini filled almond biscuits. Albert Heijn lists a 40 g serving for its fresh butter Picolientje, while Jumbo lists a 55 g serving for its butter canoe pastries. For PLUS Midi filled almond biscuits in a 270 g tray, check the number of pieces and the serving size on the pack before dividing them up.
A smaller biscuit makes it possible to serve a smaller amount, but that alone says nothing about its nutritional value per 100 g. You could also take several biscuits from an opened pack.
Compare similar products per 100 g, then decide how many pieces you actually want to serve.
Values per serving are difficult to compare directly when the serving sizes differ. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list a 30 g serving for their packaged mini versions; the AH butter Picolientje has a 40 g serving.
First use the values per 100 g as a like-for-like comparison, then consider the portion you’ll put on the table.
Jumbo lists almonds, eggs, lupin, milk and soya among the allergens in its gluten-free filled almond biscuit. So a gluten-free label won’t answer every question about allergens.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the exact version you’re buying.
A biscuit’s ingredients and information can change. This is especially important if you need to account for allergens or other dietary restrictions.
Check the physical pack again before serving the biscuits.
Albert Heijn sells packaged mini butter-filled almond biscuits and a fresh butter Picolientje. These are different products with different stated serving sizes.
Jumbo lists a 30 g serving for its mini butter-filled almond biscuits and a 55 g serving for its butter canoe pastries.
PLUS sells Midi filled almond biscuits in a 270 g tray, as well as individual mini butter-filled almond biscuits.
Lidl describes Sondey canoe pastries as butter pastries filled with almond paste, in a 325 g pack.
ALDI describes Heerlijck Banket canoe pastries as pastries shaped like canoes, in a 330 g pack.
You can’t tell from its smaller size. For similar products, compare the sugars, saturated fat and energy per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll actually serve. A 30 g serving contains less product than a 55 g serving, but that alone doesn’t tell you whether the biscuits differ in composition per 100 g.
If you want to control the amount, use the serving size on the chosen pack as a starting point. Albert Heijn and Jumbo both list a 30 g serving for their packaged mini versions. Check how many pieces that includes, then put the amount you’ve chosen on a small plate in advance.
Check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack for the exact version you’re serving. The size of a filled almond biscuit tells you nothing about whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy; even for a gluten-free version, check separately for any other relevant allergens.
Not necessarily. Jumbo lists almonds, eggs, lupin, milk and soya as allergens in its gluten-free filled almond biscuit. So read the full allergen information if any of these ingredients could be an issue for your guests.
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. The shelf-stable AH and Jumbo mini versions should be stored in a cool, dry place; Albert Heijn recommends keeping its mini biscuits in a sealed tin after opening. According to the product information, the fresh AH butter Picolientje is not suitable for home freezing.
