If you want to serve small brunch bites
You’re looking for a thin base that lets the toppings take centre stage. Wasa describes its Delicate Crisp Sesame & Sea Salt as extra thin, but check that wheat and sesame are suitable for your guests.
Who are you choosing it for?
If you’re after a rustic wholegrain base
You want crispbread for a breakfast or lunch dish where the toppings provide the flavour. Albert Heijn lists Leksands Knäcke original as containing 97% wholegrain rye flour; rye contains gluten.
If you need to cater for dietary requirements
You’re choosing something for a guest who needs a product explicitly labelled gluten-free or lactose-free. Even then, check the current label for other allergens and warnings that may matter to your guest.
What should you look for?
First, check which ingredients and allergens matter to your guests. Then decide whether you want crispbread that’s a thin base for toppings or a rustic breakfast option.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance and flavour | Check the thickness and size for your toppings; look out for flavourings such as sesame, and compare the salt content per 100 g for salted varieties. | When I’m serving small bites, I want the toppings to be visible and the cracker’s flavour to complement them. Around 40% of consumers prioritise appearance and flavour. |
| Wholegrain base | Check which grains are listed in the ingredients and compare the nutrition information per 100 g if fibre is a factor in your choice. | For breakfast with toppings, I’d rather choose a familiar rye base than a strongly flavoured cracker. Around 30% of consumers prioritise a wholegrain base. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Check the required label, ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings on the current packaging. | When a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in both the cracker and the toppings. Around 30% of consumers make this their first priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming gluten-free means allergen-free
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you anything about other allergens. According to Wasa, Wasa Gluten- & Lactose Vrij Sesame & Sea Salt contains sesame; the brand also warns that it may contain traces of milk.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging for each guest, even if the label on the front looks suitable.
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Assuming all crispbread is made with iodised baker’s salt
Voedingscentrum explains how iodised baker’s salt in bread contributes to iodine intake in the Netherlands. This doesn’t tell you which salt is used in a particular crispbread product.
If the type of salt matters to your buying decision, check the product information or ask the manufacturer.
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Relying on a product page you viewed earlier
If a guest has an allergy or dietary restriction, the ingredients on the packaging of the product you serve are what matter.
Read the label again before putting the crackers and toppings on the table.
Brands compared
Wasa
Wasa’s product information includes both thin crispbread varieties and a separate variety labelled gluten-free and lactose-free.
- Wasa says its Delicate Crisp Sesame & Sea Salt is extra thin and made with wholegrain wheat flour.
- The varieties have different ingredients; for example, the sesame variety labelled gluten-free still contains sesame.
Leksands
Leksands Knäcke original is a rye option for anyone looking to serve a rustic base at brunch.
- Albert Heijn lists this variety as containing 97% wholegrain rye flour, alongside water, yeast and salt.
- This rye variety contains gluten, so it isn’t suitable for guests who need to eat gluten-free.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s crispbread range includes own-brand and other brands, making it easy to compare them side by side.
- The range includes AH Knäckebröd volkoren, Wasa varieties and Leksands rye crispbread.
- Compare the ingredients and nutrition information on each individual pack; the range overview doesn’t mean the varieties are interchangeable.
Bolletje
Bolletje is another brand to compare with the Scandinavian crispbread varieties.
- Albert Heijn describes Bolletje Oerknäck as robust wholegrain crispbread in its range.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each Bolletje variety rather than assuming that what applies to one variety applies to the rest.
Crispbread for brunch on Joybuy
These products offer different bases for brunch toppings: a thin sesame cracker, rye and wholegrain varieties, and a light, crisp option. If a guest has dietary requirements, only choose a product after checking the information on its packaging.
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Wasa Thin Crisp Sesame 190 g
A thin sesame cracker for small bites with visible toppings. The Joybuy product description lists wholegrain wheat flour, sesame and sea salt; check the packaging if ingredients or allergens matter to your guests.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers 235 g
A rye variety to consider if you’re looking for a rustic base for brunch toppings. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before serving it to guests with dietary requirements.
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Wasa Wholegrain Crispbread 260 g
A wholegrain variety for anyone who’d rather choose their own toppings than opt for a cracker with a strong flavouring. Check the packaging to see which grains and allergens this variety contains.
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g'woon Wholemeal Crispbread 375 g
A wholemeal option in a 375 g pack if you want to serve crispbread with several different toppings. Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before choosing this variety for your guests.
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Bolletje Light Crispbread Golden Crisp 240 g
An alternative if you want a light, crisp base for brunch toppings. Don’t assume that ‘Light’ in the name makes a nutritional claim; compare the nutrition information and check the allergens on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is gluten-free crispbread suitable for someone with another allergy?
Not necessarily: a gluten-free label doesn’t cover other allergens. For example, Wasa lists sesame and possible traces of milk for Gluten- & Lactose Vrij Sesame & Sea Salt. Check the current packaging for anything that matters to the guest in question.
Should I choose the crispbread or the toppings first for a Mother’s Day platter?
First decide how you want to serve the bites: thin crispbread works well for small, open sandwiches, while rustic rye offers a different base for breakfast or lunch. Then check that the ingredients in both the cracker and the toppings are suitable for your guests.
Does crispbread always contain iodine from baker’s salt?
Don’t assume this is the case for an individual product. Voedingscentrum describes iodised baker’s salt as a source of iodine in Dutch bread; check the product information or ask the manufacturer which salt is used in the crispbread you’re planning to buy.