For Christmas baking where you want to decide whether to add sugar, plain oats make a neutral base. Choose fine or finely ground oats for an even dough, and jumbo oats when you want the oats to remain visible. Check the sugar content separately if the oat product itself must meet the sugar-free claim; no added sugar does not mean it contains no naturally occurring sugars.
If you want to decide whether to add sugar to Christmas biscuits or muffins, oats with no sugar as an ingredient are a useful starting point. Check the other ingredients in the recipe too if you want to make a claim about the finished bake as a whole.
For an even dough, choose fine oats or grind the flakes finely. If you want visible oat flakes in a crumble or bar, a jumbo variety is a more suitable choice.
Regular oats are not automatically suitable for people with coeliac disease. The Dutch Coeliac Society recommends oats from a certified gluten-free range, so check the packaging for this information.
First, decide whether you want a product with no added sugar or one that meets the sugar-free claim. Then choose the type of oat flake that suits your recipe.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's important to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar and ingredients | Check the ingredients list for added sugar. If sugar-free is a requirement, also check the sugars per 100 g in the nutritional information. | For Christmas biscuits, I want to decide for myself what sweetens the dough. Around 46% of consumers put control over sugar and ingredients first. |
| Oat flake texture | Choose fine or finely ground oats for an even dough; for crumble or bars, check whether the recipe calls for jumbo oats. | For crumble, I want to be able to see the oats, but for muffins I want a finer batter. For around 36% of consumers, texture in baking comes first. |
| Packaging and convenience | Compare loose oats with portion packs, and check the packaging and availability of products sold in shops. | If I'm shopping just before I bake, I want to be able to choose practical packaging. Convenience and availability come first for around 18% of consumers. |
A product can have no added sugar and still contain naturally occurring sugars. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the sugar-free claim is permitted only for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml.
Check the nutritional information if you want to make this claim. Albert Heijn lists 1.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Quaker Havermout Original, despite the no added sugar statement.
Plain and flavoured varieties can have different ingredients. Quaker lists sugar as an ingredient in Oats Express Kaneel.
If you want to bake without added sugar, check the ingredients for the specific variety; it's better to add any spices yourself according to your recipe.
The Dutch Coeliac Society points out that oats may be contaminated with gluten. Quaker states that Havermout Original and Oats Express Naturel may contain wheat and barley.
If you need gluten-free oats, check whether the packaging says they come from a certified gluten-free range.
Worth considering if you want to compare plain oats with a plain portion pack.
Provides information about oats and how to use them in biscuits, cakes and muffins, among other things.
ALDI lists Golden Bridge wholegrain oats in fine and jumbo varieties.
Lidl lists 500 g packs of Crownfield organic oats, as well as jumbo oat flakes.
No, the terms don't mean the same thing. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the sugar-free claim is permitted only for products containing no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. No added sugar does not rule out naturally occurring sugars.
Choose fine oats or grind the flakes finely if your recipe calls for an even dough or batter. Albert Heijn suggests using oat flour for biscuits and muffins, among other things; follow your specific recipe for quantities and method.
Not automatically. According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, oats from a certified gluten-free range are needed because of the risk of gluten contamination; check the packaging for this information.
That also depends on the other ingredients. Plain oats don't determine what else goes into your bake: check ingredients such as syrup, chocolate and icing separately before making a claim about the whole recipe.
