Which option is right for you?

Those looking for a genuinely sugar-free option

For you, the claim is non-negotiable. You check the amount of sugars per 100 g and don’t treat ‘lower in sugar’ as another way of saying ‘sugar-free’.

Piped shortbread fans keeping an eye on sugar

You want a piped shortbread biscuit with less sugar than the regular varieties mentioned, and you also want to consider the sweeteners, nutritional value and warnings.

Fans of classic piped shortbread

You’re mainly looking for a familiar biscuit to enjoy as an afternoon snack. Sugar content is still worth checking on the label, even if reducing sugar isn’t your top priority.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a must for you. If it isn’t, compare the sugars per 100 g and check which ingredients and warnings apply to the piped shortbread biscuit you choose.

What to considerWhat to check on the labelWho it matters to
Genuinely sugar-free Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. Voedingscentrum sets the limit for a ‘sugar-free’ claim at 0.5 g per 100 g. If I’m looking for a genuinely sugar-free option, I want a piped shortbread biscuit that meets the threshold for that claim; around 50% of consumers put this requirement first.
Less sugar and polyols Compare sugars per 100 g and read the ingredients and warning about excessive consumption. For my afternoon snack, I want less sugar, but I also want to know which sweeteners I’m choosing. This is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Classic piped shortbread Check the sugar content and the ingredients and allergens of the pack you choose. I’d rather choose a familiar piped shortbread biscuit and keep its sugar content in mind, even if reducing sugar isn’t my priority; for around 17% of consumers, the classic option is the main consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘lower in sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    Dieetwebshop lists 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g for Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur. That’s above the limit of 0.5 g per 100 g set by Voedingscentrum for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If sugar-free is a must, use the ‘of which sugars’ amount per 100 g as your guide.

  • Looking only at sugar

    A lower sugar figure doesn’t tell you how much energy a portion provides. Dieetwebshop lists 497 kcal per 100 g for Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur.

    As well as sugars, check the energy per 100 g and consider how many biscuits you count as a portion.

  • Overlooking sweeteners and warnings

    Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur contains maltitol and lists 22.2 g of polyols per 100 g. According to Voedingscentrum, large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

    Read the ingredients and follow the warning about excessive consumption on the pack.

  • Overlooking allergens

    Ingredients vary between piped shortbread biscuits. For example, the product information for Jumbo Roomboter Spritsen lists wheat and milk; Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur contains wheat, egg and milk.

    Check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.

Brands and products to consider

Damhert Nutrition

Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur is a piped shortbread biscuit for anyone looking to reduce the sugar content compared with the regular varieties mentioned.

  • Dieetwebshop lists 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • This means the biscuit doesn’t meet the limit for ‘sugar-free’ set by Voedingscentrum. It contains maltitol and carries a warning about excessive consumption.

Verkade

Verkade NoboSprits Original is a regular piped shortbread biscuit. San Francisco Zero is a different type of biscuit, so it isn’t an interchangeable alternative.

  • Verkade lists 24.2 g of sugars per 100 g for NoboSprits Original.
  • San Francisco Zero is labelled ‘no added sugars’, but that doesn’t automatically make it sugar-free; Verkade lists 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

Albert Heijn

AH Spritsen is a regular piped shortbread biscuit, not a lower-sugar option.

  • Albert Heijn lists 28 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • When you buy it, check the pack for the latest nutritional information and allergen details.

Jumbo

Jumbo Roomboter Spritsen is a good choice if you’re after a classic butter piped shortbread biscuit.

  • Jumbo lists 21.8 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The ingredients list wheat and milk; check the pack you choose for full allergen information.

PLUS

PLUS Spritsen is a regular piped shortbread biscuit. The separate Elvee Chocolade spritsen minder suiker is a chocolate product in the shape of a piped shortbread biscuit, not a confirmed sugar-free option.

  • PLUS lists 21.4 g of sugars per 100 g for PLUS Spritsen.
  • For the Elvee chocolate variety, PLUS lists 28 g of sugars per 100 g; ‘lower in sugar’ doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’.

Biscotto / ALDI

ALDI describes Biscotto Roomboterspritsen as a pack of 12 biscuits, with a total weight of 175 g.

  • The product mentioned is a butter piped shortbread biscuit.
  • To make a choice based on sugar content or allergens, check the nutritional information and ingredients on the pack.

Lidl

Lidl describes its Roomboter spritsen as coming in a 400 g pack.

  • The product description makes the biscuit type and pack size clear.
  • Check the label in store before choosing these piped shortbread biscuits based on their sugar content or allergens.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no added sugars’ mean the same as sugar-free?

No. According to Voedingscentrum, ‘no added sugars’ means that no sugars or other foods used for their sweetening properties have been added; the product may still contain naturally occurring sugars. For a ‘sugar-free’ claim, Voedingscentrum sets the limit at 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.

Is Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur sugar-free?

No, not according to the limit Voedingscentrum sets for that claim. Dieetwebshop lists 0.7 g of sugars per 100 g for this biscuit, so check the nutritional information rather than relying on ‘minder suikers’ (‘less sugars’) in the product name.

What should I look for in piped shortbread biscuits containing maltitol?

Check the ingredients, portion size and warning on the pack. Dieetwebshop lists maltitol and a warning about excessive consumption for Damhert Minder Suikers Sprits Natuur; Voedingscentrum says that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

How should I store piped shortbread biscuits after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you buy. Jumbo says to store its Roomboter Spritsen in a dry place after opening.