Choose a plain rice cake if you want a neutral, crunchy base to enjoy with coffee or alongside cake. A classic digestive is the one to pick if you’re after a wheat biscuit, for example to eat on its own or use as a crumb base. If you need a gluten-free product, check the label and allergens on the packaging. Compare chocolate and sugar-free varieties separately with the plain biscuit.
If you want a familiar digestive to eat with coffee or use as a crumb base, check the product type and ingredients. McVitie's describes Digestives Original as a wheat biscuit; a rice cake offers a different base.
A plain rice cake is a good option if you want something crunchy alongside cake or would like to add your own topping. Check the specific product, though: Jumbo and PLUS plain rice cakes each have their own nutritional information.
If you need to avoid gluten or have a food allergy, the current packaging matters more than the snack’s name. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol on gluten-free products. Check for other allergens, too.
First decide whether you want a neutral rice snack or a biscuit to enjoy with coffee. Then compare the portion size, nutritional information and allergens for the varieties you’re considering.
A good choice if: you want the flavour to come mainly from your own topping or the cake alongside your coffee.
The trade-off: you won’t get the flavour and texture of a traditional wheat biscuit.
A good choice if: you specifically want a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or to use as a crumb base.
The trade-off: the classic variety isn’t a like-for-like alternative to a rice cake. If you need a gluten-free option, look for a separate variety explicitly labelled gluten-free.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit texture | Check whether you’re buying a wheat biscuit or a rice cake, and look at the serving size. Jumbo lists McVitie's Digestives Original as containing 71 kcal per 14.7 g biscuit. | If I want a biscuit with coffee or a biscuit base for cake, the product type comes first. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this type of biscuit. |
| Neutral base | Compare sugars and salt per 100 g and per serving. Jumbo lists its plain rice cakes as containing 0.6 g of sugars and less than 0.01 g of salt per 100 g. A salted variety needs to be compared separately. | Alongside cake or with a topping of my choice, I want a rice snack that doesn’t overpower the flavour. This is the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the pack. If you need a gluten-free option, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | If gluten or another allergen limits my choice, I need to be able to check the specific product before serving it. For around 21% of consumers, this is the first thing to consider. |
| Packaging and storage | Check the pack size and storage instructions, especially if you won’t eat the snack straight away. PLUS advises storing its plain rice cakes in an airtight container after opening. | I eat the snack over several coffee breaks and want to be able to store it properly once opened. For around 14% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
Jumbo lists wholegrain rice as an ingredient in its plain rice cake. The McVitie's Digestives Original described by Jumbo is a wheat biscuit containing ingredients including sugar and fat. That difference matters if you’re expecting a biscuit to enjoy with coffee or a biscuit base for a recipe.
Choose the type of product you want first, then compare varieties within that category.
Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive wholemeal, made with wheat flour, as containing 6 g of fibre, 20 g of sugars and 1.15 g of salt per 100 g. The AH variety with 0% sugar contains polyols and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
For each variety, read all the nutritional information, ingredients and warnings. Compare values per 100 g and per serving.
Jumbo states that its plain rice cakes may contain sesame and soya. A digestive labelled gluten-free may contain other allergens, too.
Check the current packaging each time you buy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol if you need a gluten-free product.
As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products every day, citing exposure to arsenic from rice products.
Offer children a variety of other grain products and snacks instead of rice cakes.
AH offers several digestive varieties, so you can compare their labels individually.
Jumbo offers plain and multigrain rice cakes as well as biscuit options, so you can compare labels by product type.
PLUS Rijstwafels Naturel are a plain option to consider if you want to check the nutritional information and storage instructions.
Goud Gebakken sea salt rice cakes are a salted alternative to a plain rice cake.
Bolletje lists crispbread, crackers and snack products on its own website. These are other product categories to consider alongside rice cakes and digestives.
This selection includes two digestive varieties and two rice snacks. The rice toast is a cracker, not a product labelled as a rice cake. So first decide which texture you’re looking for, then check the label of the variety you choose.
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An option if you’re looking for a plain digestive to enjoy with coffee or use as a crumb base.
If you have an allergy, check the current packaging for wheat, gluten-containing cereals and any statement about possible traces of milk. This isn’t suitable if you need a gluten-free option.
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A digestive for anyone who specifically wants a milk chocolate biscuit with coffee, rather than the plain Original.
Compare the nutritional information for this variety separately. If you have allergies, check the current packaging for milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. Don’t choose it if you need a gluten-free option.
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A rice cake option if you’d prefer a salted rice snack to a sweet biscuit.
Compare the salt, sugars and fibre on the label if you’re weighing this up against a plain rice cake. If you have a sesame allergy, check the current allergen information.
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A rice toast or cracker for anyone looking for a savoury, rice-based snack; this product isn’t labelled as a rice cake.
Check whether this type of product suits your coffee break. To compare nutritional values, check the unit on the packaging. If you have an allergy, look for information about sesame and soya.
No, they’re different types of snack. Jumbo lists wholegrain rice as an ingredient in its plain rice cake, while the McVitie's Digestives Original described by Jumbo is a wheat biscuit. If a recipe calls for biscuit crumbs, don’t automatically use a rice cake as a substitute.
No. Check the specific product and its current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises looking for a ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol. Check for any other allergens that are relevant to you, too.
No. Compare the full ingredients and nutritional information for both varieties. Albert Heijn states that its digestive with 0% sugar contains polyols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
As a precaution, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving children rice or rice products, including rice cakes, every day. Offer a variety of other grain products and snacks instead.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the product properly. PLUS recommends storing its plain rice cakes in an airtight container after opening, so you can keep the rest of the pack dry.
