If you want to hand out one small treat per child, mini rice cakes that you can count are generally easier to share out than chocolates from an assortment box. Before buying, ask what the school or after-school club allows, and check for allergies and dietary requirements. Ordinary rice cakes aren’t automatically gluten-free, and chocolate products can also contain relevant allergens.
For parents who want to find out first whether edible treats are allowed, and which allergies or dietary requirements they need to consider. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking in advance. If you choose a packaged product, you can then check the label for that specific variety.
For anyone who wants to match the number of children to the number of pieces in a pack, without having to divide a box into portions at home. Jumbo, for example, lists a pack containing 10 mini rice cakes.
For anyone with time at home to use rice cakes as the base for a birthday treat. Albert Heijn’s hedgehog recipe shows one way to do this. Remember to check the ingredients and allergens in every topping you add.
First, find out what the school or after-school club allows and which children the treat needs to be suitable for. Then decide whether to choose a rice cake you can count, decorate one yourself or hand out pre-portioned chocolates.
Choose these when: you want to hand out one small, easy-to-count item per child.
Bear in mind: an ordinary mini rice cake isn’t automatically suitable for someone with coeliac disease or a relevant allergy.
Choose these when: you have time to make a simple treat for each child yourself.
Bear in mind: decorating takes preparation and means adding extra ingredients.
Choose these when: the school allows them and you can divide the contents into suitable portions in advance.
Bear in mind: an assortment box won’t necessarily provide one equivalent portion for every child.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who does this matter to? |
|---|---|---|
| School rules and allergens | Ask what the school or after-school club allows, and read the allergen information on the packaging for the exact product. | If a child has an allergy or the school restricts edible treats, I want to know what I can hand out before I buy. This is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| One portion per child | Compare the number of children with the number of pieces, and check whether they can be handed out individually. | For a class, I want to keep handing out treats straightforward, without having to divide a box at home. Convenience matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| A modest portion | Look at the portion per child, not just the total contents of the pack, and include any toppings in your calculations. | I’d rather give each child one small treat than a large or heavily decorated portion. This preference is decisive for around 21% of consumers. |
| Decorating them yourself | Check how much preparation is needed, and read the labels of any ingredients you add. | For a birthday, I want to decorate the treats at home so they feel personal, and I can make time to do so. Around 14% of consumers prioritise presentation. |
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the regular rice cakes mentioned contain wheat, among other ingredients. Bolletje also lists cereals containing gluten for its Brosse Eierkoek. A different product name or variety doesn’t, in itself, tell you whether it’s suitable for a particular child.
Read the label on the pack you’re actually handing out. If a child has coeliac disease or an allergy, check with their parent or carer and the school.
An assortment box can contain different pieces and ingredients, so it may not be clear what each child will get.
First check whether chocolate is allowed, then decide what small portion you want to give each child. Read the allergen information for the products in the box.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that schools can set out in their celebration policies how birthdays are marked and what, if anything, can be handed out.
Ask about the school or after-school club’s rules before you buy anything. If edible treats aren’t suitable, ask whether a non-food alternative is allowed.
Adding cream cheese, sprinkles or other decorations changes the ingredients in the complete treat. Albert Heijn’s hedgehog recipe shows how several elements can be combined.
Check each additional product separately, and keep things simple if you’re making treats for a whole group.
Brosse Eierkoek is a regular rice cake that can be used as the base for a treat.
Regular rice cakes are an option if you want to plan a specific number of portions in advance.
Jumbo’s rice cake range lets you compare regular and mini rice cakes, as well as a separate product labelled gluten-free.
Verkade Choco Wolken is a chocolate and biscuit product to compare with a rice cake, not a type of rice cake.
These Joybuy products are chocolate treats and biscuits for a birthday occasion, not rice cakes. Before buying, compare the number of portions you can hand out and check that the exact product is suitable for the group’s rules and allergies.
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The pack size of 9 pieces helps you plan one treat per child. Check the packaging to see how the pieces are wrapped and which allergens apply to this variety.
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Consider this chocolate option only if the school allows this kind of treat. The pack contains 150 g; check how many individual portions it provides and read the allergen information on the pack you buy.
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The product name specifies 10 pieces, so you can work out how many packs you’ll need for the group. If you want to hand them out straight from the pack, check whether the pieces are individually wrapped, and read the allergen label.
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These milk chocolate biscuits are suitable only if chocolate fits the school’s rules for treats. Check how many portions you can get from the 150 g pack, and read the allergen information before handing them out.
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The birthday cake flavour suits a birthday theme, but it doesn’t tell you whether the pack contains a suitable portion for each child. For this 97 g pack, check the number of biscuits, how they’re wrapped and which allergens they contain.
That depends on the policy of the school or after-school club. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that schools can set rules about birthday celebrations and any treats that are handed out. Check what those rules are before you buy anything.
No, you shouldn’t assume that regular rice cakes are gluten-free. According to their product information, the Albert Heijn and Bolletje varieties mentioned contain wheat and cereals containing gluten. If you need a gluten-free option, check the exact packaging and discuss your choice with the child’s parent or carer.
The label on the pack you buy is the best place to check the ingredients and allergens for that specific variety. Albert Heijn warns that product information can change, so check for any may-contain warnings too before wrapping up the treats.
Only if chocolate is allowed under the school’s rules and you can choose a clear portion with known ingredients for every child. Check the individual products for allergens. According to Verkade, for example, Choco Wolken contains milk, wheat, hazelnut and soya, and may contain peanuts, almonds and egg.
