Who is this relevant for?

Anyone organising a traditional new-baby visit

You want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles and are looking for the right rusk base. A biscuit to enjoy with coffee has a different role.

Anyone who also wants to serve biscuits with tea or coffee

You’re serving rusks with aniseed sprinkles and are considering adding a digestive or speculoos as a separate biscuit for your guests.

Anyone who needs to consider gluten or allergens

You want to check before serving whether your chosen rusks, aniseed sprinkles and any biscuits are suitable for the allergens that matter to your guests.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you need a base for the aniseed sprinkles or a biscuit to serve alongside them. Then check the labels of everything you plan to offer.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
The base for the aniseed sprinkles Buy the rusks and aniseed sprinkles as separate products. AH Beschuit naturel specifically lists aniseed sprinkles as a topping. If I want to serve the familiar new-baby treat, I’m looking for rusks to top with the sprinkles. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this traditional presentation.
A separate biscuit Choose between a plain digestive and a variety with, for example, chocolate. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the packs you choose. I’d like to serve something with tea or coffee alongside the rusks, without using the biscuit as a substitute. For around 30% of consumers, a separate biscuit break is the top priority.
Gluten and allergens Check the latest labels for the base, aniseed sprinkles and biscuits separately, including any relevant warnings about possible allergens. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know whether each part of what I’m serving is suitable. This check is the top priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Buying a digestive instead of rusks

    A digestive is a biscuit. For the classic combination, Albert Heijn and De Ruijter both recommend rusks as the base for aniseed sprinkles.

    Add rusks and aniseed sprinkles to your list first; only add a digestive if you also want to serve a separate biscuit.

  • Checking only the biscuit for gluten

    The De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles reviewed contain wheat starch. So choosing a gluten-free biscuit doesn’t automatically make the other items suitable.

    Check each product separately and prevent cross-contamination if you need to serve gluten-free food.

  • Relying on an ingredients list you checked before

    For guests with allergies, warnings such as ‘may contain’ are important too. Information on an older product page may not match the packaging you’re serving.

    Check the labels on the packs you’ve bought just before serving.

  • Topping the rusks too far in advance

    Rusks and digestives are crisp, so leaving them out or topping them too early can affect their texture.

    Store them in a dry place, seal opened packs well and top the rusks shortly before serving.

Brands to consider

McVitie's

The Digestives Original 400 g reviewed is a wheat biscuit for enjoying on its own.

  • According to the product information reviewed, the Original variety contains 16% wholemeal wheat flour.
  • This variety contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk; it isn’t a base for aniseed sprinkles.

Jumbo

Jumbo has plain and wholemeal digestives, as well as a separate gluten-free variety with milk chocolate.

  • According to Jumbo, Digestive Volkoren contains 37.3% wholemeal wheat flour.
  • The plain and wholemeal varieties reviewed contain wheat and gluten; check the allergens for each variety separately.

Albert Heijn

AH Beschuit naturel is a good option for the classic treat: Albert Heijn lists aniseed sprinkles as a possible topping.

  • This gives you a rusk to serve beneath the sprinkles, rather than a biscuit to enjoy on its own.
  • The rusks reviewed contain egg, rye and wheat, among other ingredients; check the label for all allergens and warnings.

Schär

According to the product information, Digestive Landtaler is a separate biscuit labelled gluten-free and wheat-free.

  • The pack reviewed contains portions of four biscuits.
  • This variety contains soya and may contain egg and lupin. If you’re serving a treat, check the rusks and aniseed sprinkles separately too.

Lotus Biscoff

The Speculoos reviewed is a biscuit to enjoy with coffee, not a digestive or a base for aniseed sprinkles.

  • It’s a different type of biscuit to serve alongside rusks with aniseed sprinkles.
  • The variety reviewed contains wheat, soya and cereals containing gluten.

Biscotto

The Digestive Biscuits described by ALDI Nederland are wheat biscuits in a 400 g pack.

  • ALDI Nederland lists around 27 biscuits per pack.
  • Choose these as a separate biscuit, not as a substitute for rusks beneath aniseed sprinkles.

Lidl Digestives naturel

Lidl lists a 400 g pack for these plain digestives.

  • A plain variety to consider if you’re looking for a digestive to enjoy on its own.
  • Check the pack you’re actually buying for its ingredients and allergens.

Digestives for a separate biscuit break

These Joybuy products are digestives to serve separately alongside rusks with aniseed sprinkles, for example with tea or coffee. They aren’t a base for the classic treat.

McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g

McVitie's Digestive Original, 400 g

A plain digestive to serve as a separate biscuit with your treat. According to the product information, this Original variety contains 16% wholemeal wheat flour; it contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk. Check the latest label if anyone has allergies.

View at Joybuy
McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g

McVitie's Digestives Milk Chocolate, 266 g

A digestive with milk chocolate to serve as a separate biscuit. The pack contains 266 g. If it matters for your guests, check the ingredients and allergens on the latest label.

View at Joybuy
McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g

McVitie's Digestives with Dark Chocolate, 266 g

A digestive with dark chocolate for anyone who wants to serve a separate biscuit alongside the rusks. The pack contains 266 g. If anyone has allergies, check the ingredients and warnings on the latest label.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a digestive for rusks with aniseed sprinkles?

Choose rusks if you want to serve the classic treat. Albert Heijn lists aniseed sprinkles as a topping for AH Beschuit naturel, and De Ruijter recommends serving its sprinkles on rusks. You can serve a digestive separately as an additional biscuit.

Is a gluten-free digestive enough to make the treat gluten-free?

No. Check the aniseed sprinkles and every other item you’re serving too. The Schär Digestive Landtaler reviewed is labelled gluten-free, while the De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles reviewed contain wheat starch. If you need to serve gluten-free food, also take steps to prevent cross-contamination.

Which allergens should I check on the packaging?

Check the labels of all the products you’ve chosen for any allergens relevant to your guests. These may include wheat and other cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya. Look for warnings such as ‘may contain’ too; allergens vary between rusks, aniseed sprinkles and biscuit varieties.

How can I keep rusks and digestives crisp until my guests arrive?

Store them in a dry place and seal opened packs well. Albert Heijn recommends keeping rusks in a closed tin once opened; top them shortly before serving.