Which option is right for you?

If you’re having breakfast on your own and want one clear portion

A 35 g bar is one clearly defined portion. If a pack contains two smaller bars or biscuits, it’s more important to check how many pieces you actually want to eat.

If you compare nutritional values

If sugars, fibre and protein factor into your choice, compare the values per 100 g first. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis because manufacturers use different portion sizes.

If you’re mainly after a classic spiced biscuit flavour

Spiced biscuits can be a good choice for a Sunday treat, but they’re not a bar. Decide whether flavour or having one bar as part of your breakfast matters more to you.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what role the bar will play in your breakfast and how much you want to eat. Then compare the label: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing nutritional values per 100 g before looking at the portion.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Role in your breakfast Check the size of the bar and decide which other foods you’ll have with it. I want a bar with my Sunday breakfast, not necessarily to replace my whole breakfast with one. For around 36% of consumers, its role as part of breakfast is the main consideration.
Nutritional value Compare sugars, fibre, protein and saturated fat per 100 g; then check the values for the portion you’ll eat. When comparing similar spiced biscuit flavours, I want to see what the nutritional differences mean for my portion. Around 29% of consumers put this comparison first.
Portion and product format Check the number of bars or biscuits per portion, and choose between a soft bar, a crunchy bar or biscuits. I’m eating on my own and want to know whether I’ll get one bar or open several pieces; the type of spiced biscuit experience I’m after also matters. For around 21% of consumers, this is their first consideration.
Allergens and ingredients Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings about traces on the current packaging. If I need to avoid certain ingredients or want a plant-based option, I need to know what this particular bar contains. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this check.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming every small pack contains one bar

    Albert Heijn lists one 35 g bar as a portion for Holie's Chewy, while Jumbo lists two bars weighing 40 g in total as a portion for Holie's Crunchy. A pack of spiced biscuits is not the same as one bar either.

    Before choosing something for breakfast on your own, check the number of pieces per portion and per pack.

  • Focusing only on the sugar content

    Sugars don’t tell you everything about a bar. The portion size and other values on the nutrition label also matter when it comes to what you actually eat.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the values for your portion. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing per 100 g because stated portion sizes can vary.

  • Guessing the allergens from the product name

    A bar described as plant-based may still contain almonds and carry warnings about traces of other allergens. Cereal bars containing grains can also contain various allergens.

    Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging; don’t rely solely on terms such as vegan or on the type of product.

  • Assuming a product listing means it’s currently available

    Jumbo says that the Milka Spiced Biscuit Bar and Upfront Vegan Protein Bar Spiced Biscuit featured in this comparison are no longer part of its online range. That doesn’t tell you whether a product is available elsewhere.

    Check the latest product information and availability with the retailer you want to order from.

Brands to consider

Holie's

In this comparison, Holie's offers a soft Chewy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit and a crunchy Crunchy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit.

  • Albert Heijn lists one 35 g bar as a portion for the Chewy Bar; Jumbo lists two 20 g bars as a portion for the Crunchy Bar.
  • The varieties described list ingredients including gluten-containing cereals and almonds. Check the allergen information for the variety you choose.

Upfront

The Vegan Protein Bar Spiced Biscuit described by Jumbo is a 60 g bar flavoured with spiced biscuit seasoning.

  • Jumbo lists 16 g of protein and 8.6 g of fibre per bar for this variety.
  • The bar contains almonds and carries warnings about possible traces of other allergens. Jumbo says it’s no longer part of its online range.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff is an option if you’re after classic crunchy speculoos, for example in a Pocket Pack containing packets of two biscuits.

  • The product format makes it clear that you’re choosing biscuits rather than a cereal bar.
  • For the standard variety, Lotus Bakeries lists 38,1 g of sugars and 1,3 g of fibre per 100 g; the Pocket Pack doesn’t contain one bar.

Milka

The 100 g Milka Spiced Biscuit product featured in this comparison is a chocolate bar with a spiced biscuit flavour, not a cereal bar.

  • A different product format for anyone who mainly wants a piece of chocolate with a spiced biscuit flavour at breakfast.
  • Jumbo lists 53 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety and says it’s no longer part of its online range.

Albert Heijn

AH Almond Spiced Biscuit Bars are filled spiced biscuit bars in a multipack, not one individual breakfast bar.

  • Albert Heijn lists 47% almond paste and a stated portion size of 38 g.
  • The product information lists ingredients including egg, milk, gluten, soya and almond. Check the current packaging before buying.

Spiced biscuit bars on Joybuy

These Holie's Chewy Bar varieties are a good fit if you’re looking for a soft spiced biscuit bar as part of breakfast. When choosing, pay particular attention to the difference between a pack of three bars and the larger multipack.

Holie's Chewy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit, 3 × 35 g

Holie's Chewy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit, 3 × 35 g

For anyone having breakfast on their own who wants to be able to grab one soft 35 g spiced biscuit bar. The pack contains three bars.

For this variety, Joybuy lists 24 g of fibre and 23 g of protein per 100 g; Albert Heijn also lists 3,3 g of sugars per 100 g for the Chewy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit. If you have allergies, check the current label, including the information about cereals and almonds.

View on Joybuy
Holie's Chewy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit, 11 packs of 3 bars

Holie's Chewy Bar Almond Spiced Biscuit, 11 packs of 3 bars

For anyone who wants the same soft spiced biscuit bar in a larger multipack. The product name specifies 11 packs, each containing 3 bars.

Check the portion size and allergen information on the current product packaging if these are important to your choice.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can a spiced biscuit bar replace my whole Sunday breakfast?

Not automatically: think of a spiced biscuit bar as part of what else you eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre describes breakfast as a combination of foods from the Wheel of Five; the product name or protein content of one bar doesn’t, by itself, tell you what your whole breakfast consists of.

How do I compare two spiced biscuit bars with different portion sizes?

First compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then check the portion you actually eat. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing per 100 g because manufacturers decide the stated portion size themselves; look at sugars, fibre, protein and saturated fat, for example.

Where can I find the allergens in a prepacked bar?

Check the label on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label; also read any warnings about traces.

Is a vegan spiced biscuit bar also free from allergens?

No. Vegan doesn’t mean that a bar is free from allergens. The Upfront Vegan Protein Bar Spiced Biscuit described by Jumbo contains almonds and carries warnings about possible traces of other allergens; always check the packaging of the product you choose.

How should I store a spiced biscuit or cereal bar?

Follow the storage and use-by instructions on your product’s packaging. The Milka Spiced Biscuit Bar described by Jumbo should be stored in a cool, dry place away from heat; for the Upfront bar described, Jumbo advises storing it in a cool, dry place.