For someone with coeliac disease, avoid regular Verkade NoboSprits Original or NoboSprits Melk: according to Verkade, both contain wheat flour. For the advent calendar, choose biscuits whose current packaging clearly says they’re gluten-free. Individually wrapped portions make filling the calendar easier. Loose biscuits offer more variety, but need extra care when portioning and storing them.
You want to choose a treat for every day of the calendar that’s clearly labelled gluten-free. If you’re filling it yourself, make sure the biscuits don’t come into contact with crumbs from ordinary biscuits, as the Dutch Coeliac Society explains.
You’re looking for a biscuit to enjoy at the same time of day, but a gluten-free biscuit or oat biscuit doesn’t have to be a spritz. Check the packaging of the specific alternative for a gluten-free label.
You want to combine different biscuits, so you’ll need to check each product’s ingredients and allergens, as well as its gluten content. Gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean free from milk, eggs or nuts.
First check that every biscuit is suitable for the recipient; then compare the size and variety. A handy portion or a different flavour doesn’t replace that initial check.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and avoiding crumbs | Check the current packaging for a clear gluten-free label. If portioning biscuits yourself, use clean equipment and keep the treats separate from ordinary biscuits. | If I’m giving the calendar to someone with coeliac disease, I want to be able to check every biscuit’s label and avoid contact with gluten-containing crumbs. For around 42% of consumers, this would be their main concern when buying. |
| Portions and size | Count the individual portions and compare their size with the calendar compartments. If you buy a larger pack, think about how to keep the biscuits clean and sealed. | For a calendar with lots of small compartments, I want to know in advance how many treats will fit without having to portion them again each time. Around 33% of consumers would give particular weight to this practical consideration. |
| Variety and other allergens | Compare the types of biscuits and check the allergen information on each pack. Check the current range if you want to combine different varieties. | If the calendar doesn’t have to contain the same biscuits throughout, I’ll look for variety that also takes account of any other dietary requirements the recipient may have. For around 25% of consumers, the main consideration would be the range of suitable varieties. |
According to Verkade, NoboSprits Original and NoboSprits Melk contain wheat flour. Their familiar name or shape doesn’t make these biscuits suitable for someone with coeliac disease.
Choose a different biscuit and check that its current packaging clearly labels it as gluten-free.
An ingredients list with no obvious wheat ingredient isn’t the same as a clear gluten-free label. The Dutch Coeliac Society also stresses the importance of checking the label if you have coeliac disease.
Look for the words ‘gluten-free’, a gluten-free symbol or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging.
According to the Dutch Coeliac Society, crumbs and shared equipment can transfer gluten to gluten-free food.
Portion gluten-free treats separately, using clean hands, a clean work surface and clean equipment; then store them in a sealed container.
A gluten-free biscuit may contain other ingredients that matter to the recipient. Allergens may also vary between the different types of biscuits in a calendar.
Check the full allergen information on the current packaging of every product you choose.
Verkade highlights the difference between regular spritz biscuits and another type of gluten-free biscuit.
Albert Heijn offers a range of gluten-free biscuits to compare when putting together a calendar.
This range is worth exploring if you want to alternate between different gluten-free treats.
PLUS offers gluten-free chocolate chip cookies as an alternative to spritz biscuits.
Coconut macaroons can offer a different kind of treat for one day of the calendar.
When choosing a treat for a calendar at Lidl, check the specific product in the current shop range.
Not if they’re Verkade NoboSprits Original or NoboSprits Melk: according to Verkade, both contain wheat flour. Choose an alternative with a clear gluten-free label on its current packaging.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may only be used in the EU if the food, as sold to the final consumer, contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Check the label on the pack you actually buy.
Keep gluten-free treats separate from ordinary biscuits, and use clean hands, a clean work surface and clean equipment. The Dutch Coeliac Society warns, among other things, that gluten can be transferred by crumbs and shared kitchen utensils.
No. The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you anything about other ingredients. If the recipient has other allergies, check the allergen information on the current packaging of every biscuit.
Yes, check the packaging of the pack you’re using now. Albert Heijn says that product ingredients and dietary or allergy information may change.
