If you serve coffee and cake at home
Want to serve something small with coffee without turning it into a gift? A spritz biscuit fits the bill if you’re looking for a biscuit; a milk chocolate version also adds a chocolate flavour.
Which option is right for you?
If you’re taking a thank-you gift
When you’re visiting someone or meeting for coffee, the packaging can be part of the gesture. An assorted chocolate box offers a choice of flavours, as long as the ingredients suit the recipient.
If you’re sharing with a group
If you want guests or colleagues to help themselves, individually wrapped chocolates are one option. With an assortment of flavours, check the ingredients across the whole range.
What should you look for when choosing?
Spritz biscuits
Choose these: if you want to serve a biscuit with coffee and cake, without needing the packaging to feel like a gift.
The trade-off: even a spritz biscuit with a milk chocolate coating is still a biscuit, not an assortment of chocolate flavours.
Chocolate box
Choose this: if a thank-you gift or a choice of different chocolate flavours matters more than a biscuit with your coffee.
The trade-off: with an assortment, check that the ingredients in the different flavours suit the recipients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Your coffee break | Do you want a biscuit with your coffee or a selection of chocolates? If you choose spritz biscuits, decide whether you’d prefer a plain version or one with milk chocolate. | If I’m already serving cake, I want to know whether an extra biscuit will go with what I’m putting on the table. For around 31% of consumers, this is the main consideration for a coffee break. |
| Gifting and flavours | Look at the presentation and size, and check which chocolate flavours are in the box you’ve chosen. | When I’m taking something as a thank-you gift, the packaging and choice of flavours matter more to me than a biscuit to eat straight away. Around 31% of consumers put this gifting aspect first. |
| Sharing | Check how many pieces there are and whether they’re individually wrapped. | For a group, I want to put something out that everyone can easily help themselves to. For around 23% of consumers, ease of sharing is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the up-to-date ingredients list and allergen warnings for the exact version you’ve chosen. | If I need to take account of ingredients a recipient avoids, checking these comes before presentation or flavour choice. For around 15% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Treating spritz biscuits and a chocolate box as the same kind of purchase
A biscuit to serve at the table has a different purpose from chocolates you take as a thank-you gift or share with a group. A spritz biscuit with milk chocolate doesn’t automatically become a gift assortment, either.
First decide whether you want to serve, give or share something. Then compare the options within that category.
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Giving an assortment of flavours without checking the ingredients
The biscuits and chocolate assortments reviewed have different ingredients and allergens. A varied box isn’t automatically suitable for every recipient.
Read the ingredients list and allergen warnings on the specific packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
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Relying only on older product information online
A different size or a changed recipe can affect your choice, especially when ingredients are a deciding factor.
Check the ingredients, best-before date and storage instructions on the packaging of the product you actually buy.
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Choosing a large assortment for a small coffee break
More pieces or flavours won’t add much if you’re simply looking for something to serve with cake. After opening, you’ll also need to follow the storage advice for the product you’ve chosen.
Choose a size to suit the number of people, and follow the packaging instructions for any leftovers.
Brands to consider
Verkade
The NoboSprits varieties reviewed are worth considering if you’re looking for a biscuit to have with coffee and cake.
- NoboSprits Original and the milk chocolate version let you choose between a plain biscuit and one with a chocolate coating.
- The varieties reviewed contain wheat and milk; check the packaging of the version you choose for other ingredients.
merci
Finest Selection is a chocolate assortment for anyone looking to take a box as a gift or offer a choice of flavours.
- According to merci, Finest Selection includes eight chocolate specialities and is available in 250 g and 400 g sizes.
- Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for each size and flavour, including details about milk, nuts and soya.
Tony's Chocolonely
Tiny Tony's is worth considering if individually wrapped mini chocolates are important when sharing.
- The Tiny's gift box described by Albert Heijn contains 22 individually wrapped pieces in 10 flavours.
- Check the allergen information for the specific assortment; ingredients can vary between flavours.
Lindt
LINDOR is an option if you’d rather offer a box of chocolates than biscuits or small chocolate bars.
- Jumbo lists LINDOR Mixed Chocolate Truffles in a 200 g pack.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific truffle assortment in the box you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s chocolate assortment is worth considering if you want to compare different types of chocolates.
- Options shown by Jumbo include seafood-shaped pralines, cherry chocolates and cocoa truffles.
- The type, size and ingredients vary by product, so check each pack individually.
Products for coffee, gifting and sharing
These Joybuy products include chocolate boxes for a thank-you gift or a get-together, as well as a spritz biscuit to have with coffee. First decide which of these you’re looking for; a chocolate assortment won’t necessarily replace a biscuit with your cake.
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Merci Finest Selection 400 g
A chocolate assortment to take as a thank-you gift or serve with coffee. This version contains 400 g; check the ingredients and contents of the box you’ve chosen on the packaging.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack 288 g
A 288 g chocolate gift pack for anyone taking chocolate along on a visit. If you plan to share it with a group, check the flavours, ingredients and packaging on the box you choose.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection 125 g
A 125 g chocolate collection if you’re looking for a smaller pack to take along. Check the packaging to see which chocolates it contains and whether the ingredients suit the recipient.
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Verkade Nobo Spritz Milk Chocolate 150 g
A spritz biscuit with milk chocolate for anyone looking for a biscuit to have with coffee and cake. The pack contains 150 g; it isn’t a box of different chocolate flavours. Check the ingredients on the label.
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Milka Chocolate Assortment Party Pack 143 g
A 143 g chocolate assortment to consider for a get-together. Check the current packaging for the exact contents, ingredients and allergens before sharing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose spritz biscuits or a chocolate box with coffee and cake?
Choose spritz biscuits if you mainly want to serve a biscuit with coffee and cake; choose a chocolate box if you want to give a gift or offer a choice of chocolate flavours. If you’re sharing, also check whether the chocolates you’ve chosen are individually wrapped.
Should I check for allergens in spritz biscuits and chocolate?
Yes. Check the latest ingredients list and allergen warnings on the specific packaging, especially if you’re buying for someone with a food allergy. The products reviewed have different ingredients; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to list allergens on prepacked food labels.
Is online ingredients information enough if someone has a food allergy?
Use online information to help you choose products, but also read the label on the pack you actually buy. This lets you check the ingredients and warnings for the version you’ve chosen.
How should I store chocolate after opening?
Follow the storage advice on the packaging of the chocolate you’ve chosen, especially if it’s a box with different fillings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that a white film on dark chocolate can be caused by fat; check the product’s storage instructions and assess any other changes individually.