Serve spritz biscuits as a separate treat alongside rusks with aniseed sprinkles, rather than assuming they can replace the rusks. Choose plain or butter if you don’t want a chocolate coating, and chocolate if that’s the flavour you’re after. If you’re looking for a single biscuit for a small occasion, check the pack size, whether the biscuits are individually wrapped, the allergens and the use-by date on the packaging.
If you’d like to serve something other than rusks when visiting new parents, you could put out spritz biscuits as a separate treat. Albert Heijn describes its fresh spritz biscuits as a treat to have with coffee or tea; this doesn’t tell you whether they’re individually wrapped.
If butter is an important ingredient for you, compare the exact varieties rather than relying on the brand names alone. Albert Heijn states that AH Spritsen contain 29% butter, while PLUS Spritsen contain 30%.
Ingredients vary between varieties. Check the packaging for the allergens listed, including wheat and milk and, depending on the product, egg, soya, nuts or sesame.
For a small treat, first decide how many biscuits you want to open. Then compare the varieties and, if you have specific dietary requirements, check the current ingredients and allergen information.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and portion size | Check the number of biscuits or the weight, and see whether individual wrapping is explicitly mentioned. | If I only want to serve one biscuit, I want to know how many will be left once the pack is open. A small portion is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Plain or butter | Compare the ingredients of the exact variety: AH Spritsen contain 29% butter and PLUS Spritsen 30%. | I’m looking for a spritz biscuit without a chocolate coating, and the choice between plain and butter is what matters most to me. That’s the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Chocolate | Check whether it’s dark or milk chocolate and read the ingredients for that variety. | For a biscuit to have with my coffee, I specifically want a chocolate flavour. Around 17% of consumers put this flavour choice first. |
| Allergens | Read the current packaging: as well as wheat and milk, egg, soya, nuts or sesame may also be relevant, depending on the variety. | I need to be able to check which allergens this particular biscuit contains before serving it. Checking allergens is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A portion size on the label doesn’t tell you whether each biscuit has its own wrapper. The spritz products mentioned are sold in packs of 150 g or 175 g, or in packs containing several biscuits.
Check the number of biscuits, and look for clear information on the packaging about individual wrapping if that’s important to you.
Plain, butter and chocolate varieties may have different ingredients and allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg, milk, soya and wheat among the ingredients of its dark chocolate spritz biscuits.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, rather than relying on the brand name or product image.
A chocolate coating changes the flavour and may mean the biscuits contain other ingredients too. Jumbo lists 18% dark chocolate in its chocolate variety.
Choose this variety if you want to serve chocolate biscuits, then compare its ingredients with those of the plain variety.
Verkade Nobo Sprits Original is a plain variety for anyone looking for a spritz biscuit without a chocolate coating.
AH Spritsen are fresh butter spritz biscuits for anyone looking for a pack with a set number of biscuits.
Jumbo Spritsen met Pure Chocolade are worth considering if you specifically want to compare a chocolate variety.
PLUS sells both butter spritz biscuits and Lunetta spritz biscuits; compare the varieties separately.
Biscotto is the brand name used for ALDI butter spritz biscuits, which may be worth comparing if you want a set number of biscuits.
Lidl presents Sondey as a brand of biscuits and snacks.
You can serve spritz biscuits as a separate treat, but don’t assume they replace rusks with aniseed sprinkles. Verkade and Albert Heijn describe the spritz products mentioned as biscuits, not as rusks or as an intended alternative to them.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal it well after opening. For Verkade Nobo Sprits plain, the recommendation is to store in a cool, dry place. Check the instructions again if you choose a different variety.
Read the allergen information for the exact variety, especially for wheat and milk and, depending on the product, egg, soya, nuts or sesame. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be listed on the label; an earlier product description is no substitute for the current packaging.
