Bakers looking to avoid added sugars
You want to choose the ingredients yourself. A recipe with dates could be a good option, as long as you bear in mind that dates naturally contain sugars.
Who are the different options for?
Shoppers keeping an eye on carbohydrates
You look beyond the sugar claim and compare the total carbohydrates per biscuit. A recipe with nuts and egg may have a different texture from a classic biscuit.
People choosing ready-made biscuits
You’re looking for a biscuit to eat straight away or crumble to make a base. In that case, the nutritional information per 100 g, ingredients and allergens matter more than baking instructions for dough.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what you want to avoid when it comes to sugar, and whether you want to bake biscuit dough or use an existing biscuit. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients for the option that suits your needs.
| What to look out for | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar claim | Check whether it says sugar-free or no added sugars, and look at the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. | If I’m looking for as little sugar as possible, I don’t want to rely only on the sweetener used in a recipe; around 33% of consumers with this baking question prioritise the sugar claim. |
| Texture and baking method | For a recipe, check how to make the dough, how long it needs to rest and the baking instructions; a ready-made biscuit isn’t a baking mix. | If I want crisp shortbread, I need to know whether the dough can be chilled and sliced. For around 27% of consumers, the finished bake is the most important factor. |
| Carbohydrates | Compare total carbohydrates and sugars per 100 g, and check the values per biscuit if the serving size is given. | When I’m tracking my carbohydrate intake, a low sugar value doesn’t tell me enough; around 20% of consumers put total carbohydrates first. |
| Ingredients | Read the latest allergen information and, if the product contains sweeteners, check for polyols and any usage warnings. | I need to be able to check whether a recipe or biscuit contains ingredients I avoid. For around 13% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Convenience | Check whether you’re buying a biscuit to use straight away or ingredients for a baking recipe. | If I want to make a crumb base quickly, I’d rather use a ready-made biscuit than prepare dough; around 7% of consumers prioritise convenience. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming no added sugars means sugar-free
Dates add sweetness to a biscuit recipe, but they naturally contain sugars. So a recipe with no added sugars won’t automatically meet a strict sugar target.
Check the exact claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a product labelled sugar-free may contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
-
Looking only at sugars
A sugar-free biscuit isn’t automatically low in carbohydrates. The nutritional information for AH Digestive 0% sugar lists 63 g of carbohydrates per 100 g, as well as 0.3 g of sugars.
For ready-made biscuits, compare the carbohydrates, sugars and energy per 100 g. Use the per-serving information to work out how much a biscuit contributes.
-
Skipping the ingredients and warnings
A sugar claim doesn’t tell you which allergens or sweeteners a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn and Verkade list polyols for the biscuits mentioned, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the ingredients, allergens and warnings on the latest packaging. If you’re baking at home, check every ingredient individually.
-
Treating a snack biscuit like biscuit dough
A biscuit you can crumble to make a base won’t give you dough that you can shape and bake into biscuits.
For homemade biscuits, choose a recipe with clear instructions for the dough and oven. Use a ready-made biscuit only for an application that suits the product.
Relevant brands and recipes to explore
Albert Heijn
Offers a ready-made sugar-free Digestive biscuit and, through Allerhande, a recipe for biscuits with no added sugars.
- The product information also suggests AH Digestive 0% sugar for uses such as a cheesecake base.
- The date recipe contains naturally occurring sugars; the Digestive biscuit isn’t dough for baking biscuits.
Jumbo
Publishes a shortbread recipe made with butter, egg and liquid sweetener.
- The method lets the dough rest before it’s sliced and baked.
- The nutritional value of the biscuits depends on the ingredients used and the portion size.
Céréal
Offers, among other products, a sugar-free coconut biscuit that’s ready to eat.
- The nutritional information for the coconut variety published by Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The same information lists 18 g of polyols per 100 g; also check the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Verkade
San Francisco zero is a ready-made biscuit with no added sugar.
- You can enjoy this variety straight away, with no baking required.
- The product information published by Albert Heijn lists maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
What does sugar-free mean for biscuits?
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the sugar-free nutrition claim means a product can contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. No added sugars is a different claim: ingredients such as dates may still contain naturally occurring sugars.
Are sugar-free biscuits also low in carbohydrates?
Not necessarily: the sugar claim alone tells you nothing about the total amount of carbohydrates. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then check the portion you’ll be eating.
What should I look out for with maltitol and other polyols?
Read the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging. The published product information for AH Digestive 0% sugar and Verkade San Francisco zero warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Should I check the label when buying biscuits online?
Yes. Check the packaging when your order arrives, especially if you need to avoid an ingredient or have a strict sugar target. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists ingredients and information about use and shelf life among the relevant label details.