Who might this choice matter to?

Consumers who prioritise sugar-free options

You’re looking for biscuits marketed as sugar-free for your games night. Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g in the nutritional information; the front of the pack doesn’t tell you the whole story.

Fans of classic spritz biscuits

You’re mainly after that familiar, crisp spritz biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea. The question is whether that flavour and texture matter more to you than serving a sugar-free biscuit.

Consumers checking ingredients for guests

You’re sharing biscuits around the table and want to know which allergens and sweeteners they contain. Check the packaging of each product before putting out a plate for everyone.

What should you look for when choosing?

Classic spritz biscuits

Choose these if: the familiar spritz flavour matters more to you for games night than choosing a sugar-free option.

The trade-off: the Verkade and Albert Heijn spritz biscuits for which Albert Heijn provides nutritional information contain 24 and 28 g of sugars per 100 g respectively.

Sugar-free alternative biscuits

Choose these if: a sugar-free biscuit matters more than having the precise shape and flavour of a spritz biscuit.

The trade-off: Céréal offers shortbread and speculoos biscuits as sugar-free, but they’re different types of biscuit and both contain polyols.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugars Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check the exact wording on the packaging. I want to serve sugar-free biscuits and not rely on a pack that only promises less sugar. Around 50% of consumers are said to prioritise this.
Spritz flavour and portions Compare the type of biscuit and the number or weight of biscuits in each pack. For me, crisp spritz biscuits are part of getting together; another kind of biscuit is only an option if I’m happy with a different flavour. Around 33% of consumers are said to see this as their main consideration.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the allergen information and compare polyols and energy per 100 g. When I’m sharing biscuits, I want to be able to check what’s in them and how many I’m serving beforehand. This is said to be the top priority for around 17% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugars’ as ‘sugar-free’

    The two phrases don’t mean the same thing. To find out how much sugar the biscuits contain, check the nutritional information.

    Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check the exact claim on the packaging.

  • Confusing sugar-free with low in energy

    Céréal lists 404 kcal per 100 g for its sugar-free speculoos biscuits with almonds and 426 kcal per 100 g for its sugar-free shortbread biscuits.

    As well as sugars, compare the energy per 100 g and consider how many biscuits you want to serve.

  • Checking the ingredients only after the biscuits are on the table

    The sugar-free alternatives mentioned contain polyols. Allergen information also varies between biscuits, which matters when you have guests.

    Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on each pack beforehand, and keep different biscuits clearly separated.

  • Mistaking another type of biscuit for a spritz biscuit

    Shortbread or speculoos biscuits can be an alternative to serve, but they won’t necessarily have the flavour and shape of a spritz biscuit.

    Before buying, decide whether you mainly want to serve classic spritz biscuits or whether a sugar-free biscuit of another kind will do.

Brands compared

Verkade

Nobo Sprits is a useful reference if you want to compare classic spritz biscuits with a sugar-free alternative.

  • Albert Heijn describes Nobo Sprits naturel as a crisp spritz biscuit.
  • Albert Heijn’s nutritional information lists 24 g of sugars per 100 g and identifies wheat and milk as allergens.

Céréal

Céréal offers sugar-free shortbread and speculoos biscuits for anyone happy to choose a different type of biscuit.

  • Céréal lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for Zandkoekjes Natuur and 0.4 g per 100 g for its speculoos biscuits with almond pieces.
  • They aren’t spritz biscuits. Céréal lists 19 and 29 g of polyols per 100 g respectively; check the allergens for each variety too.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s product information lets you compare regular AH Spritsen with a separate sugar-free biscuit.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% suiker.
  • Digestives aren’t spritz biscuits. According to Albert Heijn, AH Spritsen contain 28 g of sugars per 100 g.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are regular spritz biscuits a sugar-free option?

Not the varieties mentioned here. Albert Heijn lists 24 g of sugars per 100 g for Verkade Nobo Sprits naturel and 28 g per 100 g for AH Spritsen. Always check the nutritional information for any other product.

What should I look for when I’m after sugar-free biscuits?

Check the claim on the packaging as well as the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Céréal lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for Zandkoekjes Natuur and 0.4 g for its speculoos biscuits with almond pieces; both are different types of biscuit from spritz.

Will sugar-free biscuits automatically have fewer calories?

No. The sugar-free claim doesn’t tell you how much energy the product contains overall. Céréal lists 404 kcal per 100 g for its speculoos biscuits with almonds and 426 kcal per 100 g for Zandkoekjes Natuur, so compare portion sizes too.

Why do some sugar-free biscuits carry a warning about a laxative effect?

This warning may be related to the polyols in the product. Albert Heijn includes it on AH Digestive 0% suiker; check the ingredients and instructions on the packaging of the biscuits you buy.