Who are these options for?

Bakers keeping an eye on sugar

You’re looking for biscuits for a Christmas base, a biscuit layer or a coffee break, and want to compare the sugar content per 100 g. A claim such as ‘no added sugar’ isn’t enough on its own.

Christmas bakers who want to choose the shape and flavour

You want to adjust the amount of speculoos spices or shape the biscuits yourself. When you bake from scratch, all the ingredients you choose together determine the nutritional value of the finished bake.

Shoppers who need to check ingredients carefully

You’re taking polyols or allergens at the Christmas table into account. Check the ingredients list and any warnings on the pack you’re using.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you need biscuits for a base, a ready-to-serve biscuit or dough for homemade Christmas biscuits. Then compare the label or, if you’re baking from scratch, the ingredients in the whole recipe.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Sugars and packaging claims Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g with the claim on the front. ‘No added sugar’ does not mean a biscuit contains no sugars. If you’re choosing biscuits for a Christmas base, you’ll want to assess the sugar content rather than rely on the product name. For around 36% of consumers, checking the sugar content would be the main priority.
Flavour and shape Choose between biscuits to crumble, a spiced biscuit to serve as it is, or dough you can shape yourself. If you want your biscuits to have recognisable Christmas shapes, you may want to control how you use the dough and spices yourself. For around 29% of consumers, having control over the baking result would come first.
Sweeteners and polyols Check which sweeteners have been used and read the warning on the pack, especially if you’re using several biscuits in a dessert. If you’re making a large biscuit layer or several portions, you may want to take your sensitivity to polyols into account. Around 21% of consumers would consider this their main requirement.
Allergens and dietary requirements Check the current ingredients list and allergen information. Don’t assume a product is suitable based on its sugar claim alone. If you’re baking for guests, you’ll want to know whether your chosen biscuit suits their allergies or dietary requirements. This would be the deciding factor for an estimated 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Taking ‘no added sugar’ to mean ‘sugar-free’

    A biscuit can be made without added sugar and still contain sugars from ingredients such as dates. So the claim on the pack doesn’t automatically tell you how much sugar you’ll get per 100 g.

    Check the ‘of which sugars’ line in the nutrition table. Albert Heijn gives the sugar content per portion for its date recipe, despite describing it as having no added sugar.

  • Comparing only the sugar content

    A low sugar content doesn’t tell you how much energy, fat or saturated fat a biscuit contains. That can make a difference if you’re using a lot of biscuits for a base.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and work out how many biscuits you’ll use in your planned portion. Check energy, fat and fibre too.

  • Overlooking polyols

    Some low-sugar biscuits contain sweeteners such as maltitol. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that large amounts of polyols can cause digestive problems.

    Read the ingredients list and check for any warning about a laxative effect, particularly if the biscuit appears in several portions of a dessert.

  • Serving a spiced option without checking for allergens

    The sugar information tells you nothing about allergens. The Céréal speculoos-flavoured almond variety listed by Jumbo contains, among other ingredients, almonds, wheat, barley, egg, milk and soya.

    Check the allergen information on the current pack just before use, even if you’ve bought the product before.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% Sugar is a neutral biscuit worth considering for a crumb base or dessert layer.

  • According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety contains 0.3 g of sugars and 20 g of fat per 100 g. It is labelled vegan and lactose-free.
  • The biscuits contain wheat and the sweeteners maltitol and isomalt. The pack warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Céréal

Céréal offers, among other options, a coconut variety and a speculoos-flavoured biscuit with almond pieces, if you’re looking for a ready-made treat.

  • The product information at Jumbo lists 0 g of sugars per 100 g for the coconut variety and 0.4 g per 100 g for the speculoos and almond variety.
  • The same information lists 18 g and 29 g of polyols per 100 g respectively. Check the allergens in the speculoos and almond variety too; Jumbo lists 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g for this product.

Verkade

Verkade San Francisco Zero is worth comparing if you’re specifically looking for a biscuit labelled ‘0% added sugar’.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information distinguishes between no added sugar and sugars that are naturally present.
  • This variety contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g and includes maltitol, wheat, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Check the warning about excessive consumption too.

Related products at Joybuy

For a neutral crumb base, look for plain digestive biscuits; for a spiced Christmas flavour, choose speculoos-style biscuits. If you’d like to shape your own festive treats, look for baking ingredients such as flour and spices.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check the sugar content of a biscuit?

Check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g in the nutrition table and compare that figure with other biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre identifies the nutrition table as the place to find details including sugars, fat and energy. The claim on the front is no substitute for making that comparison.

Is ‘0% added sugar’ the same as sugar-free?

No. Ingredients can still contain naturally occurring sugars. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Verkade San Francisco Zero is labelled ‘0% added sugar’ and contains 1.7 g of sugars per 100 g.

Why do some biscuits carry a warning about a laxative effect?

This warning is linked to sweeteners such as polyols. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that large amounts can cause digestive problems. Check which sweeteners the biscuit contains and consider how many biscuits you’ll use in each portion.

Does a low sugar content also mean a low fat content?

No. You’ll need to check the nutritional information separately. Albert Heijn lists 20 g of fat per 100 g for AH Digestive 0% Sugar, while the Céréal speculoos-flavoured almond variety listed by Jumbo contains 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g.