Home bakers who use small quantities
If you occasionally use a few biscuits as a topping or decoration, small inner packs mean you don’t have to open the whole pack straight away. Just check how many biscuits are in each sachet.
Who does the packaging make a difference to?
Bakers making pie bases and crumb layers
If you need lots of crumbs at once, compare the net weight and texture. A larger pack, such as the pack of four 250 g sleeves described by Lotus, may mean opening fewer sachets.
Bakers who need to check allergens
If you’re baking for someone with dietary requirements or allergies, check the information for the exact variety you’ve chosen. A previous purchase or similar pack is no substitute.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how many biscuits you’ll open for each baking session; then check whether the flavour and texture suit your recipe. If you need to check for allergens, verifying the exact ingredients comes first.
Small inner packs
Suitable for: baking sessions when you only use a few biscuits at a time. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL as containing ten sachets, with two biscuits in each.
Trade-off: you may need to open lots of sachets if you need a large quantity of crumbs.
Larger pack
Suitable for: recipes that call for lots of biscuits to be crushed at once. Lotus describes a 1 kg pack in four 250 g sleeves for use in desserts.
Trade-off: seal an opened pack well and store the rest somewhere cool, dry and dark, as advised by the Voedingscentrum.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and storage | Count the sachets and the biscuits in each one. Check how you can reseal an opened pack. | If I only need a few biscuits on different days, I want to be able to leave the rest unopened. For around 42% of consumers, portion sizes and storage are the top priorities. |
| Quantity and recipe | Compare the weight you need with the pack contents, and check whether the flavour and texture suit a base, crumb layer or decoration. | For a pie base, I want enough biscuits without unexpectedly changing the flavour and texture of my recipe. For around 33% of consumers, suitability for the recipe matters most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and highlighted allergens for the exact variety; check the packaging when it arrives, too. | If I’m baking for someone with an allergy, I need to know what’s in these particular biscuits. Around 25% of consumers give this check the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming one sachet contains one biscuit
Individually wrapped doesn’t always mean wrapped one by one: Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL as containing two biscuits per sachet.
Before you decide how much you need for your recipe, count both the inner packs and the biscuits in each pack, and check the total weight.
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Treating all biscuits as the same base for crumbs
Chocolate, speculoos flavour or a softer biscuit can give your base a different flavour or texture from the one you had in mind. For example, ALDI describes chocolate biscuits and individually wrapped koekhappers; the latter are spiced or breakfast cake, not dry biscuits.
Choose according to the recipe you’re making, and check the type of biscuit, flavour and texture before deciding how much you need.
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Judging an opened pack by its date alone
The Voedingscentrum lists softening, a musty smell, drying out and loss of flavour as possible changes in the quality of biscuits.
Store an opened pack somewhere cool, dry and dark, and seal it well. Check the biscuits before using them.
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Assuming the allergens are the same as in another variety
Ingredients vary from product to product; for example, Jumbo lists wheat and soya in Lotus Biscoff XL.
Read the current ingredients and highlighted allergens for the exact variety, even if you’ve bought the brand before.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Lotus Biscoff
With this brand, the right pack format depends on how many biscuits you use at a time.
- Jumbo lists Biscoff XL as containing ten sachets, with two biscuits in each. Lotus also describes a 1 kg dessert pack in four 250 g sleeves.
- These are different varieties, so don’t assume they have the same portion sizes. For Biscoff XL, also check the wheat and soya listed by Jumbo.
Biscotto
Biscotto is worth considering if biscuits wrapped in pairs and a chocolate flavour suit your recipe.
- ALDI describes a pack of 20 butter biscuits with dark, white and milk chocolate, wrapped in pairs.
- The chocolate flavours are a deliberate choice for your recipe, rather than an obvious neutral base for crumbs.
Goud Gebakken
This ALDI product range is worth considering if you’re looking for spiced or breakfast cake in individual portions.
- ALDI lists six individually wrapped koekhappers.
- Spiced or breakfast cake isn’t a direct substitute for a dry, crisp biscuit in every recipe. Check that the texture is right for your needs first.
Biscuits for baking in portions
These Joybuy biscuits are worth considering if you bake in portions. Compare the pack size with the amount your recipe calls for; if you’re looking for a neutral crumb base, also consider any chocolate or cream filling.
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Ulker Halley Mini Biscuit 3x77g
For smaller baking sessions, compare the 3x77g pack size with the amount your recipe needs.
Before using them, check that the flavour and texture suit the base or topping you want to make.
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Smoeltjes Ghost Biscuits, 7 pieces
A pack of seven is worth comparing with recipes that use a limited number of biscuits.
Check how the biscuits are packed inside and whether they’re suitable for the crumb texture you want.
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Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits, 150 g
Consider this milk chocolate variety if its chocolate flavour suits your baking recipe.
The pack contains 150 g. Check how many biscuits you’ll open at a time and whether chocolate biscuits will make the right base for your recipe.
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Smoeltjes Ghost Biscuits, 7 pieces x2
The 7 pieces x2 pack size is worth considering if you’re planning for more than one baking session.
Don’t assume from the title that each biscuit is individually wrapped: check the inner packaging and make sure the biscuits suit your recipe.
Frequently asked questions
Does each sachet contain exactly one biscuit?
No. Jumbo lists Lotus Biscoff XL as containing ten sachets, each with two biscuits. So before working out how much you need for a recipe, check both the number of sachets and the number of biscuits in each one.
How should I store biscuits I’ll use later?
Store an opened pack somewhere cool, dry and dark, and seal it well, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. For an unopened pack, follow the storage instructions and date on the label.
What food information should I be able to check before buying online?
For online sales of prepacked food in the EU, the European Commission says that mandatory food information must be available before purchase, including information about ingredients and allergens. Also check the packaging of the exact biscuit variety you receive before baking with it.
Can I rely on a previous purchase from the same brand for allergen information?
No. Check the current ingredients and highlighted allergens for the exact variety. Another flavour or version may have different ingredients; for example, Jumbo lists wheat and soya in Lotus Biscoff XL.