Want to stay active and healthy but prefer lifting a packet of hobnobs over weights? We hear you. While Britons are becoming more invested in their health, there’s no sign of an end to the 3pm-reach for the biscuit jar (bonus points for the arm stretch, though). But before you chastise yourself for giving in to the Garibaldi, we’re here to tell you, you don’t have to choose between the two. Low-calorie biscuits are very much a thing, and we promise they can fit snugly into almost any diet plan. And your stomach.
Making healthy choices while still enjoying something to dip in your cuppa is a matter of being smart. That’s why we’ve reviewed (eaten) most of the low-calorie biscuits on the market to devise this list. It will help you choose something that pairs as well with your health goals as it does your Earl Gray.
Where can you get biscuits under 50 calories you ask? We have just the tea:
1. Fox’s Party Rings
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 25 calories
- 0.8 gram fat
- 2.0 grams sugar
You know those neon kids’ party favourites that just look like they’re loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients? Well, Party Rings aren’t as problematic as they first appear and rank as the lowest-calorie (and lowest fat!) biscuits on our list. They are a tad higher in sugar than other biscuits, we admit, so maybe don’t go stacking them up – even if building a party ring tower next to your mug is pretty fun.
2. McVitie’s Rich Tea
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 38 calories
- 1.3 grams fat t
- 1.5 grams sugar
When it comes to low-calorie, Rich Tea is a great all-rounder—when you account for all three metrics: calorie count, fat, and sugar. Plus, it’s vegan-friendly. A mild, yet satisfying snack choice, remember: no dunking for longer than two seconds otherwise you risk the entire integrity of your English Breakfast. You have been warned.
Want the same great flavour but less sugar? Try Rich Tea Delights, although they have the same number of calories, they have 30% less of the sweet stuff. Your dentist will thank you.
3. Lotus Biscoff
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 38 calories
- 1.5 grams fat
- 3.0 grams sugar
Like Audrey Hepburn, this is another Belgian classic we Brits adopted as our own. The vegan-friendly Lotus Biscoff has been doing the rounds since 1932, and is still as tasty as ever.
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The biscoff belongs to a type of Belgian delicacy rather delightfully called the speculoos (spiced biscuits, basically) and it’s highly versatile—possibly the only biscuit that goes as well with coffee as tea. They won’t crumble after one dip, either.
4. Rhythm 108’s Double Chocolate Hazelnut Biscuit
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 41 calories
- 2.5 grams fat
- 2 grams sugar
Rhythm 108 might sound like a club night rather than a biscuit, but their double chocolate hazelnut variety are uber decadent in case you need to impress people at elevenses. 100% Organic and made without milk or refined sugars, it’s hard to believe they only set you back 41 calories per biscuit, (although all that luxury does come with a slightly higher fat content we must add).
More cookie-style than biscuit, and at over three quid a pop (unless on offer) they are pricier than other low-calorie options so maybe save them for a special occasion.
5. Nice Biscuits
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 41 calories
- 2.0 grams fat
- 1.3 grams sugar
The lowest-sugar biscuit on our list actually manages to make a feature of the sweet stuff all the same. Successful diets and health plans like the ones offered at Noom involve addressing your psychological triggers and moderating your less healthy habits. The light dusting of sugar crystals on the surface will help you feel like you’ve gotten your full day’s sugar fix as well as reminding you what biscuit you’re enjoying, just in case you forget in the moment.
The coconut tones also mean you don’t have to sacrifice flavour in the name of low-calorie. And they’ll survive a double dunking in tea. Be mindful however, that Nice biscuits are higher in fat, making them less suited for repeat visits to the tin.
6. Malted Milk
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 43 calories
- 1.9 grams fat
- 1.5 grams sugar
Beloved by grandparents everywhere, they’re simple, they’re nostalgic, they’re… Malted Milks (you were thinking Werthers for a second, weren’t you). Another solid low-calorie option that take you on a trip down memory lane. With its sweet yet nutty barley flavour, Malted Milks taste great with your brew, but they’re advertised as being pleasantly ‘crumbly’ for a reason. Repeat-dippers beware: you’ll find yourself fishing out the remains with a spoon.
7. Nairn’s Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Biscuit
Vital stats (per biscuit)
- 45 calories
- 1.7 grams fat
- 1.9 grams sugar
All you oat biscuit lovers, vainly hoping for the surprise appearance of the Hobnob somewhere in this list, must be on the verge of despair by now. We sympathise. You’re connoisseurs, and there is just something different about the mighty oat-based biscuit that leaves others quaking in its wake.
Still. Need some textural variety in your low-calorie biscuit tin while also satisfying those chocolate cravings? Nairn’s dark chocolate chip oat biscuits have got your back. We know Hobnobs remain supreme in taste, but what you lose in minor moreishness, you gain in relative health benefit. And we don’t even need to talk to you about structural integrity, those bad boys would see you through two cuppas at the very least (except we know they’ll be gone by then).
8. Belvita Breakfast Biscuits, Milk & Cereals
Vital stats (per biscuit):
- 49 calories
- 1.6 grams fat
- 2.2 grams sugar
Is it a snack or is it brekkie? Either way, this former office-drawer staple makes for a solid low-calorie option. Just under 50 calories, one Belvita packs in more fibre, calcium, magnesium, and iron than its peers, so your bones will thank you. They also come in a wide variety of flavours, so you’ll never be bored (though the chocoholics amongst you should keep an eye on the sugar content).
9. Make your own low-calorie biscuit
One great way to make sure your biscuits are both healthy,satisfying and easy-on-the-wallet is to get in the kitchen and do it yourself. Anything from raisin-and-oat biscuits to chocolate chip cookies are available online. Or why not be fancy and concoct your own recipe?.
The best thing about redirecting your low-calorie biscuit hunt from the supermarket to your home? Full reign over the ingredients. Many delicious homemade biscuit recipes allow you to swap out calorie-dense ingredients like sugar and wheat for fruits and nut flours.
Low-calorie biscuits = high-calibre taste
The great news for seekers of low-calorie baked goods is that dieting doesn’t have to mean losing out on taste or variety.
So, why not take the opportunity and try something new. Not a ‘Nice’ person (see what we did there)? Maybe you should be. Think the humble Rich Tea isn’t exquisite enough for your lofty tastes? Think again. We promise these low-calorie options will taste even sweeter when you know they’re helping you towards your health goals. Now, put the kettle on.
