Aldi Luxury Belgian Cookie Gift Box Review
Author’s Note: This is a completely unpaid and unbiased review. I have no affiliation with Aldi.
A crisp alternative to chocolates.
I am generally suspicious of any product that labels itself “luxury” or “gourmet.” But these are actually rather snazzy little cookies. Very posh. Sort of like souped-up chocolates, with crunchy cookies in the mix. Layers of complexity. If they were humans, they would need expensive therapy.
Although the box isn’t especially large, it contains about 20 tiny cookies. Approximately the same size as a chocolate candy. This is the entire contents of the box on this plate:
The piquant size, fancy appearance, and visual variety would make them excellent for a tea party or an elegant party spread. Obviously, they’re perfect as a gift, too. There are six distinct styles of cookies:
Mignardise Vanillais
This is like two (small) vanilla wafers filled with teeny, crunchy bits of coconut, sandwiching a creamy vanilla iced center.
The bottom and sides are covered in white chocolate. I love the crispness of the wafers and the surprise coconut crunch, but found the cream icing cloyingly sweet And not as flavorful as some of its siblings. “Why can’t you be more like your sister?!”
Mignardise Cafe Noir
Similar to its vanilla friend, this double-decker dude has the same ariy, textured wafers, but with an explosion of cappuccino-flavored cream inside. The bottom and sides are coated thinly in dark chocolate, which helps the coffee shine through unobstructed.
I loved the strong coffee punch of this one, and it seemed less overwhelmingly sweet. I’d eat a whole box of these. Famous last words?
Ganache Caramel
Hmm! It’s a crisp, somewhat thicker (denser) wafer with a dollop of soft caramel inside. Coated in milk chocolate. The caramel has a pleasant creamy smoothness, and high quality buttery-salty flavor. The ingredients list Guérande sea salt, which reminds me of the salty St Michel Butter Cookies I previously reviewed. It definitely tastes more extravagant than most mass-produced caramel-cookies.
The milk chocolate coating is thin enough that it doesn’t take over, but it was still overall sweeter than I prefer. Bossy, bossy sugar!
Ganache Noisette
This is a lot like the previous specimen, except it has a hazelnut cream dollop inside, and a sprinkling of teeny-tiny chopped (super crisp) almonds on the outside.
The hazelnut cream is surprisingly sophisticated. It’s got a lovely whipped, buttery texture that I enjoyed more than the other iced fillings. Velvety-lush. It melts on the tongue. The milk chocolate coating is identical to above.
Pearl Noire
This is another little textured ‘nilla wafer with crunchy coconut bits inside, sitting underneath a thick ball of whipped chocolate icing. The label describes it as “smooth chocolate cream from Ghana.” Hmm, ok? Whatever it is, it’s classy. It has a deep, cocoa bite, nearly tangy. I am “Team Dark Chocolate,” so of course I preferred the dark chocolate coating on this one.
There are also itty-bitty bits of crunchy cocoa beans texturing the outside. I enjoyed the swift kick of theobromine jitters these bean-bits provided. *types faster* I think this is my second-favorite cookie from the box.
Perle Blanche
I saved the best for last. I liked this one way better than I expected. In fact, it might be my favorite. It’s also got the same crunchy, textured wafer base, but the dome of icing is richly vanilla bean flavored. In fact, it’s peppered with tiny, crisp bits of vanilla beans inside. Look at them:
I love the contrast of ultra-soft cream against crisp cookie wafer. It has a warm, luxurious flavor that I adored, even though I found it too sweet. The outside is coated in thin white chocolate, with an artistic sprinkle of cocoa powder.
Why buy these instead of regular chocolates?
I think “cookie chocolates” are a fun departure from traditional “candy chocolates.” They’re slightly less rich, and have more crunchy satisfaction than candy. Overall, the strong flavors and texture changes were well done. And the aesthetics are lovely — each of these is shaped and garnished in a sophisticated way.
However, die-hard chocolate lovers may find the the thinner chocolate coating a cruel taunt that leaves their cocoa appetites unsatisfied.
(For a very thick layer of chocolate, check out my review of these Dubai Chocolate Bars.)
If I had a suggestion, it would be to change up the cookie wafers more, as there seem to be just two types of wafers total in the whole box. A chocolate wafer, or a nutty wafer, or even a caramel wafer (ala Biscoff) might be just the ticket. I could have done with 25% less sugar, too. But, for folks with raging sweet tooths, these are perfect.
(For a simpler, less sweet cookie treat, check out my review of these Belgian Butter Waffle Crisps, also from Aldi.)
Packaging
These multifarious nuggets come in an ultra-heavy-duty box. Super sleek. It’s got the heft and structure of something more expensive than it is. When gift-giving, packaging matters almost as much as the product.
For the same amount of money, Aldi could have printed this box with a less commercial-looking design. Perhaps something that customers would treasure and reuse. I’m thinking an elegant William Morris-type pattern. Or, heck, I’d also dig a more cerebral Escher-style print.
There are so many artists in the world who would benefit from this kind of partnership with Aldi. But anyway. No one asked me!
Serving the cookies
The cookies inside are protected in plastic compartments and shrink wrapped tightly. Mine were extraordinarily fresh and crisp tasting, which was a relief. I stored mine in the refrigerator, but I let them warm up to room temperature on a plate before eating. Otherwise, the cream centers are stiff and hard.
Ingredients in Luxury Belgian Cookie Gift Box from Aldi
Welp. These are actually pretty decent ingredients, all things considered. I’m especially impressed by the Guérande sea salt, and the real vanilla seeds (even if they are “spent”), real cream, bourbon vanilla extract, butter, and coconut. I do find it curious that although the coconut flavor is palpable, and although coconut is listed in the ingredients, it isn’t included anywhere on the box when describing the cookie flavors. Seems notable.
These are imported from Belgium.
Nutrition Facts
A serving is 3 cookies and contains 170 calories. You get 10 grams of fat (6 grams saturated fat) and 2 grams of protein. There are 15 grams of sugar, which is less than I expected. Only 14 grams are “added sugars.” There’s only 1% your daily value of sodium.
Price and Servings
The 7.8 ounce (220 gram) box cost $7.99 at my local Aldi. Since there are 7 servings per box, each serving costs about $1.14.
Dramatic Conclusion
These Belgian Luxury Cookies are a sophisticated change of pace from a typical box of chocolates. On my high-tech “Awesome-o-Meter,” they score a scientific “Yaaas.”
This gift box would make a great present for friends who like rich flavors, layers, and crisp-but-chocolatey surprises. They’re priced right for treating yourself, too.
The End.
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