If avoiding sugar is essential, Céréal speculoos with almond pieces could be an alternative to traditional spiced biscuits: Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g, below the 0.5 g per 100 g threshold cited by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. Before serving, check the current ingredients and allergen information too; these biscuits contain maltitols and ingredients including wheat, almonds, milk, eggs and soya. Lotus Bakeries lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Original, so this classic speculoos is not suitable if you need a strictly sugar-free option.
You’re looking for something for St Nicholas Eve and are open to speculoos as an alternative to traditional spiced biscuits. If so, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g rather than relying on the name on the front of the pack.
If you’re buying for several guests, the ingredients can matter just as much as the sugar content. According to Albert Heijn, Céréal speculoos contains wheat, almonds, milk, eggs and soya, among other ingredients.
For a festive platter, expected flavour, pack size and current availability all matter too. Just be sure to check separately whether the biscuit you choose meets any sugar-free requirement.
First, decide whether sugar-free is an absolute requirement. Then check which ingredients are suitable for your guests and whether speculoos is a good fit for the flavour and pack size you want for the occasion.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar-free claim | Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g for the ‘sugar-free’ claim. | If sugar-free is essential for me, I want to be able to check the sugar content on the pack. This is the most important consideration for around 42% of consumers. |
| Allergens and sweeteners | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. For products containing polyols, check the consumption warning too. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients or take polyols into account, I want to know what I’m serving them. For around 33% of consumers, checking the ingredients comes first. |
| Flavour and sharing | Check the pack size, ingredients and current availability; speculoos with almond pieces is not the same product as traditional spiced biscuits. | I want to share a treat that matches what my guests expect in terms of flavour. This is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
These claims don’t mean the same thing. Jumbo has a recipe called ‘Sugar-free spiced biscuits’, but it lists 500 g of maple syrup as an ingredient; the title doesn’t tell you how much sugar the finished product contains per 100 g.
If sugar-free is essential, check both the claim and the nutritional information on the pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre sets the limit for ‘sugar-free’ at a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
Alongside 0.4 g of sugars, Albert Heijn lists 404 kcal, 20 g of fat and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g for Céréal speculoos. So the sugar content doesn’t tell you everything about its nutritional value.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the values that matter to you, without judging the whole product on the basis of a single nutrient.
According to Albert Heijn, Céréal speculoos contains wheat, almonds, milk, eggs and soya. The product information lists maltitols and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Check the current pack before serving the biscuits, and take account of any ingredients and warnings that are relevant to your guests.
Lotus Bakeries lists 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Original. Its familiar flavour doesn’t change the sugar content.
Don’t choose this product as a substitute for someone who has specifically asked for a sugar-free treat.
Céréal makes a packaged speculoos with almond pieces. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g.
Lotus Biscoff Original is a classic speculoos, not a suitable alternative if sugar-free is essential.
Jumbo lists both Céréal speculoos with no sugars and its own gluten-free spiced biscuits; these are different products.
Albert Heijn provides nutritional and ingredient information for Céréal speculoos with almond pieces.
ALDI lists a two-pack of filled spiced biscuits with almonds and almond paste, a different type of product from the speculoos mentioned here.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the ‘sugar-free’ claim for solid foods means a maximum of 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. To check, look for the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information per 100 g.
No. A product with no added sugars may still contain sugars that occur naturally. If you need a strictly sugar-free option, check the specific claim and the stated sugar content per 100 g.
No. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars for Céréal speculoos, but also 404 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g. Read the full nutritional information if other nutritional values matter to your choice too.
Check the current pack for any allergens relevant to your guests. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Céréal speculoos contains wheat, almonds, milk, eggs and soya.
Céréal speculoos contains maltitols; the product information warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Bear this warning in mind when deciding how many to serve.
