Which product format is right for you?

If you’re looking for a chocolate speculaas biscuit

You want speculaas to be the biscuit itself, rather than an ingredient in a chocolate bar. Read the product description and check whether the chocolate forms the coating you’re expecting.

If you’d like to give a compact bar as a gift

You’d rather give a chocolate bar with speculaas pieces or filling, and don’t mind that it’s a different product format from a chocolate-coated biscuit.

If you need to check the label carefully

You’re choosing something for someone for whom ingredients or allergens matter. As well as the ingredients list, read any warnings about the possible presence of milk, peanuts or nuts, for example.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether you want the gift to be a chocolate biscuit or a chocolate bar. Then check the pack size and the current label.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Biscuit or bar Check whether the description says speculaas with chocolate, or chocolate with speculaas pieces or filling. If you’re expecting a coating, see how the chocolate is applied to the biscuit. If I want to give someone a biscuit, I don’t want to come home with a bar that just tastes of speculaas. That’s why around 42% of consumers prioritise the biscuit format and chocolate.
Gift size Compare the product format and net weight: the Jumbo biscuit pack mentioned is 375 g, while the bars reviewed are 100 g or 135 g. I might choose a compact bar for one person, but a pack of biscuits for sharing. Gift size or how easy it is to share is a priority for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ warning. Compare nutritional values per 100 g if they’re relevant to your choice. If I’m buying something for someone with a food allergy, the label needs to suit their needs; a plant-based description alone isn’t enough. For around 25% of consumers, checking ingredients and allergens is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a bar for a chocolate-coated speculaas biscuit

    AH Speculaas witte chocolade crunchy and Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade are chocolate bars with speculaas or biscuit pieces. If you’re expecting a biscuit, you’ll get a different product format.

    Read the product description before choosing based on an image or search term. If the coating is important to you, check how the chocolate is applied to the biscuit.

  • Assuming ‘plant-based’ means suitable for every allergy

    The product information for Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos describes it as a plant-based bar, but also says it may contain milk, peanuts and nuts.

    Check the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ warning for the person you’re buying it for. If they have an allergy, don’t rely on the plant-based label alone.

  • Comparing nutritional values for different portion sizes

    Portion sizes can vary between products, so nutritional values per portion don’t provide a like-for-like comparison of things such as sugar or fat.

    Compare nutritional values per 100 g, as the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises. Check the net weight separately if the size of the gift matters.

  • Buying well before Valentine’s Day without checking the storage advice

    The packaging and storage conditions can affect the quality of biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing them in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container.

    Before giving the gift, check the best-before date, the condition of the packaging and the storage advice on the product.

Brands to consider

Jumbo

Jumbo Speculaas Molens met Melkchocolade is a 375 g biscuit product.

  • Jumbo describes the product as speculaas with 30% milk chocolate.
  • The product information lists milk, wheat and gluten, and says it may also contain peanuts and nuts, among other allergens. Check the current label.

Albert Heijn

AH Speculaas witte chocolade crunchy is a 100 g chocolate bar.

  • According to Albert Heijn, the white chocolate contains 8% speculaas.
  • It isn’t a chocolate-coated speculaas biscuit. Check the current ingredients and allergen information before buying the bar for someone else.

Verkade

Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade is a 135 g bar.

  • The product description listed by Jumbo specifies milk chocolate with 10% biscuit pieces and 0.25% speculaas spices.
  • This bar isn’t shaped like a chocolate-coated speculaas biscuit. The product information lists milk, wheat and soya.

Hands Off

Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos is a filled 100 g chocolate bar.

  • Albert Heijn’s product information describes the bar as plant-based and lists 19.1% speculoos filling and 4.4% speculoos pieces.
  • It isn’t a chocolate-coated biscuit. The label lists wheat and soya and warns that it may contain milk, peanuts and nuts.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff is a useful reference if you’re looking for the flavour of a speculoos biscuit.

  • Lotus Bakeries describes the Biscoff biscuit as crunchy with a caramelised flavour.
  • The brand name alone doesn’t tell you whether a particular biscuit has a chocolate coating; check the description of the specific variety.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell a chocolate speculaas biscuit from a bar?

Start by reading the product description: ‘speculaas with milk chocolate’ points to a biscuit product, while ‘chocolate with speculaas’ could also mean a bar. If you specifically want a chocolate layer on the biscuit, take a closer look at the image and packaging.

Should I check allergens when ordering online?

Yes. Check the allergen information before ordering, and read the label on the product you receive before giving it as a gift. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the need to list allergens on food labels; also look out for any ‘may contain’ warnings.

Is a plant-based speculoos bar suitable for someone with a milk allergy?

You can’t tell from the word ‘plant-based’ alone. Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos is described as plant-based, but the product information says the bar may contain milk. Check the warning on the packaging for the person you’re buying it for.

How should I store speculaas biscuits until Valentine’s Day?

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container. Also follow the storage advice and best-before date on the packaging, and check that the packaging is intact before giving it as a gift.