Dark chocolate fans
You’re looking for speculaas with dark chocolate and want to compare cocoa percentages, rather than relying on words such as ‘dark’ or ‘pure’ alone.
Who are these options for?
Anyone packing a snack for sport
You want to take a biscuit with you without any preparation. A small, individually wrapped portion may be more practical than a large pack, even if the biscuit doesn’t contain chocolate.
Shoppers checking for allergens
Check the label on the pack you’re buying for ingredients, allergens and any warnings about traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels.
What should you check before buying?
Decide what matters most to you: speculaas and dark chocolate together, a clearly stated cocoa percentage or a portion that’s easy to take with you. These priorities won’t necessarily lead you to the same biscuit.
Speculaas with dark chocolate
A good fit if: you want both in one product. Aerts Speculaas lists classic speculaas with 40% chocolate as an ingredient.
The trade-off: that ingredient percentage doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage; also check whether delivery to the Netherlands is available.
Speculaas with a separate bar of dark chocolate
A good fit if: you want to choose your own speculaas and see the stated cocoa percentage on the chocolate.
The trade-off: you’ll be taking two separate products with you, rather than ready-made chocolate speculaas.
Individually wrapped speculoos
A good fit if: a small, individually wrapped biscuit for your bag matters more to you than chocolate.
The trade-off: individually wrapped Lotus Biscoff speculoos isn’t speculaas with dark chocolate.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa percentage | Look for the cocoa percentage in the chocolate; the proportion of chocolate in the whole biscuit is a different figure. | If you’re after a pronounced dark chocolate flavour, don’t rely on the product name alone. For around 31% of consumers, being able to check the cocoa percentage is a top priority. |
| Packaging and portion size | Check whether the biscuits are individually wrapped and how many are in one portion. | A small biscuit should fit into your gym bag without any preparation. Around 25% of consumers give top priority to portability and portion size. |
| When you’re training | Choose a portion to suit when you’re exercising; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion just beforehand. | If I’m training shortly after eating, I don’t want to start with a full stomach. For around 25% of consumers, the timing of their training matters most. |
| Allergens | Read the label on the pack you’re buying, including any warnings about possible traces. | If I need to avoid an allergen, the current label matters more than flavour or size. Around 19% of consumers make this their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a stated cocoa percentage
Aerts Speculaas lists 40% chocolate as an ingredient. That isn’t the cocoa percentage of the chocolate.
If that figure is what will guide your choice, look for the cocoa percentage on the packaging.
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Assuming an old product listing is still available to buy
Albert Heijn marks AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as ‘Discontinued’. So a saved product page doesn’t mean you can still buy this variety.
Check the current product status and, if you choose an alternative, compare the ingredients and allergens again.
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Eating a large pack just before exercising
A pack contains more than the small portion you may have intended to take with you. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion just before exercising.
Take only the portion you plan to eat and consider how long it is until your training session.
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Checking only a product photo if you have allergies
Different allergens and warnings are relevant to the biscuit varieties mentioned; a photo won’t always show the information on the packaging.
Read the label on the exact pack you’re buying, even if you’ve had the product before.
Brands to consider
Aerts Speculaas
Aerts Speculaas lists classic speculaas with dark chocolate in a 130 g pack.
- According to Aerts Speculaas, chocolate makes up 40% of this variety as an ingredient.
- This doesn’t state the cocoa percentage of the chocolate. The product contains gluten and egg; check the packaging for other relevant allergens and whether delivery to the Netherlands is available.
Lotus Biscoff
An option for plain, individually wrapped speculoos if portability matters more to you than having dark chocolate as well.
- The variety listed by Albert Heijn contains individually wrapped biscuits.
- This is speculoos without dark chocolate. Read the label if wheat, soya or other allergens are relevant to you.
Albert Heijn
The online speculaas category includes a range of biscuits, including a Lotus Biscoff snack pack.
- The category is a good starting point for comparing packaging types.
- Albert Heijn marks AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as ‘Discontinued’; don’t count on finding this variety without checking its current status.
Dark chocolate to take separately
These Joybuy products are bars of dark chocolate with a stated cocoa percentage. You can take them with speculaas chosen separately; neither bar is a speculaas snack. Check the portion packaging and current label before buying.
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Lindt Excellence 78% cocoa, 100 g
For anyone taking speculaas separately and looking for a bar with a stated cocoa percentage. The product name gives 78% cocoa and 100 g; check the label for allergens and bear in mind that chocolate may soften in a warm gym bag.
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Lindt Excellence dark chocolate, 70% cocoa, 100 g
For anyone who wants to take a bar with a stated cocoa percentage alongside speculaas chosen separately. The product name gives 70% cocoa and 100 g; check the current label for allergens and the packaging if you want to take a small portion with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I eat speculaas with dark chocolate just before training?
Stick to a small portion if you want to eat something shortly before exercising. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against eating a large portion just before exercising; see what feels right for you around your training session.
Does ‘dark chocolate’ mean the biscuit has a high cocoa percentage?
No, the product name alone doesn’t give you a cocoa percentage. Aerts Speculaas states that chocolate makes up 40% of its speculaas product, not how much cocoa that chocolate contains. Check the cocoa percentage separately if it matters to your choice.
Should I check the allergens again when buying another pack?
Yes, read the label on the pack you’re buying, even if you know the product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information on food labels; if an allergen is relevant to you, don’t rely solely on an earlier online description.