Choose a speculaas biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate if your main aim is to share biscuits while moving. If you’d rather have a chocolate bar filled with speculoos cream, check which part of the product the stated cocoa percentage applies to. A large pack of plain speculaas with dark chocolate on the side is another option, but it isn’t a ready-made dark chocolate speculaas biscuit.
You’re looking for a combination of speculaas spices and dark chocolate. Don’t just look for the word ‘dark’: check the ingredients and, if stated, the cocoa percentage too. Make sure you know whether that percentage applies to the chocolate or the whole product.
Whether it’s for housemates, moving helpers or a break between unpacking, you’ll want to know how many biscuits are in a pack, whether they’re individually wrapped and how to store an opened pack.
You’ll need information about the exact variety you’re buying. Check the current label for ingredients such as wheat, milk and soya, and look out for any warnings about traces of nuts.
Choose this if: you want a biscuit to put out or take with you, with the speculaas itself taking centre stage.
Bear in mind: the word ‘dark’ in the name doesn’t tell you how much cocoa the whole biscuit contains.
Choose this if: you’d rather buy a filled chocolate bar than a single biscuit. Albert Heijn states that the Lotus Biscoff bar contains at least 57% cocoa solids in its chocolate component.
Bear in mind: that percentage doesn’t apply to the bar as a whole. The cream filling also makes this a different type of product from a speculaas biscuit with a chocolate layer.
Choose this if: you want a larger pack of biscuits to share and would prefer to choose the chocolate yourself.
Bear in mind: this isn’t a ready-made biscuit with dark chocolate; check the ingredients of both products separately.
| What to consider | What to look for | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check whether a cocoa percentage applies to the chocolate component or the whole product. You can also compare the sugar content per 100 g. | I’m looking for a more pronounced chocolate flavour, but don’t want to rely on the product name alone; this is the main consideration for around 33% of consumers. |
| Stocking up | Check the net weight and storage advice. Jumbo states that its plain Bakkers Speculaas comes in a 600 g pack. | If I want to have biscuits at home after the move, the quantity needs to suit how much we can get through; this is the main consideration for around 27% of consumers. |
| Sharing and taking with you | Check the number of biscuits and whether they’re individually portioned. The Lotus Biscoff biscuit with dark chocolate listed by Jumbo was packaged in pairs. | For moving helpers and housemates who’ll be there at different times, I’m looking for portions that are easy to hand out; this matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the label on the variety you buy, including the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements. | When I’m putting something out for someone with an allergy, I want to know exactly what’s in that pack; checking this is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
A speculaas biscuit may have a layer of dark chocolate without stating a cocoa percentage. On a filled bar, a percentage may refer only to the chocolate component.
Look for the percentage on the packaging and check which part of the product it describes. Use the ingredients list to compare the different product types further.
Albert Heijn listed AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as discontinued; the Lotus Biscoff biscuit with dark chocolate shown by Jumbo was no longer available online.
Shortly before the move, check whether your chosen variety is available in store or for delivery.
If you have to find an alternative at the last minute, it’ll take extra time.
Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas, in a 600 g pack, is plain speculaas. It isn’t a substitute for a ready-made biscuit with a layer of dark chocolate.
Choose a large pack only if plain speculaas suits your plans, perhaps with chocolate chosen separately. Follow the storage advice once the pack is open.
According to the product information listed by Jumbo, its Lotus biscuit contains milk, wheat and soya. Albert Heijn also states that the Lotus bar with speculoos cream may contain nuts.
If you have an allergy, always read the current label for the exact variety, even if you’ve already checked the online product description.
Lotus Biscoff lists both speculoos with dark chocolate and a chocolate bar filled with speculoos cream. These are different types of product.
Albert Heijn has published product information about 320 g packs of AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade and the Lotus Biscoff bar filled with speculoos cream.
Jumbo lists 600 g packs of plain Bakkers Speculaas and has published product information about a Lotus Biscoff biscuit with dark chocolate.
Lidl Netherlands lists 90% cocoa dark chocolate as a store product.
ALDI features speculaas and chocolate in its Sinterklaas range.
No. ‘Dark’ on its own doesn’t give you a cocoa percentage for the whole biscuit. Check whether a percentage is stated and what it applies to. For the Lotus Biscoff bar, Albert Heijn states that the chocolate component contains at least 57% cocoa solids; this isn’t a percentage for the whole bar.
Check the allergens on the packaging of the exact variety you’re buying. According to the product information, the Lotus Biscoff biscuit listed by Jumbo contains milk, wheat and soya; Albert Heijn also states that its Lotus bar with speculoos cream may contain nuts. Don’t assume these examples apply to other products.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging. Jumbo recommends keeping its Bakkers Speculaas in a cool, dry place and suggests using an airtight biscuit tin for an opened pack.
Also read the label on the pack you actually buy, especially if you have an allergy. Product information can change, so check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging.
