Choose speculaas with dark chocolate if you mainly want individually portioned biscuits to take on a walk; for example, Lotus Biscoff lists a pack containing 7 × 3 biscuits. If a stated cocoa percentage is essential, you could pair plain speculaas with a separate chocolate bar that displays its percentage, or check the label of a ready-made option. The percentage on a separate bar does not apply to the combination as a whole, and chocolate needs extra care when packing in warm weather.
You want a dark chocolate flavour to go with the spiced taste of speculaas, and you’re looking for a percentage you can check on the packaging. Check whether the percentage refers to the chocolate, rather than the whole biscuit.
You want to be able to take a biscuit from your bag on the go, without first dividing up a large pack. A pack with individual portions can be practical, as long as you also take the heat into account.
Before setting off, you want to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in the products you’re actually taking with you. This is especially important if you need to avoid a particular ingredient or follow a specific diet.
First, choose between a ready-made biscuit and two separate products. Then compare the cocoa percentage, packaging and ingredients of the option you want to take with you.
Choose this if: you want to take individually portioned biscuits; Lotus Biscoff lists its version in a pack containing 7 × 3 biscuits.
The trade-off: the words ‘dark chocolate’ alone don’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the chocolate in that biscuit.
Choose this if: a stated cocoa percentage matters more to you. For example, ALDI Nederland lists 85% cocoa for a separate Moser Roth bar and also stocks Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas.
The trade-off: these are two products that you combine and pack separately; the percentage on the bar says nothing about the combination as a whole.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa percentage | Check whether a percentage is stated and whether it applies to the chocolate, rather than the whole biscuit product. | If I want to choose chocolate by a specific percentage, the word ‘dark’ on its own isn’t enough. Around 31% of consumers prioritise a percentage they can verify. |
| Portions and carrying | Check the number of portions, what happens to the packaging once opened, and the storage advice for the temperature you expect. | When I’m out and about, I want to be able to take a portion without dividing up biscuits or having chocolate melt in my bag. For around 38% of consumers, convenience on the go comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of every product you’re taking with you. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, I want to know what’s in both the speculaas and the chocolate before setting off. This check is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
On a pack of speculaas with dark chocolate, that description doesn’t tell you how much cocoa is in the chocolate in that particular biscuit. A percentage on a separate bar applies only to that bar, too.
If the percentage is a condition of your purchase, look for an explicit figure on the packaging and check which part of the product it refers to.
Wanderworld points out that chocolate can melt on a summer walk. So even a conveniently packaged biscuit won’t necessarily be easy to take with you.
Keep chocolate out of direct sunlight and, in warm weather, consider speculaas without chocolate or another snack without a chocolate coating.
Melted chocolate can mean extra cleaning for your packaging or bag.
Albert Heijn states that product information, including ingredients and allergen information, can change. So the details shown online may not match the packaging of the product you buy.
Before setting off, check the ingredients, allergens, best-before date and storage instructions on the actual packaging.
Lotus Biscoff lists an Original Speculoos version with dark chocolate in a pack of 7 × 3 biscuits. This could suit you if you want to take individually portioned biscuits with you.
Albert Heijn lists AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as a ready-made product.
ALDI Nederland lists Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas and a separate Moser Roth bar with 85% cocoa. You can pair these products yourself if the percentage in the chocolate matters to you.
Lidl Nederland lists a separate 125 g bar of dark chocolate with 90% cocoa for anyone who wants to make their own combination with speculaas.
These Joybuy products are separate chocolate bars with a stated cocoa percentage. Take plain speculaas separately if you want to eat both on your walk; none of these bars is a speculaas product.
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A separate chocolate bar for anyone who wants to take chocolate with a stated cocoa percentage of 90% to enjoy with speculaas. The pack states 100 g; the cocoa percentage applies to the bar, not the speculaas or the combination.
Take the speculaas separately. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens, portion sizes and storage advice, especially if you’re walking in warm weather.
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A separate chocolate bar for anyone who wants to take chocolate with a stated cocoa percentage of 70% to enjoy with speculaas. The pack states 100 g; the cocoa percentage applies to the bar, not the speculaas or the combination.
Take the speculaas separately. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens, portion sizes and storage advice, especially if you’re walking in warm weather.
No, that description doesn’t tell you the cocoa percentage of the chocolate in that particular biscuit. If you want to choose by percentage, look for an explicit figure on the current packaging and check whether it refers to the chocolate or the whole product.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of both the speculaas and the chocolate you’re taking with you. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains allergen labelling; the ingredients present depend on the products you choose.
Yes, if you bear in mind the risk of the chocolate melting. Wanderworld notes that chocolate can be inconvenient on a summer walk for this reason; keep your snack out of direct sunlight or choose an alternative without chocolate if melting would be a problem.
Use an online list to compare products, but also read the packaging of the product you actually buy. Albert Heijn states that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
