Who is this choice relevant to?

Anyone about to work out

If you’re hungry shortly before a workout, portion size and timing matter more than the type of chocolate. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper meal around two to three hours before exercise.

Fans of dark chocolate flavour

If you’re mainly after a pronounced dark flavour, check whether the cocoa percentage is stated. The amount of chocolate in a spiced biscuit product is not the same as the cocoa content of that chocolate.

Anyone checking for allergens

Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re buying. Lotus Biscoff lists wheat, milk and soya in its speculoos with dark chocolate; don’t assume another recipe has the same ingredients.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, consider how long you have before your workout and how substantial your snack needs to be. Then compare the nutritional information and, if you’re looking for a dark flavour, check the stated cocoa percentage.

What to consider What to check Who is this relevant to?
A portion just before exercise Check the portion size and compare the fat and fibre per 100 g with the time you have before your workout. If I get hungry just before a workout, I want something small that won’t feel heavy. For around 46% of consumers, stomach comfort is the top priority when making this choice.
Eating around a longer workout Compare the carbohydrates per portion and plan what you’ll drink during your workout, too. For a longer or more intense workout, I want to plan my food and drink in advance, rather than simply relying on a biscuit. Around 36% of consumers prioritise planning their carbohydrate intake.
Dark flavour and cocoa Look for a clearly stated cocoa percentage; don’t confuse it with the percentage of chocolate in the biscuit. I’m mainly looking for a pronounced dark chocolate flavour and want to be able to check the cocoa content. For around 18% of consumers, checking the flavour and cocoa content is the most important factor.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark chocolate’ means a confirmed high cocoa percentage

    Lotus Biscoff states that its speculoos variety contains 22% chocolate. This figure refers to the amount of chocolate in the product, not the cocoa content of that chocolate.

    If a high cocoa percentage is your main priority, look for a specific figure on the pack or product page.

  • Thinking a large portion of chocolate spiced biscuits is a light snack

    The Lotus Biscoff variety with dark chocolate contains 22.0 g of fat per 100 g. A large portion or high-fat food may not sit comfortably just before exercise.

    Choose your portion according to how long you have before your workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper meal around two to three hours beforehand.

  • Relying on a familiar product without reading the label

    Lotus Biscoff’s speculoos with dark chocolate contains wheat, milk and soya. Ingredients and allergens can vary between products and varieties.

    When you buy it, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the pack you’ve chosen.

  • Assuming a product page means the product is still available to buy

    On its product page, Albert Heijn marks AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as ‘discontinued’.

    Check whether the product is available. If you choose an alternative, check its label and nutritional information again.

Brands to consider

Lotus Biscoff

Offers a speculoos variety with dark chocolate, as well as a separate six-grain variety.

  • Lotus Biscoff states that its chocolate variety contains 22% chocolate, 68.2 g of carbohydrates and 22.0 g of fat per 100 g.
  • The chocolate percentage doesn’t confirm a high cocoa content. The chocolate variety contains wheat, milk and soya; the six-grain variety lists 4.7 g of fibre per 100 g.

Albert Heijn

Has a product page for AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade.

  • The product name makes it clear that these are spiced biscuits with dark chocolate.
  • Albert Heijn marks this product as ‘discontinued’; check the label of any available alternative.

Jumbo

Provides product information for its standard Bakkers Speculaas, as well as separate products combining spiced biscuits and chocolate.

  • Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas lists 69.0 g of carbohydrates and 22.0 g of fat per 100 g.
  • Bakkers Speculaas contains wheat and may contain almonds and nuts. The Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade described by Jumbo is milk chocolate with spiced biscuit pieces, not spiced biscuits with confirmed high-cocoa chocolate.

Lidl

Its 90% dark chocolate is a separate flavour option alongside spiced biscuits, not a combined spiced biscuit product.

  • Lidl explicitly states that this dark chocolate contains 90% cocoa.
  • Lidl says this item is available in store only. A high cocoa percentage doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the combination will feel comfortable just before exercise.

Biscotto

Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas is a standard spiced biscuit variety sold at ALDI.

  • ALDI lists a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.
  • Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the pack you choose; the product name doesn’t indicate a dark chocolate variety.

Joybuy products

Related products will appear soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I eat several spiced biscuits just before exercise?

A large portion isn’t an obvious choice just before exercise. If you’re hungry, keep it small and consider how the timing fits with your workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends having a proper meal around two to three hours before exercise.

Does ‘dark chocolate’ on spiced biscuits mean the chocolate has a high cocoa content?

No. That wording alone doesn’t confirm a specific high cocoa percentage. Lotus Biscoff states that its speculoos variety with dark chocolate contains 22% chocolate; if the cocoa percentage is important to your choice, look for it separately.

Can I choose spiced biscuits with dark chocolate if I’m allergic to wheat, milk or soya?

Always check the allergen information for the specific product. Lotus Biscoff’s speculoos with dark chocolate contains wheat, milk and soya; you can’t assume another variety has the same ingredients.

What nutritional information should I compare when choosing spiced biscuits?

Compare carbohydrates, sugars, fat and fibre on a like-for-like basis, for example per 100 g. Also consider how much you actually want to eat, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.