For an Easter egg hunt, first choose between a handy speculoos biscuit and chocolate with a speculoos filling. Then check whether the cocoa content is actually stated. Lotus Bakeries says its dark chocolate biscuits contain 22% chocolate, but doesn’t state the cocoa content of that chocolate. Albert Heijn states that the chocolate couverture in its Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos bar contains at least 51% cocoa solids, but the bar isn’t a ready-made individual treat for a hunt. Before handing anything out, also check the latest allergen information and the packaging.
If you’re looking for a pronounced chocolate flavour, it’s better to check the stated cocoa solids content than to rely on the word ‘dark’. For its Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos bar, Albert Heijn states a minimum cocoa solids content for the chocolate couverture. For the Lotus Biscoff biscuit variety, Lotus Bakeries gives the amount of chocolate but not its cocoa content.
If you’re hiding treats in several places, pre-portioned biscuits are more practical than a bar you have to break up yourself. Lotus Bakeries lists a pack of 7 x 3 biscuits for its speculoos with dark chocolate.
Before hiding anything, check the ingredients and any warnings on the latest packaging. The biscuit and bar varieties described contain wheat and soya, among other ingredients. Depending on the product, milk or possible traces of other allergens may also be relevant.
For an Easter egg hunt with adults, the product format determines how much work it takes to hand out the treats. Then check the cocoa content of the chocolate and the allergen information separately: neither is automatically clear from the product name.
A good choice when: You want to divide biscuits between several hiding places; Lotus Bakeries lists 7 x 3 biscuits for its variety.
The trade-off: Lotus Bakeries states that it contains 22% chocolate, but doesn’t give the cocoa content of that chocolate. This variety contains wheat, milk and soya.
A good choice when: A stated cocoa content matters more to you than having a biscuit: Albert Heijn says the chocolate couverture in Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos contains at least 51% cocoa solids.
The trade-off: It’s a 100 g bar that you’ll have to divide yourself. The bar contains wheat and soya and may also contain milk, peanuts and nuts.
A good choice when: You want to choose the stated cocoa content of the chocolate yourself and can put the treats together individually.
The trade-off: This isn’t a ready-made speculaas product. You’ll need to package the portions yourself and check the allergen information for both products.
For shoppers considering speculaas or speculoos for this hunt, the main buying question can vary: cocoa content, handing out the treats or allergens.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Look for the stated percentage of cocoa solids and check which part of the product it applies to. | If I’m looking for a pronounced chocolate flavour for adults, I want to know what the packaging says about the chocolate itself. For around 44% of consumers, cocoa would be the top priority. |
| Dividing and hiding the treats | Compare the number of portions and the packaging; a bar needs to be divided by hand. | I want to hide treats in several places without having to break up a bar on the spot. Ease of hiding would come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If a participant has an allergy, I need to be able to assess which treats are suitable for them. Around 23% of consumers would see checking allergens as the most important requirement. |
The amount of chocolate in a biscuit doesn’t tell you how much cocoa solids that chocolate contains. Lotus Bakeries states that its Biscoff variety contains 22% chocolate, but doesn’t give the cocoa content of the coating.
If you want to choose by cocoa content, look for an explicit percentage of cocoa solids and check which part of the product it applies to.
A product without cow’s milk may still contain other allergens. The Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos bar contains wheat and soya, and Albert Heijn warns that it may contain milk, peanuts and nuts, among other allergens.
If someone has an allergy, read both the latest ingredients list and the warnings on the packaging before handing anything out.
A 100 g bar is a different format from biscuits already divided into smaller portions.
Decide in advance how many treats you want to hide, and whether you have time to divide a bar and wrap the pieces hygienically.
Albert Heijn listed AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as ‘Discontinued’. Product information on a page can also change.
Check that your chosen variety is available shortly before buying, and compare the packaging information with what you need.
Speculoos biscuits, including a dark chocolate variety, for anyone who wants to hand out biscuits rather than a bar.
Chocolate with a speculoos filling, for anyone who values a stated cocoa content more than the shape of a speculaas biscuit.
A retailer whose product information can help you compare the format, ingredients and allergens of specific varieties.
A speculaas and chocolate variety to compare by format, although the variety described is made with milk chocolate.
No. The name alone doesn’t tell you the cocoa content of the chocolate. Lotus Bakeries states that its Biscoff biscuits contain 22% chocolate, but doesn’t give the cocoa content of that chocolate. Albert Heijn states that the chocolate couverture in Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos contains at least 51% cocoa solids.
No. Plant-based doesn’t mean a product is free from all allergens. According to Albert Heijn, the Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos bar contains wheat and soya and may also contain milk, peanuts and nuts. Check the latest packaging for the person taking part.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you’ve chosen. For Hands Off Amsterdam Speculoos, the stated instruction is ‘Store in a cool, dry place’; bear this in mind when choosing a hiding place too.
Don’t rely on an existing product page alone: Albert Heijn listed this specific variety as ‘Discontinued’. Before buying, check the current range and the packaging of any alternative variety.
