Which option is right for you?

Fans of speculaas flavour

You want to serve a filled pastry with familiar speculaas spices alongside your homemade Dutch spiced biscuits. A kano pastry is an addition to the plate, not an ingredient for the dough.

Home bakers who want to bake from scratch

You want to make the dough, shape it and bake it in the oven. A Dutch spiced biscuit recipe is the right choice; a mix for filled pastries makes a different kind of bake.

Shoppers checking ingredients

You need to be able to check the ingredients and allergens in the variant you choose. Read the current packaging, even if you’ve bought a kano pastry from the same brand before.

What should you look for when choosing?

Speculaas-spiced kano pastry

Choose this if: you want to serve a ready-to-eat filled pastry with speculaas spices alongside Dutch spiced biscuits.

Bear in mind: the Gulden Krakeling variant listed by Albert Heijn was marked as discontinued.

Butter kano pastry

Choose this if: you want to serve a filled pastry separately alongside your homemade Dutch spiced biscuits.

Bear in mind: a standard butter kano pastry doesn’t automatically have a speculaas flavour.

Dutch spiced biscuit dough or baking mix

Choose this if: you want to make and bake them yourself.

Bear in mind: you’ll need time for preparation and baking; a mix for filled pastries isn’t a Dutch spiced biscuit mix.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Flavour Check whether speculaas spices are actually listed in the ingredients. I want the filled pastry to complement my Dutch spiced biscuits in flavour, not just be served at the same time. For around 42% of consumers, matching flavours is the top priority.
Serving or baking Check whether you’re choosing a ready-to-eat pastry or a product to bake; for pastries, also check the pack size and number of portions. If I want to keep preparation to a minimum, I choose something I can serve straight away. If I want to bake together, I need dough or a suitable recipe. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this practical choice.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current packaging, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. Before serving, I need to be able to check whether the chosen variant is suitable for anyone in my group who needs to avoid certain ingredients. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Using a kano pastry instead of Dutch spiced biscuit dough

    A kano pastry is already baked and filled. Allerhande’s Dutch spiced biscuit recipe starts with dough that still needs to be shaped and baked.

    Use a Dutch spiced biscuit recipe if you want to bake them, and serve kano pastries separately if you like.

  • Assuming every kano pastry has the same filling and allergens

    Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS shows differences in fillings and listed allergens. That means you can’t safely base your choice on the ingredients of a different variant.

    Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the exact variant you’re going to serve.

  • Adding a specific variant to your shopping list too soon

    Albert Heijn listed the Gulden Krakeling speculaas kano pastry as discontinued; ALDI described its mini kano pastries as available while stocks last.

    Check current availability before planning a party platter around a particular variant.

  • Taking ‘digestive’ as dietary advice

    The term doesn’t tell you whether a kano pastry is suitable for an individual dietary need or digestive complaint.

    Check the ingredients on the packaging and discuss questions about a medical diet with your healthcare professional.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Own-brand kano pastries, including a butter variant.

  • Albert Heijn lists 41% almond paste and 1% almonds in its AH butter kano pastries.
  • Ingredients and allergen information can change; check the packaging of the variant you choose.

Jumbo

Own-brand butter kano pastry, ready to serve.

  • Jumbo lists 38% almond paste in its butter kano pastries.
  • The product information lists ingredients including wheat, milk, soya, almonds and eggs; also read the warnings on the packaging.

PLUS

Own-brand butter kano pastry with almond paste filling and almond decoration.

  • The product description clearly identifies the filling and decoration, making it easy to recognise if you’re looking for a separate filled pastry.
  • PLUS says online product information can change; check the label for the current ingredients.

Aviateur

Kano pastry with almond paste filling, listed by PLUS.

  • PLUS lists 46% almond paste filling in this Aviateur kano pastry.
  • The allergen information lists ingredients including wheat, soya, milk and almonds; eggs may be present.

Heerlijck Banket

Mini kano pastries for serving smaller individual treats.

  • ALDI lists a pack of 14 mini kano pastries weighing 308 g.
  • ALDI presented this variant as available while stocks last; check the current product information and packaging.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use kano pastries instead of Dutch spiced biscuit dough?

No, not as a direct substitute: kano pastries are ready-to-eat filled pastries. To make Dutch spiced biscuits, prepare and bake dough, as in Allerhande’s recipe; serve a kano pastry separately if you like.

Which kano pastry suits a speculaas-inspired spread?

Choose a variant that lists speculaas spices in its ingredients. The Gulden Krakeling Speculaas kano pastries described by Albert Heijn contain herbs and spices, including cinnamon, but were listed there as discontinued. So also check whether the variant you want to buy is available.

How should you store kano pastries after opening?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of your variant. Albert Heijn recommends keeping its kano pastries in a sealed tin after opening; the product information checked from Albert Heijn and Jumbo advises storing them in a cool, dark and dry place.

Where can you check allergens when serving kano pastries?

Read the label on the packaging you’re actually using, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that food labels must list 14 allergens; ingredients vary between kano pastries.