Who is this choice relevant to?

Anyone who needs to choose strictly gluten-free

You’re buying speculaas for someone with coeliac disease or another reason to avoid gluten. You’ll want to check the gluten-free statement on the pack before the biscuits go on the table.

Anyone sharing snacks with guests

You want your gluten-free guest to join in, while also taking any other allergens into account. A separate serving dish and keeping the packaging within reach make it clear which product is for whom.

Anyone choosing by biscuit shape and quantity

You’re looking for a gluten-free option to suit your film night, such as individual speculaas biscuits or speculaas chunks. Check the gluten-free statement on each individual pack; the shape of the biscuit doesn’t tell you whether it’s gluten-free.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the gluten-free statement on the pack. Then consider other allergens and how you want to serve the speculaas.

What to look for What should you check? Who is this most important for?
Gluten-free statement Read the current packaging and check that it explicitly says ‘gluten-free’. A Crossed Grain logo or a gluten-free code you can verify can offer extra reassurance. If a guest follows a strict gluten-free diet, I want to see what the pack says before serving. For around 50% of consumers, checking that a product is gluten-free comes first.
Other allergens and serving separately Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack. Keep gluten-free speculaas separate from regular snacks, and check any warnings for the product you choose. When sharing a snack platter, I want to consider my guests’ allergies, even if the biscuits are gluten-free. Around 30% of consumers give this the highest priority.
Biscuit shape and quantity Compare the net weight and choose between, for example, individual speculaas biscuits and chunks, as long as the pack you choose explicitly states that they are gluten-free. I want a pack that suits the number of guests and a biscuit shape that’s easy to serve. For around 20% of consumers, shape and quantity are the most important factors.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking regular speculaas for a gluten-free option

    A familiar name or similar biscuit shape tells you nothing about whether a product is gluten-free. For example, Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos.

    If your guest follows a strict gluten-free diet, choose only a product whose current packaging explicitly states that it is gluten-free.

  • Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘free from all allergens’

    A gluten-free statement doesn’t rule out other allergens. On 9 September 2026, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority issued a specific warning about AH Gluten-Free Speculaas Chunks with a best-before date of 26 March 2027, due to the possible omission of almond from the allergen information.

    Check the allergens and any warnings every time you buy, for the exact product you plan to serve. Do not serve those specific AH speculaas chunks to anyone with an almond allergy.

  • Relying on an old product description instead of the pack

    Ingredients and allergy information can change, as Albert Heijn notes in its product information. So a saved shopping list won’t necessarily tell you what’s on the current packaging.

    Read the label on the pack you buy and check whether there is a current warning for that product.

  • Putting regular and gluten-free biscuits on the same plate

    On a shared plate, it’s harder to tell regular and gluten-free speculaas apart. Crumbs can also get between the biscuits.

    Serve the gluten-free option separately, use separate serving utensils and keep the pack handy so guests can read the product information.

Brands to compare

Compare individual products, not just brand names: a gluten-free range and a regular speculoos biscuit are not interchangeable.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

Jumbo lists the Crossed Grain trademark for Jumbo Lekker Vrij Gluten-Free Speculaas, 125 g.

  • For this specific product, the trademark gives you an extra point to check. The Dutch Coeliac Association describes Crossed Grain as providing extra assurance about gluten-free products.
  • Also check the other ingredients and allergens on the current pack.

Consenza

Jumbo lists Consenza Gluten-Free Speculaas Biscuits, 100 g, and a separate gluten-free speculaas chunk product.

  • For the speculaas biscuits, Jumbo lists the gluten-free code NL-047-036; the speculaas chunks have a different product code.
  • Check the code and allergen information on the packaging of the variant you choose.

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn has a product page for AH Gluten-Free Speculaas. Treat speculaas and speculaas chunks as separate products.

  • The product name AH Gluten-Free Speculaas makes it clear which variant to look for on the label.
  • The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s warning about possibly undeclared almond relates specifically to AH Gluten-Free Speculaas Chunks with a best-before date of 26 March 2027; it does not automatically apply to AH Gluten-Free Speculaas.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos is a regular speculoos biscuit, not a gluten-free alternative for this selection.

  • Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists wheat flour as an ingredient. Don’t choose this product for a guest who needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet.

Products for your film night on Joybuy

For your film night, look for Jumbo Lekker Vrij Gluten-Free Speculaas (125 g), Consenza Gluten-Free Speculaas Biscuits (100 g) or Consenza gluten-free speculaas chunks. Check Joybuy’s current product listings and the packaging for an explicit gluten-free statement and allergen information before buying.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on speculaas in the Netherlands?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, the term ‘gluten-free’ may only be used if food sold to the final consumer contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. Also read the other ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you buy.

What does the Crossed Grain trademark add?

According to the Dutch Coeliac Association, the Crossed Grain trademark offers extra assurance about checks on the product and production process; products bearing the trademark contain less than 20 ppm of gluten. The trademark doesn’t replace checking for other allergens.

Is Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos gluten-free?

No. Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos isn’t a gluten-free option: Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists wheat flour as an ingredient. For a guest who follows a strict gluten-free diet, choose a separate product with an explicit gluten-free statement.

Do I need to check for other allergens in gluten-free speculaas too?

Yes. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean a product is free from other allergens. Check the current label and product warnings. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s warning of 9 September 2026 relates specifically to possible undeclared almond in AH Gluten-Free Speculaas Chunks with a best-before date of 26 March 2027.

How should I serve gluten-free speculaas alongside regular biscuits?

Serve the gluten-free speculaas separately from regular biscuits and use separate serving utensils. This helps guests tell the snacks apart and stops crumbs getting between the products. Keep the packaging available so you can check the ingredients and allergen information.