For a guest with coeliac disease, choose speculaas with clear gluten-free labelling on the current packaging, and serve it separately from ordinary biscuits and crumbs. Packaged biscuits are convenient if you want to serve them straight away. Baking your own gives you more control over shapes and portions, but you’ll need to check every ingredient and piece of kitchen equipment. Whichever option you choose, check the information about other allergens too.
You’re looking for speculaas with clear gluten-free labelling and want to prevent crumbs from ordinary biscuits getting mixed in when serving. The Voedingscentrum points out that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
You want to put packaged speculaas on the coffee or dessert table without baking it yourself. As well as the gluten-free labelling, the pack size and information about other allergens are important when making your choice.
You want to decide on the shape and quantity of the biscuits yourself, and can keep the ingredients, worktop and baking equipment separate from products containing gluten.
Choose this if: you want to buy biscuits or chunks for the party that are ready to serve, after checking the current packaging.
Bear in mind: gluten-free labelling doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for people with other allergies. Keep it separate when serving, too.
Choose this if: you want to decide on the shapes and portions yourself, and can set up a workspace where cross-contamination is avoided.
Bear in mind: check every ingredient and use clean, separate baking and serving equipment. Baking from scratch also takes time to prepare.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten and cross-contamination | Check the gluten-free labelling on the current packaging and use a separate plate and serving tongs. | If my guest has coeliac disease, I want to prevent crumbs from ordinary biscuits getting mixed in with the speculaas. This check is a top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ready to serve | Compare the pack sizes and choose between small biscuits and chunks to share. | I want to put something on the table without having to plan any baking, and make sure there’s enough for the number of guests. Around 33% of consumers prioritise being able to serve a product straight away. |
| Ingredients and presentation | Check for other allergens too. If you’re baking your own, check all the ingredients and the baking equipment you use. | If there are other allergies as well as coeliac disease, I want to be able to assess the ingredients and decide on the portions myself. This is a top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The product name doesn’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable for a guest with coeliac disease. According to the Voedingscentrum, even a stray crumb containing gluten can cause symptoms.
Check the gluten-free labelling and ingredients on the current packaging before serving the biscuits.
The products listed contain or may contain allergens including egg, almonds, other nuts or sesame. Gluten-free labelling doesn’t remove the need to check for these.
Ask guests about any other allergies in advance, and check both the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements for each product you choose.
Gluten can get onto gluten-free speculaas through shared serving utensils or crumbs.
Put the gluten-free speculaas in a separate place, with its own plate and serving tongs, away from ordinary biscuits.
Ingredients and allergen information can change, so information you saw previously is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you buy.
Check the current product information when you buy it, then check the physical packaging again before putting the speculaas on the table.
These examples differ mainly in biscuit shape and the allergens listed. Check the packaging of the specific variety you choose.
Jumbo lists a 125 g pack of gluten-free speculaas biscuits with the Crossed Grain quality mark.
Albert Heijn lists gluten-free speculaas in a 125 g pack.
PLUS lists Consenza gluten-free speculaas chunks in a 160 g bag: chunks to share rather than small biscuits.
No. Gluten-free labelling doesn’t tell you whether a product contains other allergens. The packaged products listed contain or may contain allergens including egg, nuts or sesame, so check the current packaging against your guests’ allergies.
Use a separate plate and serving utensils, and keep the speculaas away from crumbs from ordinary biscuits. The Voedingscentrum warns that even a small amount of gluten can cause symptoms for someone with coeliac disease.
Before buying, ask about the allergens. If you’re serving a guest with coeliac disease, ask the supplier to confirm whether the product is sold as gluten-free and how cross-contamination is prevented. If this isn’t clear, choose a packaged product with verifiable gluten-free labelling. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that suppliers must provide allergen information for unwrapped foods.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you choose, and keep the opened speculaas sealed and separate from ordinary biscuits. Albert Heijn and Jumbo recommend storing the biscuits mentioned in a cool, dark and dry place; PLUS recommends keeping the Consenza chunks cool and dry.
