Who are these options relevant to?

People with coeliac disease

You’re looking for speculaas labelled gluten-free and want to rule out standard mini biscuits containing wheat. The Voedingscentrum identifies the ‘gluten-free’ label and the Crossed Grain symbol as signs to look for.

People who want to measure out a portion

You want to decide in advance how much speculaas to have at a particular time. A portion size on the pack can help, but it doesn’t in itself mean the product is gluten-free.

People who also check for other allergens

As well as gluten, you’ll want to check for ingredients that matter to you. AH and Jumbo’s product information lists egg and also warns that other allergens may be present.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with the gluten-free label on the packaging. Then compare portion information and other allergens.

What to look for What to check when buying Who is it important to?
Gluten-free labelling Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging. Rule out standard mini speculaas made with wheat flour or gluten-containing grains. If I have coeliac disease, I don’t want to mistake a small biscuit for a gluten-free one. For around 42% of consumers, verified suitability for a gluten-free diet comes first.
Portion you can measure out Compare the stated portion size and number of portions per pack; check whether the biscuits are individually wrapped if that’s important to you. If I want a modest amount with my coffee, a stated portion size helps me measure it out in advance. Portion control is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Other allergens For each pack, check the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information as well as the gluten-free labelling. If I also need to watch out for other allergens, I want to know what the product contains or may contain. For around 25% of consumers, these additional ingredients and allergens matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking ‘mini’ for ‘gluten-free’

    A smaller size doesn’t change the ingredients. According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, their standard mini speculaas biscuits contain wheat; the Lotus Mini variant reviewed also lists wheat flour.

    First check the gluten-free label or Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, then look at the size.

  • Relying on an old product listing

    An earlier product page doesn’t guarantee that the label or availability will be the same next time you shop. Jumbo listed Consenza Glutenvrije Speculaasjes as no longer part of its online range.

    Check the packaging again and confirm current availability before relying on a particular variant.

  • Overlooking other allergens

    ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that speculaas is free from egg or other allergens. Product information for both AH Glutenvrij Speculaas and Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas lists egg and warns that other allergens may be present.

    Compare the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information with the ingredients you need to avoid.

  • Mistaking a portion size for an individually wrapped serving

    AH and Jumbo list small portion sizes, but the speculaas described is sold in 125 g packs. So the stated portion isn’t necessarily individually wrapped or pre-measured.

    Measure out the amount you want before eating. Only assume portions are individually wrapped if the packaging says so.

Relevant brands compared

Compare the specific products mentioned by checking their own labels: a gluten-free range or small biscuit size doesn’t automatically tell you about every product from a brand.

Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten

Jumbo describes its 125 g pack of speculaas as gluten-free biscuits and displays the Crossed Grain symbol.

  • The pack lists around 12 portions of 10.4 g, which you can use to measure out an amount in advance.
  • The product contains egg and may contain nuts, milk, lupin, sesame and gluten-free oats, among other allergens. There’s no indication that the portions are individually wrapped.

AH Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn describes its 125 g pack of AH Glutenvrij Speculaas as gluten-free and says it is made in a completely gluten-free environment.

  • Albert Heijn lists 13 portions of 9.6 g per pack.
  • The product contains egg and may contain sesame and nuts. Check the current packaging too if you’re specifically looking for a certification symbol.

Consenza

Consenza Glutenvrije Speculaasjes, in a 100 g pack, was listed by Jumbo.

  • The product listing describes these speculaas biscuits as gluten-free.
  • Jumbo listed the product as no longer part of its online range. Check current availability and the label before choosing this variant.

Lotus Biscoff / Lotus Speculoos

The Lotus Speculoos Mini variant reviewed comes in small 25 g packs.

  • The pack size lets you choose an amount in advance if you don’t need to eat gluten-free.
  • According to Jumbo’s product information, this Mini variant contains wheat flour and is labelled as containing gluten. It’s therefore not suitable if you have coeliac disease.

Related products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are standard mini speculaas biscuits suitable if you have coeliac disease?

Not if they contain wheat or gluten-containing grains. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information lists wheat in their standard mini speculaas biscuits; the Lotus Mini variant reviewed also contains wheat flour. A smaller biscuit or smaller pack doesn’t change that.

What does ‘gluten-free’ mean on speculaas packaging?

Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food labelled ‘gluten-free’ must contain no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg of the food as sold. When buying, check the current label, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

Does it need to display the Crossed Grain symbol as well as saying ‘gluten-free’?

No. The Voedingscentrum identifies both the ‘gluten-free’ label and the Crossed Grain symbol as ways to recognise gluten-free products. Jumbo displays the symbol on its gluten-free speculaas, while Albert Heijn describes AH Glutenvrij Speculaas as gluten-free. In both cases, check the current packaging.

How can I stop gluten-free speculaas coming into contact with crumbs from ordinary biscuits?

Store gluten-free speculaas separately and use clean hands and clean serving utensils. The Dutch Coeliac Society describes cross-contamination as gluten getting into a product that should not contain gluten. So be sure to check for crumbs on the worktop too.

How can I use a larger pack of speculaas for a small portion?

Measure out the amount you want before eating, rather than assuming a stated portion size means it comes in a separate pack. Albert Heijn lists 9.6 g per portion for AH Glutenvrij Speculaas, while Jumbo lists 10.4 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas; both packs described contain 125 g.