Who is this choice important for?

Someone with coeliac disease at the table

The gluten-free statement on the packaging comes before taste or Easter presentation. A certification mark can help you identify a product, but be sure to check the exact variant you’re buying.

An Easter guest with other allergies

As well as gluten, allergens such as egg, nuts, milk, soya, lupin or sesame may be relevant. The allergens listed vary between Albert Heijn’s plain and filled speculaas variants and Jumbo’s speculaas.

Someone making an Easter dessert

Loose speculaas biscuits are a different choice from a filled biscuit when you’re making a base or crumb topping. Consenza uses its gluten-free speculaas biscuits as a cheesecake base; check availability and the packaging before buying.

What should you look for?

When shopping for someone with coeliac disease this Easter, check the gluten-free statement first, then look for any other relevant allergens, and finally consider how you want to serve the speculaas.

What to check What to look for when buying Who it matters most to
Gluten-free statement Check the gluten-free statement on the packaging of the exact variant. You can also look for the Crossed Grain symbol. If I’m serving speculaas to someone with coeliac disease, I want to see first that the chosen variant is labelled gluten-free. For around 50% of consumers, this is the most important factor.
Other allergens Read the allergen information on the packaging, including details of allergens present and possible traces. If an Easter guest has multiple allergies, I also need to check the other ingredients in the biscuit I’ve chosen. For around 30% of consumers, this additional check comes first.
Format for Easter Choose between loose biscuits, a filled biscuit or biscuits to crumble; check the packaging again for each option. For an Easter dessert, I want to know whether I can crumble the biscuits or would rather serve a filled biscuit. For around 20% of consumers, the way it’s served makes the difference, once relevant allergens have been checked.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking regular speculoos for gluten-free speculaas

    Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Lotus Biscoff and states that the product contains gluten. A familiar taste doesn’t make it a gluten-free choice.

    Check the gluten-free statement on the packaging of every product; don’t rely on the name speculaas or speculoos.

  • Checking only the gluten-free statement

    Gluten-free speculaas may contain other relevant allergens. Information about egg, nuts, milk, soya, lupin and sesame varies between the Albert Heijn and Jumbo variants described here.

    Compare the allergen information on the exact packaging with the ingredients your guests need to avoid.

  • Relying on a product page instead of the packaging

    A product page you looked at earlier won’t necessarily tell you which ingredients are listed on the packaging of the variant you bought.

    Check the packaging itself before serving, and check that your chosen product is available when planning your Easter shopping.

  • Confusing gluten-free with wheat-free

    Albert Heijn’s gluten-free filled speculaas biscuit also lists wheat as an allergen. So a gluten-free statement doesn’t automatically answer a separate question about wheat allergy.

    If a guest needs to avoid wheat, check the wheat information for the exact variant separately from its gluten-free claim.

Brands to consider

Jumbo Lekker Vrij

The range includes Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas 125 g, a plain speculaas biscuit.

  • Jumbo displays the Crossed Grain symbol for this variant.
  • The product information lists egg and possible traces of, among other things, nuts, milk, lupin and sesame. Check the packaging if you need to account for additional allergies.

Albert Heijn Glutenvrij

Albert Heijn describes both plain gluten-free speculaas and a gluten-free filled speculaas biscuit.

  • According to Albert Heijn, its plain speculaas is made in a completely gluten-free environment; the filled biscuit is a 60 g variant with almond paste.
  • Allergens vary by variant. The filled biscuit lists egg, soya, lupin, almond and wheat, among other things.

Consenza

Consenza lists traditional gluten-free speculaas biscuits in its biscuit range.

  • The brand shows how its speculaas biscuits can be used as a cheesecake base.
  • Check availability at your chosen shop and read the label on the packaging you buy before use.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff is regular speculoos and is included here for comparison, not as a gluten-free alternative.

  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland’s product information makes the ingredients in this variant clear.
  • Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists wheat flour and gluten. Don’t choose this variant if gluten-free is a requirement.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check if someone with coeliac disease is sharing the speculaas?

First, check whether the exact speculaas variant is labelled gluten-free on the packaging. Then check for any other allergens relevant to your guest; a certification mark or product description doesn’t replace reading the packaging.

Is Lotus Biscoff gluten-free?

No. Regular Lotus Biscoff speculoos isn’t a gluten-free choice. Lotus Bakeries Nederland lists wheat flour as an ingredient and states that the product contains gluten.

Is gluten-free filled speculaas also wheat-free?

Not necessarily: Albert Heijn’s gluten-free filled speculaas biscuit lists wheat as an allergen. If wheat also needs to be avoided, check the wheat information on the exact packaging.

Which speculaas can I use for an Easter dessert?

For a crumb base, look for loose gluten-free speculaas biscuits; Consenza uses its biscuits in a cheesecake base. Check that the pack you’ve chosen is available and that all its ingredients are suitable for your guests.