Buying for someone with coeliac disease
You’re looking for speculaas with an explicit gluten-free label for the parade. If other allergens also need to be avoided, check the information on the packaging.
Who is this choice relevant for?
If you want something ready to hand out
You want to take speculaas with you without needing to bake it first. In that case, consider the pack size, current availability and how easy the label is to read.
If you want to bake your own speculaas
You want to choose the shape and ingredients yourself, and have time to prepare, chill and bake the dough. You’ll also need to check that every ingredient you use is labelled gluten-free.
What should you look for?
Start by checking the gluten-free label on the product you’re actually buying. Then decide whether you need ready-made speculaas for the parade or have time to bake your own.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Read the gluten-free label, ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I want to check the label before handing out the speculaas. Around 50% of consumers would make this their first priority when buying. |
| Ready to hand out | Check the current availability and the contents of the specific pack. | For the parade, I want to take biscuits with me without having to make dough first. Around 30% of consumers would mainly be looking for something ready to take along and share. |
| Baking your own | Choose gluten-free ingredients and allow time for preparation, chilling and baking. | I want to choose the shape and ingredients myself, even if it takes more preparation. For around 20% of consumers, baking their own would be the main reason for their choice. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking ordinary speculaas for a gluten-free version
According to the ingredients information, the Lotus Biscoff biscuits shown by Joybuy contain wheat flour. So a familiar biscuit name doesn’t mean the product is labelled gluten-free.
Check the label and ingredients on the packaging of the exact product you want to take with you.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list egg in their gluten-free speculaas. Their product information also mentions other allergens or the possibility of traces.
Read the full allergen information on the pack you buy if someone also needs to avoid other ingredients.
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Assuming a product listing means it’s in stock
Jumbo says that Consenza Speculaasjes and Gluten Free Bakery Holland Gevulde Speculaas are no longer available online.
Check the current sales status before relying on a particular version, and decide in advance which other gluten-free product would be suitable to share.
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Only checking the flour when baking your own
Baking powder and other ingredients must also be suitable for a gluten-free recipe. Cross-contamination from the worktop or utensils can undermine your choice of gluten-free ingredients.
Check all the packaging, and use clean utensils, a clean worktop and clean baking paper.
Brands to consider
AH Glutenvrij
Albert Heijn offers AH Glutenvrij Speculaas in a ready-made 125 g pack.
- The product information describes the speculaas as gluten-free and says it is made in a gluten-free environment.
- The product contains egg and may contain sesame and certain nuts. Check the allergen information on the pack you buy.
Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten
Jumbo offers gluten-free speculaas in a 125 g pack as part of this range.
- Jumbo displays the crossed-grain symbol for this product.
- The product contains egg. The product information also mentions the possible presence of other allergens, including milk, nuts, lupin, sesame and gluten-free oats.
Consenza
Consenza Speculaasjes, in a 100 g pack, are another type of gluten-free product to look out for.
- Jumbo’s listing describes the product as gluten-free speculaas biscuits.
- Jumbo says this product is no longer available online. The listing also names egg, lupin and milk as allergens.
Gluten Free Bakery Holland
The 230 g filled gluten-free speculaas shows the kind of product to look for if you’d prefer to share a filled version.
- Jumbo’s listing distinguishes this filled version from individual speculaas biscuits.
- Jumbo says this product is no longer available online. If you choose an alternative, check its current sales status and label again.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is a familiar biscuit to distinguish from a gluten-free speculaas alternative.
- The ingredients information for Lotus Biscoff shown by Joybuy lists wheat flour. Don’t use these biscuits as a gluten-free substitute.
Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I check the pack if an online shop lists a product as ‘gluten-free’?
The label on the pack you buy is the definitive source for ingredients and allergen information. Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, so check the packaging again, especially if allergens other than gluten are a concern.
Can I bake gluten-free speculaas myself for the parade?
Yes, as long as you check that the ingredients you use are labelled gluten-free and prevent cross-contamination during preparation. Jumbo’s recipe uses teff flour and gluten-free baking powder, and specifies chilling for at least an hour and baking for around 30 minutes.
What should I look for if I want filled gluten-free speculaas?
Check whether the specific filled version is available and read the label before choosing it for the parade. Jumbo lists the filled speculaas from Gluten Free Bakery Holland as no longer available online.
Can I take ordinary Sinterklaas speculaas from Lidl or ALDI as a gluten-free option?
Don’t rely on the product category or shop name: check the gluten-free label on the specific pack. The standard speculaas listings reviewed from Lidl and ALDI don’t provide a basis for choosing those products as gluten-free alternatives without checking the label.