If you want to decide exactly what goes into your biscuits, choose a recipe with no added sugar and check which sugars are naturally present in the ingredients. If your main priority is a low sugar value on the label of a ready-made biscuit, compare the energy, ingredients, allergens and any polyols too. Neither option automatically means the biscuit is sugar-free or lower in calories.
It comes down to what you want to control: the ingredients in homemade biscuits, the stated sugar content of a packaged biscuit, or a familiar flavour.
With a recipe based on ingredients such as dates, banana and oats, you decide what goes into the dough. However, these ingredients can contain naturally occurring sugars, as the recipes from Allerhande and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre show.
If you’re looking for a low stated sugar content, the nutritional information is more useful than the wording on the front of the pack alone. Compare sugars and energy per 100 g, the serving size, ingredients and any polyols.
A familiar speculoos flavour doesn’t necessarily mean a low sugar content. Compare a standard version with one made with sweeteners by checking the ingredients list and nutrition table.
First, decide whether you want to bake your own or buy ready-made biscuits. Then work out whether control over the ingredients or the stated sugar content matters more to you.
Right for you if: you want to choose the ingredients and the sweetening base for your dough.
Bear in mind: dates and banana contain naturally occurring sugars. The recipes reviewed also require an oven and a food processor or chopper.
Right for you if: you’re looking for a packaged biscuit and mainly want to compare the stated sugar content.
Bear in mind: the versions reviewed contain polyols and carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing your own ingredients | For a recipe, check the quantities, method and nutritional information per serving. | When I bake my own, I want to choose what sweetens the dough and know which sugars those ingredients contain. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Stated sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ and energy per 100 g; check the ingredients and any polyols too. | When choosing a packaged biscuit, I want to weigh a low stated sugar content against the rest of the nutritional information. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Familiar flavour and convenience | Compare standard and lower-sugar versions by checking the ingredients, sugars, serving size and allergens. | When I’m looking for a familiar biscuit flavour, I want a ready-made alternative and don’t want to rely on the flavour name alone. This combination matters most to around 28% of consumers. |
Ingredients such as dates and banana can contain naturally occurring sugars. Allerhande and the Netherlands Nutrition Centre use these ingredients in their biscuit recipes.
For a packaged biscuit, check both the ingredients list and ‘of which sugars’. For a recipe, refer to the nutritional information for the stated serving size.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Céréal, Verkade and AH biscuits reviewed contain 401 to 465 kcal per 100 g, despite their low stated sugar content or ‘no added sugar’ claim.
Compare energy, fat, saturated fat, fibre and the serving size you plan to eat too.
The biscuits with maltitols reviewed carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Their ingredients and allergens vary by product.
Before buying, check the current packaging for polyols and allergens, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, original Lotus Speculoos lists sugar and candy syrup as ingredients and contains 38 g of sugars per 100 g.
Compare speculoos varieties by checking the ingredients list and nutrition table, not just the brand or flavour name.
These examples show which label differences are worth looking at. The values and warnings mentioned apply to the products reviewed, not the entire brand.
Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces is a packaged option for anyone looking for a speculoos flavour and wanting to compare sugar content.
Verkade San Francisco Zero is a biscuit for anyone looking to compare a ready-made product labelled ‘0% added sugar’.
AH Digestive 0% sugar is a supermarket own-brand biscuit made with sweeteners, with a nutrition table you can use for comparison.
Original Lotus Speculoos is included here as a flavour reference, not as a low-sugar option.
Yes. Ingredients such as dates and banana can contain naturally occurring sugars. Allerhande’s biscuit recipe lists 6 g of sugars per biscuit; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s oat and date biscuit recipe lists 7 g per serving. Compare these values only with the stated serving sizes in mind.
On its own, ‘light’ doesn’t tell you whether the comparison is about sugars, fat or energy. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, it means a reduction compared with a similar standard product. So check which characteristic is being compared on the packaging and read the nutrition table.
No. Sugar content alone doesn’t determine how much energy a biscuit provides. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Céréal, Verkade and AH products reviewed contain 401 to 465 kcal per 100 g. Compare the energy per 100 g and per serving separately.
The biscuits made with maltitols or other polyols reviewed state that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Check the ingredients list and warning on the packaging of the version you choose.
