For hosts keeping an eye on sugar
You want to serve speculaas with less listed sugar alongside coffee or tea. So you compare biscuits per 100 g, then look at the serving size.
Who is this choice relevant to?
For hosts catering for allergies
You’re expecting guests with an allergy or intolerance. Check the ingredients and allergens in every type of biscuit, even if the front of the pack says ‘sugar-free’.
For organisers catering for a larger group
You want to know how many biscuits you can serve, so you compare the net weight and the number of biscuits per pack as well as your sugar target.
What should you look for when buying?
When choosing speculaas for a garden party, first decide which requirement matters most to your guests. Then compare the nutritional information and work out how much you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars listed | Compare sugars per 100 g for similar biscuits. If the pack makes a claim such as ‘reduced sugar’, check what the product is being compared with. | If I want to serve lower-sugar speculaas, I want to compare sugar values without being swayed by different serving sizes. This sugar target is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen list and check which sweeteners or polyols the biscuit contains, along with any warnings on the pack. | When guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the sugar value alone. Allergens and ingredients are the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| How much you need for the group | Check the net weight and the number of biscuits per pack before deciding how many packs you need. | For a larger group, I want to put out enough biscuits without underestimating how much is in one pack. The quantity needed is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Focusing only on ‘sugar-free’
A low sugar figure doesn’t tell you everything about the nutritional value. The Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces reviewed here lists 404 kcal and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g, as well as 0.4 g of sugars.
For similar biscuits, compare sugars, energy and saturated fat per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll serve per portion.
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Leaving ingredient checks until your guests arrive
The Céréal variety contains, among other ingredients, wheat, almonds, soya, egg, barley and milk, and lists polyols. So a low sugar value alone won’t answer questions about allergens or ingredients.
Ask guests in advance which ingredients they need to avoid, and keep the packaging available when serving. If gluten-free is a requirement, check a variety specifically labelled gluten-free separately.
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Assuming a small pack will be enough for everyone
The Céréal pack reviewed here contains 2 × 5 biscuits and weighs 110 g; the regular baker’s speculaas reviewed from Jumbo and Albert Heijn comes in 600 g packs.
Decide how many biscuits you want to serve and choose the number of packs accordingly. If you’re offering different varieties, label them clearly.
Brands compared
Céréal
Speculoos with almond pieces is worth comparing if the amount of sugar listed is your main priority.
- This variety lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g.
- Check the listed allergens, including wheat, almonds, soya, egg, barley and milk. Céréal gives this product a Nutri-Score of D; that score alone doesn’t determine whether it’s suitable for your guests.
Jumbo
Regular baker’s speculaas and a separate gluten-free speculaas offer two different product requirements to compare.
- Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas comes in a 600 g pack. According to Jumbo, Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas carries the Crossed Grain trademark.
- Regular baker’s speculaas lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g; the gluten-free variety lists 26.9 g of sugars per 100 g. So gluten-free doesn’t automatically mean lower in sugar.
Albert Heijn
AH Bakkers speculaas is a regular variety in a 600 g pack.
- The listed 33 g of sugars per 100 g gives you a specific figure to compare with other speculaas.
- Check the label when you buy it: Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is a classic caramelised speculoos to enjoy with coffee or tea.
- Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit.
- If you’re considering a lower-sugar option, check the nutritional information on the specific pack. The classic product description isn’t evidence of its sugar content.
Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘less sugar’ mean the same as ‘sugar-free’?
No, they’re different claims. For a comparative claim about reduced sugar content, EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 requires a reduction of at least 30% compared with a similar product. Also compare the sugars per 100 g on the label.
Does ‘sugar-free’ tell you how much energy is in each biscuit?
No, the sugar value doesn’t give you the full nutritional picture. Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces lists 0.4 g of sugars, 404 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g. Also consider the portion you plan to serve.
Which allergens should I check in this speculoos?
Always check the current packaging for the variety you’ve chosen. Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces lists, among other ingredients, wheat, almonds, soya, egg, barley and milk; a gluten-free speculaas variety may contain different allergens.