Who is this choice relevant to?

For an Easter egg hunt, the sugar content, sweeteners and allergens may be decisive for different participants.

Organisers looking to limit sugar

You want to hand out speculaas biscuits, so you compare the stated amount of sugars per 100 g rather than relying on a product name or serving size alone.

Groups mindful of sweeteners

You’re looking for an alternative with fewer sugars, but also want to know whether it contains polyols such as maltitol and what warnings appear on the packaging.

Organisers with gluten or allergen requirements

Before handing the biscuits out, you need to check the ingredients and allergens in each variety. Even with gluten-free speculaas, check for other allergens and, if relevant, the sugar content.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by comparing the sugars per 100 g. Then check sweeteners and allergens separately, and decide whether baking your own is a better fit for the ingredients and portions you want to serve.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should pay particular attention?
Sugars per 100 g Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g in the nutrition table; assess any claim on the packaging separately from this figure. If I want to hand out speculaas with fewer sugars, I need to compare products on a like-for-like basis. For around 37% of consumers, keeping sugar as low as possible is the top priority.
Sweeteners and polyols Read the ingredients list and any usage warnings alongside the nutritional information. I want to limit the sugar content, but also find out which sweeteners the biscuits contain before handing them out. Around 27% of consumers prioritise weighing up sweeteners and polyols.
Gluten and other allergens Check the current packaging for both allergens present and any statements about possible traces; check the sugar content separately. If any participants have a gluten or other allergen requirement, I first need to identify which variety is suitable for them. For around 18% of consumers, this check matters most.
Baking and portioning your own Take all sweeteners in the recipe into account and decide in advance how you want to portion the biscuits. For our group, I want to choose the ingredients and individual portions myself. For around 18% of consumers, having this control when baking at home is the main reason for their choice.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a recipe name tells you the nutritional value

    Jumbo calls a recipe ‘Speculaas zonder suiker’ (‘sugar-free speculaas’), even though the recipe uses 500 g of maple syrup for four people. So the title doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuits you make will contain.

    Check all the ingredients, including syrup, honey and concentrates, before choosing a recipe based on its expected sugar content.

  • Assuming gluten-free means low in sugars

    Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas contains 26,9 g sugars per 100 g. The gluten-free label answers a different question from how much sugar the product contains.

    Check gluten requirements and sugar content as two separate buying criteria.

  • Looking only at ‘of which sugars’

    For Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers, Albert Heijn also lists maltitol, several allergens and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Before handing the biscuits out, read the full ingredients list, allergen information and usage warnings, and make sure participants can access that information.

  • Relying on a product description you checked earlier

    Ingredients and nutritional information can change when a product is updated. This is especially important if participants need to avoid specific allergens.

    Check the packaging of the biscuits you’re actually handing out.

Brands and product ranges compared

Compare specific varieties, not just brand names: lower sugar content, a gluten-free label and a familiar taste are different criteria.

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers is a variety worth considering when sugar content is your main priority.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0,4 g sugars per 100 g for this variety.
  • The same product information lists 29 g polyols per 100 g, allergens including wheat and almonds, and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Albert Heijn

AH Bakkers speculaas is a standard speculaas variety that you can use to compare the nutritional value of an alternative.

  • The product information lists a 600 g pack.
  • Albert Heijn lists 33 g sugars per 100 g and wheat as an allergen; this variety is not a substitute for choosing a product based on low sugar content.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers both Bakkers Speculaas and Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas; choose between them according to the features you need.

  • Jumbo displays the Crossed Grain symbol for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
  • The gluten-free variety contains 26,9 g sugars per 100 g and includes egg. Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas contains 29 g sugars per 100 g.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.

  • This description may help if the flavour and texture you want are what matter most.
  • If you’re choosing for lower sugar content or to avoid certain allergens, check the label on the specific pack.

Lidl

Lidl Bakkers speculaas is a 600 g pack of speculaas biscuits.

  • Pack size is a practical consideration when portioning biscuits for a group.
  • Check the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging before choosing this variety to meet a sugar or allergen requirement.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does gluten-free also mean that speculaas is low in sugars?

No, they’re different properties. Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas contains 26,9 g sugars per 100 g; if your aim is to have less sugar, compare the nutrition table separately.

How do I compare packs with different serving sizes?

Compare the amount of sugars per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this basis for comparison, as serving sizes can vary between manufacturers; then consider how many biscuits you actually want to hand out.

What should I look for in speculaas containing maltitol?

As well as the amount of sugars, read the ingredients and usage warnings. For Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers, Albert Heijn lists 29 g polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Which allergens should I check before handing out speculaas?

Check the current allergen information on every pack you choose, and ask participants which ingredients they need to avoid. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory declaration of allergens on food labels; which allergens are relevant depends on the speculaas variety.