Who is this choice relevant to?

Shoppers focused mainly on sugars

You’re looking for a speculaas-style biscuit where the sugar content on the label is the deciding factor. You also check which ingredients have been used to achieve that nutritional profile.

Shoppers portioning biscuits for a lunchbox

You’d like to include bakers’ speculaas in your child’s school lunch from time to time, and you’re considering the portion size, packaging and the difference between regular biscuits and lower-sugar options.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

You need to check whether a biscuit contains any ingredients relevant to the pupil, such as wheat, almond, milk, egg or soya. A lower sugar figure doesn’t replace this check.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a school lunch, start by comparing similar biscuits per 100 g, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then check whether the ingredients and a practical portion size suit your choice.

What to consider What to check before buying Who this matters most to
Sugars Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g for similar biscuits, and read the ingredients list. If I want to pack less sugar, I give more weight to the figure per 100 g than to the wording on the front. Around 50% of consumers make this sugar content their primary concern.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current allergen information and, for an option containing polyols, read the warning on the packaging too. I want to know whether a biscuit contains ingredients the pupil needs to avoid; a low sugar figure doesn’t answer that. For around 30% of consumers, checking the ingredients comes first.
Portion size and packaging Check the pack weight and decide on a portion. Always use the per-100 g figures when comparing products. What matters most to me is being able to pack a suitable amount of biscuits without treating a manufacturer’s serving size as fixed. This practical consideration comes first for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sugar-free’ in a recipe title means low in sugars

    A Jumbo recipe titled ‘Speculaas zonder suiker’ uses 500 g of maple syrup for four people. The title alone therefore doesn’t tell you how much sugar the prepared recipe contains.

    Read the ingredients in a recipe. For packaged biscuits, also compare the nutrition information per 100 g.

  • Overlooking other ingredients in a no-sugars option

    Albert Heijn lists maltitols in Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers, along with a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the full ingredients list and the warning before deciding whether this biscuit and the portion you’ve chosen are suitable.

  • Comparing different manufacturer serving sizes directly

    Albert Heijn lists a 13 g serving for AH Bakkers speculaas; Jumbo uses a 12.5 g serving for its Bakkers Speculaas. This means the per-serving figures aren’t based on the same amount.

    Compare the figures per 100 g first, then choose how much you want to pack.

  • Assuming a lower sugar content means the product is allergen-free

    According to Albert Heijn, the Céréal option contains wheat, almond, soya, egg and milk, among other ingredients. Standard bakers’ speculaas also contains wheat and may carry additional allergen warnings.

    Check the current packaging every time you buy, including the ingredients and allergens relevant to the pupil.

Brands to compare

These brands offer product examples you can use to compare labels. The features mentioned apply to the biscuits described, not to a brand’s entire range.

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers is a speculoos-style option to consider when sugar content is your top priority.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g for this product.
  • This option contains several allergens and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Jumbo

Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas is a standard bakers’ speculaas sold in a 600 g pack.

  • Jumbo’s nutrition information lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g, giving you a point of comparison for standard speculaas.
  • The product contains wheat and gluten and may contain almonds and nuts; it is not a no-sugars option.

Albert Heijn

AH Bakkers speculaas is a standard bakers’ speculaas sold in a 600 g pack.

  • Albert Heijn lists 33 g of sugars per 100 g, so you can compare this product with other biscuits on the same basis.
  • The product contains wheat and gluten and may contain almond. Check the current packaging.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy, caramelised biscuit. It’s a flavour reference for anyone also considering speculaas-style biscuits.

  • Its distinctive biscuit style can help you work out what kind of biscuit you’re looking for.
  • Check the sugar content of the Biscoff product you choose using its own nutrition information; the brand name won’t tell you this.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I compare speculaas if I want to reduce sugars?

For similar biscuits, compare the amount of ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends using this common basis. Also check the ingredients list and the rest of the nutrition information, rather than looking only at the figure per biscuit.

Is a biscuit labelled ‘no sugars’ suitable for every pupil?

No. Check the ingredients and warnings for the specific product too. According to Albert Heijn, Céréal Speculoos stukjes amandel zonder suikers contains maltitols as well as wheat, almond, soya, egg and milk, among other ingredients. The packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Which allergens should I check in speculaas for school?

Read the current allergen information for the product you’ve chosen, as ingredients vary between options. The products discussed here contain wheat; depending on the product, almond, milk, egg or soya may also be listed, or there may be a warning that almond or nuts could be present.

Can speculaas replace a school lunch on its own?

No. Treat speculaas as a biscuit to have with lunch, not as the whole meal. When choosing, consider what else you’re packing too; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre puts snack choices in the context of your overall daily diet.