Who is this choice for?

Sugar-conscious calendar filler

You’re looking for a speculaas treat with a low sugar content per biscuit. A sweetened variety may suit you if you also check the ingredients, warnings and amount per compartment.

Family portion planner

You want to give one biscuit or a set amount for each day of the calendar, rather than taking a piece from a large pack each time.

Buyer checking ingredients

If the recipient needs to avoid certain allergens or is sensitive to sweeteners, the ingredients and warnings on the exact packaging will determine your choice.

What should you look for?

A lower sugar content and a smaller calendar portion answer different questions: first compare similar biscuits per 100 g, then decide how much to put in each compartment.

Speculoos with sweetener

A good choice when: Sugar content per 100 g is your priority. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces with no sugars.

Trade-off: The same product information lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g, several allergens and a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Regular biscuits to portion out individually

A good choice when: You want one easy-to-count biscuit per compartment. Albert Heijn gives the serving size for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos as 7.8 g per biscuit.

Trade-off: A small biscuit does not change the nutritional value per 100 g; Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g for this product.

A larger pack to portion out yourself

A good choice when: You want to portion out the treats yourself in advance. Jumbo lists a 600 g pack of Bakkers Speculaas, with around 48 servings of 12.5 g.

Trade-off: Portioning it yourself takes preparation; Jumbo lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g and recommends storing the biscuits in an airtight container after opening.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar content For similar biscuits, compare the sugars per 100 g in the nutritional information. Then consider how much will go in one compartment. For a lower-sugar calendar, I want to choose biscuits based on their sugar content, not just their size. Around 50% of consumers are said to consider reducing sugar their main purchasing criterion.
Amount per compartment Check the number of biscuits and, if stated, the weight per biscuit or serving. Decide in advance what will go in each compartment. If I want to give one treat each day, the amount per compartment needs to be predictable. A clear calendar portion is a priority for around 30% of consumers.
Allergens and sweeteners Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about polyols on the exact packaging. If the recipient needs to avoid certain ingredients or is sensitive to polyols, I want to check this before filling the calendar. For around 20% of consumers, this check would be their top priority.

Pitfalls when choosing calendar treats

  • Assuming a small biscuit is a low-sugar biscuit

    A small portion in each compartment limits how much you put in, but it does not change the sugars per 100 g. Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Speculoos and a serving size of 7.8 g per biscuit.

    Compare products per 100 g first, then decide how many biscuits or how much to include for each calendar day.

  • Overlooking polyols in a no-sugars variety

    Albert Heijn lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces with no sugars and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    As well as checking the sugar content, read the ingredients and warnings. Keep the amount per compartment clear and consider the recipient.

  • Assuming a recipe title tells you its nutritional value

    Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free speculaas’ recipe uses maple syrup. The title alone therefore does not tell you how much sugar the homemade biscuits contain.

    Check all the ingredients you use and the nutritional value of your own batch before presenting it as a lower-sugar treat.

  • Checking allergens only after filling the calendar

    The products discussed have different ingredients: according to Albert Heijn’s product information, the Céréal speculoos contains wheat, milk, egg, soya, almond and barley, among other ingredients; Lotus Biscoff contains wheat and soya. Jumbo lists wheat for Bakkers Speculaas and says it may contain almonds and nuts.

    Before filling the calendar, check the allergen information on the packaging of the exact product you’ve bought.

Brands and product ranges to consider

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos almond pieces with no sugars is a speculoos variety with almond pieces and sweetener, listed by Albert Heijn.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g and ten biscuits per pack for this product.
  • The label also lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g, several allergens and a warning about excessive consumption.

Lotus Biscoff

According to Albert Heijn, the regular Lotus Biscoff Speculoos in the 250 g pack discussed here contains around 32 biscuits.

  • The stated serving size of 7.8 g per biscuit makes it easy to work out how many biscuits to put in each compartment.
  • Albert Heijn lists 38 g of sugars per 100 g; the product contains wheat and soya.

Albert Heijn eigen merk

AH Mini speculaas biscuits are butter speculaas biscuits for which Albert Heijn gives a serving size of 9 g.

  • The stated serving size helps you portion them out for the calendar compartments in advance.
  • Albert Heijn lists 30 g of sugars per 100 g. The product contains milk, lactose and wheat, and may contain soya and almond.

Jumbo eigen merk

Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas is a regular 600 g pack that you can portion out yourself for the calendar.

  • Jumbo lists around 48 servings of 12.5 g per pack.
  • Jumbo lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g. The product contains wheat and may contain almonds and nuts.

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Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no sugars’ also mean there are no sweeteners?

No, that does not follow from the wording. Albert Heijn lists maltitols and 29 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces with no sugars. Check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging.

How should I compare speculaas for an advent calendar?

For similar biscuits, compare the sugars per 100 g first; the Voedingscentrum recommends comparing nutritional information on this basis. Then consider the weight or number of biscuits you want to put in each compartment, and check the ingredients for the recipient.

Is a recipe for ‘sugar-free speculaas’ automatically a lower-sugar option?

No, the recipe title alone is not enough. A recipe with that title on Jumbo uses maple syrup. Check all the ingredients and the nutritional value of the biscuits you actually bake before making a claim about their sugar content.

How should I store speculaas while filling the calendar?

Follow the storage instructions on the exact packaging. Albert Heijn recommends storing the Céréal biscuits discussed here in a dry place at room temperature; Jumbo says Bakkers Speculaas should be stored in a cool, dry place and sealed in an airtight container after opening.