Anyone putting together a sharing plate
You want to choose a suitable number of biscuits for the group and hand them out yourself. Individually wrapped portions aren’t essential.
Who are these options for?
Anyone looking for a small treat
You want to give each child a small amount and check the school or after-school club’s rules, as well as any allergies or dietary requirements, in advance. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking which children avoid certain products.
Anyone catering for a guest who needs to eat gluten-free
You’re looking for a separate, clearly identifiable option and will also check whether the product is suitable for any other allergies the guest may have.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’ll hand out the biscuits yourself or prepare portions in advance. Then check the quantity for your group, the label and availability.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Portion sizes | Check how many biscuits are in a portion and whether any individual packs suit the way you plan to hand them out. | If you want to give every guest a set amount, the word ‘mini’ alone isn’t enough. Portion control is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Enough biscuits | Compare the stated number of biscuits with the number of guests and how many you plan to give each person. | For a sharing plate, you’ll want to know whether there’ll be enough for everyone to take one without opening several packs. Having enough biscuits is the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens and group rules | Ask about dietary requirements, read the latest label and check the school or after-school club’s policy on treats. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients or a venue has its own rules, your treat needs to meet those requirements. Around 21% of consumers put suitability first. |
| Leftovers and availability | Choose an amount that suits the group and confirm in good time that you can buy the product. | If you want to avoid leftovers, you’ll also want to make sure your chosen mini option won’t be unavailable just before the party. This is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘mini’ means ‘individually wrapped’
A small biscuit or a small pack doesn’t mean that there’s an individually wrapped biscuit for every guest.
Before planning portions, check the pack to see how many biscuits and any individual packs it contains.
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
For Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas, Jumbo lists egg and warnings for allergens including almonds, hazelnuts, lupin and milk.
Ask which ingredients the guest needs to avoid, and check the latest label for that specific product.
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Assuming a mini option shown is automatically available
For Mini Speculaasjes 125 g, Jumbo said the product was no longer in its online range. For Lotus mini 6 x 25 g, it said the manufacturer was temporarily unable to supply it.
Check availability before your party date and consider another size that would also suit your plans for handing out the biscuits.
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Choosing an edible treat without checking the group’s rules
A school or after-school club may have its own rules for celebrations. Children may also avoid certain products because of an allergy or religious beliefs.
Ask about the policy and the group’s needs in advance. If an edible treat isn’t suitable, choose a party activity or a non-food alternative.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
A mini option if you’re looking for smaller speculoos biscuits.
- Jumbo lists a Lotus mini option in a 6 x 25 g pack.
- Jumbo said the manufacturer was temporarily unable to supply this option. Check current availability before relying on it.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both Mini Speculaasjes 125 g and a separate product called Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas 125 g.
- Jumbo’s product information lets you assess the allergens listed for each of these two products separately.
- According to Jumbo, Mini Speculaasjes contain wheat and milk, and may contain almonds. The gluten-free spiced biscuits contain egg and may contain other allergens; check both labels before buying.
Koekkie (ALDI)
A pack of speculoos to consider if you’re filling a sharing plate for a group.
- ALDI lists around 71 biscuits in 500 g of Koekkie Speculoos biscuits.
- This doesn’t tell you whether the biscuits are individually wrapped. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you buy.
Sondey (Lidl)
A speculoos option to look out for in store if you shop at Lidl.
- Lidl lists Sondey Speculoos biscuits as an in-store product.
- Check the size, number of biscuits and label in store before deciding whether they’re suitable for your party.
A spiced biscuit option on Joybuy
This spiced biscuit option may suit you if you’re planning a smaller amount for a birthday. Check whether the pack size listed is right for the number of guests and how you plan to hand them out.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Cookies, 8 pcs, 200 g
Consider this pack if you want to decide in advance how many spiced biscuits to buy for the party. The product name states 8 pcs and 200 g; check how many biscuits you want to give each guest and whether this pack is right for your plans.
Please note that this product contains wheat/gluten, milk and egg. Also check the latest label for warnings about peanuts, nuts, oats, barley and rye.
Frequently asked questions
Are mini spiced biscuits suitable as a treat at school or an after-school club?
Not until you know the venue’s rules. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that schools and after-school clubs may have their own rules for celebrations, and some don’t allow treats at all. Also ask which children avoid certain products.
What should I look for when checking allergens in spiced biscuits?
Read the latest label and ask which allergens your guests need to avoid. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that labels must declare 14 allergens. When choosing a product for a guest, check its ingredients and allergen warnings.
Are gluten-free spiced biscuits also suitable for someone with an egg, milk or nut allergy?
Not necessarily. Jumbo lists egg and warnings for allergens including milk, almonds and hazelnuts in Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. Compare the latest label with the guest’s allergy.
How do I work out how many spiced biscuits I need?
Work out how many guests you want to give biscuits to and how many each person will get, then compare this with the stated number of biscuits. ALDI lists around 71 biscuits in 500 g of Koekkie Speculoos biscuits. This is useful when planning a sharing plate, but doesn’t tell you how many individual portions there are.
Can I choose a mini option well in advance of the party?
Yes, but confirm that it’s available before making plans that depend on it. Jumbo said Mini Speculaasjes 125 g was no longer in its online range, and that Lotus mini 6 x 25 g could not be supplied for the time being.