Who is this relevant to?

Home bakers looking for organic ingredients

You’re making Dutch spiced biscuits from scratch and want to check the organic status of the ingredients. Start with the speculaas spices, then check the packaging for the flour, sugar and fat too.

Bakers looking to add a decoration

You’ve already made the dough or baked something and are looking for a sweet aniseed topping. Aniseed sprinkles can be used to finish your bake, but they won’t give the dough the flavour of a speculaas spice mix.

Shoppers checking ingredients and allergens

You want to know before buying whether a product contains wheat or carries a warning about the possible presence of allergens. Check the label on the aniseed sprinkles or ready-made biscuits you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you’re looking for spices for the dough, aniseed sprinkles for decoration or ready-made Dutch spiced biscuits. Then compare each product’s organic status, ingredients and nutritional information.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this?
Organic status Check the EU organic logo, control code and origin statement on the packaging; check each baking ingredient separately. If I want to bake with organic ingredients, I want to be able to check the status on every pack. Verifiable organic origin would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers.
Role in the recipe Choose speculaas spices for the dough and aniseed sprinkles only if you want a sweet decoration with aniseed flavour. If you’re baking Dutch spiced biscuits, you’ll want to avoid using a topping in place of the spice mix. The role of the ingredient in the recipe would come first for around 30% of consumers.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and warnings, paying particular attention to wheat and the possible presence of nuts. If someone sharing the food needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the products I’ve chosen before I start baking. Checking the ingredients would be the main concern for around 20% of consumers.
Sugars and portion size Compare the sugars per 100 g and consider how many aniseed sprinkles or biscuits you’ll serve. When serving a treat, I want to be able to decide how much sweet topping to use. The amount of sugars and portion size would be the main consideration for around 10% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘natural’ means certified organic

    A description of the ingredients doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the whole product is certified organic. According to the European Commission, the EU organic logo may be used on products certified as organic by an authorised control body.

    If certification is what matters most to you, look for the logo, control code and origin statement on the packaging.

  • Buying aniseed sprinkles instead of speculaas spices

    De Ruijter Muisjes Blauwe & Witte are sugar-coated aniseed seeds. If you buy them instead of speculaas spices, you won’t have the intended spice mix for Dutch spiced biscuit dough.

    Choose a suitable speculaas spice mix for the dough and use aniseed sprinkles as a decoration if you like.

  • Checking only the front of the pack for allergen information

    De Ruijter Muisjes Blauwe & Witte contain wheat starch. The Pure Ingredients biscuits from Peppernuts Holland that were reviewed carry a warning about the possible presence of nuts and other cereals containing gluten.

    Before using a product, read the ingredients and allergen information on its current packaging.

  • Not checking sugars in organic Dutch spiced biscuits

    An organic label doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information and decide how many biscuits or how much topping you want to serve.

Brands to compare

De Ruijter

Worth considering if you’re looking for aniseed sprinkles to decorate baked goods, but not as a spice base for Dutch spiced biscuit dough.

  • The Muisjes Blauwe & Witte reviewed are sugar-coated aniseed seeds.
  • This variety contains wheat starch. Check the packaging separately if organic certification is important to you.

Duqqa!

A brand offering organic spice mixes, including speculaas spices for homemade Dutch spiced biscuits.

  • A speculaas spice mix is a good fit for the dough’s flavour base.
  • Check the organic status of the other dough ingredients too; the spice mix alone doesn’t determine this.

Het Blauwe Huis

Het Blauwe Huis says its organic speculaas mix is suitable for speculaas and Dutch spiced biscuits.

  • The mix reviewed includes cinnamon, star anise, nutmeg and cloves.
  • Also check the ingredients and allergen information for the other products in your recipe.

Peppernuts Holland

An option if you’d rather buy ready-made Dutch spiced biscuits than bake them yourself.

  • According to Peppernuts Holland, the Pure Ingredients variety uses ingredients of organic origin wherever possible within the recipe.
  • Check the packaging for the organic status, nutritional information and warnings about the possible presence of allergens.

Aniseed sprinkles for decoration at Joybuy

These aniseed sprinkles are suitable for decorating Dutch spiced biscuits or other bakes. If you’re looking for flavourings for the dough, choose speculaas spices rather than aniseed sprinkles.

De Ruijter Muisjes Blauw & Wit 330 g

De Ruijter Muisjes Blauw & Wit 330 g

A good choice if you’re looking for a sweet aniseed decoration for baked goods, but not as a substitute for speculaas spices in the dough.

This variety contains wheat starch and provides 79 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging for allergen information and, if it matters to you, organic status.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a baking ingredient is organic?

For a pre-packed product, look for the EU organic logo, control code and origin statement on the packaging. According to the European Commission, the logo is reserved for products certified as organic by an authorised control body. Check the ingredients in your recipe individually.

Can I use aniseed sprinkles instead of speculaas spices?

Aniseed sprinkles aren’t a substitute for speculaas spices in Dutch spiced biscuit dough. Use a suitable spice mix in the dough, then add aniseed sprinkles if you’d like a sweet finish with aniseed flavour.

Which allergens should I check in aniseed sprinkles and ready-made Dutch spiced biscuits?

Check the allergen information for the product you’re buying: De Ruijter Muisjes Blauwe & Witte contain wheat starch, while the Pure Ingredients biscuits from Peppernuts Holland that were reviewed carry a warning about the possible presence of nuts and other cereals containing gluten. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains which allergens must be listed on the labels of packaged foods.

Does organic mean Dutch spiced biscuits contain less sugar?

No, an organic label doesn’t tell you how much sugar the biscuits contain. To compare, check the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging of the products you’re considering.