If you want to stock up on speculaas
For coffee, tea or guests, you’ll mainly want plenty of plain speculaas to share. A large standard pack is a better fit than a small pack of filled biscuits.
Which speculaas is right for you?
If you want to serve something special
For a treat or coffee table, almond, almond-paste filling or a familiar branded pack could make all the difference. Think about the variety you actually want to serve, rather than choosing based on the word speculaas alone.
If you need to check ingredients or allergens
If wheat, almonds, milk, eggs, soya or possible traces of nuts matter to anyone eating, start with the label. The information varies from one product and variety to another.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want speculaas for sharing regularly or for a particular treat. Then check the pack for the variety you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity for everyday sharing | Check the net weight and compare plain bakers’ speculaas with the same type of biscuit. | If I regularly serve biscuits with coffee or tea, I want to know whether one pack will last long enough for my needs. For roughly 50% of consumers, quantity comes first. |
| A variety to serve to guests | Check whether it’s almond speculaas, filled speculaas or speculoos, and how much the pack contains. | When I have guests, I want to choose a biscuit with almonds, a filling or a recognisable brand. That presentation matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack, including any warnings about possible traces. | If someone sharing the food needs to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the product name or picture. This check comes first for an estimated 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes when buying speculaas
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Thinking of almonds as just a flavour detail
The variety also affects which ingredients and allergens you need to consider. Albert Heijn lists almonds, eggs and milk among the ingredients in AH Amandelspeculaas; Jumbo lists almonds, nuts, gluten and wheat for its almond biscuits.
Check the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces on the pack you’re buying.
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Assuming a variety you’ve seen before will still be available
Jumbo says that its previously featured artisan speculaas is no longer in its online range. If you were planning to serve that particular variety to guests, this could change your choice at the last minute.
Check what’s currently available shortly before you buy, and think about another variety that would also suit the occasion.
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Assuming a brand name means the biscuit is better
A brand or product description isn’t an independent comparison of taste or quality. Speculoos, plain bakers’ speculaas and filled speculaas are also different varieties.
Decide what you’re looking for, such as a filling, almonds or a smaller pack, then compare the relevant products.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The own-brand range includes plain bakers’ speculaas and almond speculaas, so you can choose between a classic biscuit and a different variety from the same range.
- Albert Heijn lists AH Amandelspeculaas as containing 400 g, with 7,1% flaked almonds.
- Because of its ingredients and allergens, this almond variety isn’t a like-for-like substitute for plain bakers’ speculaas.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells a 600 g pack of plain bakers’ speculaas, as well as separate almond speculaas biscuits.
- The different varieties let you choose between biscuits to stock up on and an almond option.
- Jumbo lists 5% almonds in its almond biscuits, along with allergens including almonds, nuts, gluten and wheat.
Biscotto
Biscotto is an ALDI brand with a large pack of plain bakers’ speculaas.
- ALDI lists Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas as containing 600 g, with 48 biscuits per pack.
- ALDI’s description of the flavour isn’t an independent comparison with other brands.
Sondey
Lidl presents Sondey as a brand of biscuits and snacks. Check the current range if you’re looking for speculaas in particular.
- The brand is worth considering if Lidl is on your shopping route.
- Choose speculaas based on the information on the specific pack, not the brand’s general description.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is a recognisable speculoos option in a smaller pack.
- Albert Heijn lists Lotus Biscoff Speculoos in a 250 g pack.
- Speculoos is a different variety from plain or filled speculaas; a familiar brand doesn’t prove a difference in quality.
Speculaas and speculoos at Joybuy
These products give you three different options to enjoy with coffee or tea: almond speculaas for something a little different, plain bakers’ speculaas to share, and speculoos in a smaller branded pack.
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g'woon Amandelspeculaas 400 g
An almond variety for when you want to serve something different from plain bakers’ speculaas with coffee or tea.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the current pack for ingredients and allergens before sharing with others.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas 450 g
Plain bakers’ speculaas for anyone who wants to share biscuits with coffee or tea without choosing an almond or filled variety.
Pack size: 450 g. According to Joybuy’s product information, this variety contains wheat and may contain nuts; check the label on the pack you receive too.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie 250 g
A smaller branded pack of speculoos for anyone who specifically wants to serve this variety with coffee.
Pack size: 250 g. Compare it as a speculoos product, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose speculaas for everyday use and for guests?
For regular sharing, choose plain bakers’ speculaas in a pack size that suits your needs. For a special treat, pick the almond or filled variety you want to serve. Compare pack sizes and ingredients within the same product type; a filled biscuit isn’t simply another pack of bakers’ speculaas.
Which allergens should I look out for in speculaas?
Check the allergen information for the specific variety: the products mentioned include ingredients such as wheat, almonds, milk and eggs, and some packs warn that they may contain traces of nuts. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens that must be declared are shown on labels; don’t rely on the product name alone.
How should I store speculaas once it’s open?
Follow the storage instructions on the speculaas pack. The product information cited from Jumbo and Albert Heijn recommends storing the relevant varieties in a cool, dry place and keeping the biscuits sealed after opening.
Is the online product description enough to check the ingredients?
Use the online description to help you decide, but check the label on the pack you receive before serving it. It gives you the ingredients, allergen information and storage instructions for that specific pack.