People who fancy something sweet after a workout
You want a biscuit during or after your training, without treating it as a full meal. The Voedingscentrum recommends having a normal meal after exercise; speculaas can be a treat alongside it.
Who is this for?
Households with a shared biscuit tin
You’re looking for a pack that several people can help themselves to. Net weight, the stated number of portions and how well the biscuits can be resealed after opening can all help you decide.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients and allergens
You have a specific dietary requirement or need to avoid an allergen. Check the label on the variant you choose: a vegan label, for example, doesn’t mean the speculaas is gluten-free too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you want to share your speculaas, take it with you or enjoy it alongside your usual meal. Then compare the portions and check the label on the specific pack.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuit or meal | Read the nutritional information per portion, and remember to factor in your usual meal and drink separately. | If I’m hungry after exercise, I want to know whether I’ll still be having a proper meal rather than just eating biscuits. This is the main consideration for around 45% of consumers. |
| Sharing and portioning | Compare the net weight, stated portions or number of biscuits, and how to store the biscuits after opening. | In a household where several people help themselves to the biscuit tin, I want to be able to share out the contents without leaving the rest open. This is the main need for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the up-to-date ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variant you’re buying. | If I need to avoid an ingredient, a biscuit’s name alone doesn’t tell me enough about what’s in it. Around 22% of consumers prioritise this check. |
Common mistakes
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Treating speculaas as a full meal after exercise
A biscuit can’t replace a normal meal. The Voedingscentrum recommends having breakfast, lunch or dinner after sport.
First, think about what you’d normally eat and drink; if you like, enjoy speculaas as a treat alongside it.
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Confusing vegan with gluten-free
According to the product information, the standard Lotus Biscoff variant is vegan, but it contains wheat and soya. A gluten-free variant may contain other allergens.
Check the allergen information on the specific pack every time you buy, even if the front carries a dietary claim.
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Relying on a seasonal pack being available all year round
ALDI includes its filled speculaas in its St Nicholas range. Lidl states that Bakkers speculaas is only available in store.
Before planning a purchase, check the range at your chosen shop and make sure you know whether it’s plain or filled speculaas.
Brands compared
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries sells its speculoos in several pack formats, including a Mega Pack with 20 packs of 2 biscuits.
- The individual packs make it easy to take biscuits with you or portion them out in advance.
- The standard variant lists wheat and soya; check the ingredients for the version you choose.
Albert Heijn
AH Speculaas brokken comes in a 375 g bag with 15 stated portions of 25 g. Albert Heijn also sells a separate gluten-free speculaas brok.
- The portion information makes it easier to share a bag of the regular broken biscuits.
- The regular broken biscuits contain wheat and may contain almonds; the gluten-free brok is a different product.
Jumbo
Jumbo Speculaasbrokken comes in a 375 g bag, with around 12 portions of 31 g.
- The stated number of portions is useful when sharing.
- The product information lists wheat and possible traces of almonds and nuts.
ALDI
ALDI lists a 2-pack of filled speculaas in its St Nicholas range. It contains 2 × 250 g, with almonds and almond paste.
- You can open the two packs at different times.
- This is filled speculaas and the range is seasonal; check the full label too.
Lidl
Lidl lists Bakkers speculaas in a 600 g pack.
- The net weight is clearly stated, making it a handy option if you want to fill a large biscuit tin.
- Lidl says this product is only available in store; check the ingredients and nutritional information on the pack there.
Speculaas products at Joybuy
These two packs give you a choice between 450 g of speculaas for sharing and 200 g with eight biscuits. Check the packaging for both if a set portion size or a particular ingredient profile matters to you.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas, 450 g
A 450 g pack of speculaas to share from a biscuit tin. Check the label for portion size, nutritional information and allergens if these will affect your choice.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Cookies, 8 pieces, 200 g
A 200 g pack with eight biscuits if you’d prefer a smaller amount. Check the pack to see how the biscuits are wrapped, and for the portion and allergen information for this version.
Frequently asked questions
Can speculaas replace my meal after exercise?
No, not as a full meal. The Voedingscentrum recommends having a normal main meal after sport; if you like, you can enjoy speculaas as a treat alongside it.
How do I choose a large pack if portions matter?
Compare the stated portion size or number of individual packs, rather than just the net weight. Albert Heijn lists 15 portions of 25 g for its speculaasbrokken; Jumbo lists around 12 portions of 31 g for its broken biscuits.
How should I store speculaas after opening?
Store the biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container, as recommended by the Voedingscentrum. This is especially useful when several people will be eating from the same pack over a longer period.
Is vegan speculaas gluten-free too?
No, the two labels don’t mean the same thing. The standard Lotus Biscoff variant is labelled vegan, but lists wheat and gluten-containing cereals. If you need to avoid gluten, choose a variant explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too.