Parents looking to limit sugar
You compare the sugars per 100 g and per biscuit, but also want to know which sweetener and ingredients an alternative contains.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Organisers managing allergy requirements
You choose treats to fit the children's dietary requirements, as agreed in advance. A low sugar content says nothing about whether allergens are present.
Parents who want to hand out traditional speculaas
You're looking for a familiar treat that you can divide into agreed portions. The standard varieties compared here aren't suitable alternatives if your main aim is to reduce sugar.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, make sure the biscuits fit any known allergy and dietary requirements. Then compare the sugars per 100 g and decide how you want to hand out the portions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content | Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and, if listed, per biscuit. Distinguish between total sugars and added sugars. | If I want to limit sugar, I look for a biscuit with a clearly stated sugar content rather than relying on the product name. Around 36% of consumers put this first. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Check both the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current packaging. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, I only want to hand out something that fits the arrangements made in advance. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Handing out portions | Check the number of biscuits and the stated serving size so you can decide in advance how much to hand out. | When handing out treats to a group, I want to be able to prepare a portion for each child in advance, rather than putting out an open bowl. Around 21% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Traditional speculaas | Check the nutritional information for the variety you've chosen; a different recipe or pack doesn't automatically mean a lower-sugar biscuit. | If the children are having traditional speculaas, I value packaging that makes it easy to divide into portions more than a reduction in sugar. This preference comes first for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Taking ‘sugar-free’ to mean ‘hand out as many as you like’
Céréal lists maltitol as a sweetener. According to the product information, excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Decide in advance how many biscuits to hand out, and make sure any child who can't eat this variety has a suitable alternative treat.
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Confusing gluten-free or grain varieties with low sugar
Jumbo lists 26.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. Lotus Bakeries lists 35.5 g per 100 g for Biscoff 6 Granen.
Assess a gluten-free claim or grain variety separately from the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.
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Reading only the front of the pack
The Céréal variety lists wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk, among other ingredients. Albert Heijn says that ingredients and allergen information can change.
Compare the current packaging with the allergy requirements you've gathered in advance before handing out the biscuits.
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Offering traditional speculaas as a lower-sugar alternative
According to Jumbo, Bakkers Speculaas contains 29 g of sugars per 100 g; Lotus Bakeries lists 38.1 g per 100 g for Biscoff Original.
Choose these varieties if traditional speculaas is right for the party, not because you expect them to be low in sugar.
Brands and product ranges compared
Céréal
With Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, you can weigh up its low stated sugar content against the sweetener and ingredients.
- Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g for this variety.
- Céréal lists maltitol and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect; check the allergens too.
Lotus Biscoff
Original and 6 Granen are different varieties of traditional speculoos, not like-for-like choices if low sugar is your priority.
- Lotus Bakeries lists separate nutritional values for both varieties, allowing you to compare them per 100 g.
- According to Lotus Bakeries, Original contains 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g and 6 Granen contains 35.5 g per 100 g.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn's product information presents AH Bakkers Speculaas and Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces as different options.
- Albert Heijn lists 32 g of added sugars per 100 g for AH Bakkers Speculaas, compared with 0.4 g of total sugars per 100 g for Céréal.
- Added sugars and total sugars aren't the same nutritional value. Albert Heijn also recommends checking the current packaging for changes to ingredients and allergens.
Jumbo
Jumbo provides nutritional information for both Bakkers Speculaas and the separate Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
- According to Jumbo, Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas is a gluten-free variety; check the packaging for the other ingredients and allergens.
- Jumbo lists 29 g of sugars per 100 g for Bakkers Speculaas and 26.9 g per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
ALDI
ALDI lists a Goud Gebakken Koekhappers variety with less sugar. Koekhappers are not speculaas.
- The product name helps distinguish this type of biscuit from speculaas.
- Don't use information about Koekhappers to assess the sugar content of a speculaas product; check the label on the speculaas in question instead.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hand out ‘sugar-free’ speculaas without limit?
No. That claim doesn't mean it's appropriate to hand out as much as you like. According to the product information, Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces contains maltitol and 29 g of polyols per 100 g, and carries a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Decide on the portion in advance and check the other ingredients.
Why do polyols matter in Céréal Speculoos?
Céréal uses maltitol in these biscuits and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. So look at more than just the sugar content: check the ingredients too, and consider the portion you plan to hand out.
Can I hand out Céréal Speculoos if a child has a food allergy?
Only if the current ingredients meet that child's specific requirements. The product information lists wheat, almonds, soya, egg and milk, among other ingredients. Check the packaging before handing them out and, if in doubt, agree on a different treat with the parents or carers.
Does gluten-free speculaas also mean low sugar?
No. Jumbo lists 26.9 g of sugars per 100 g for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. Check gluten-free suitability and sugar content separately, as well as the other allergens listed on the packaging.
Should I read the packaging if I've already checked the nutritional information online?
Yes, check the packaging of the biscuits you're actually handing out. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change. This is especially important if you're choosing based on sugar content or known allergies.