Who is this choice relevant to?

Hosts looking for a dark chocolate flavour

You want to serve a dark chocolate note alongside the spices, and would rather compare a stated cocoa percentage than rely on words such as ‘dark’ or ‘pure’.

Hosts who want crisp speculaas to take centre stage

You’re looking for biscuits or chunks to put out on the table. The speculaas flavour and size matter more to you than a high cocoa percentage.

Hosts who need to check allergens

You’re serving a group and want to check the packaging to see which allergens the specific product contains or may contain.

What should you look for when choosing?

Speculaas with dark chocolate

A good fit if: you’re specifically looking for a chocolate note for your neighbourhood get-together and the stated cocoa percentage suits your taste.

The trade-off: ‘dark’ alone doesn’t tell you how dark the chocolate will taste. Albert Heijn lists the previously sold version as no longer in its range.

Plain speculaas or speculaas chunks

A good fit if: you mainly want a familiar speculaas flavour and biscuits that guests can easily help themselves to or share.

The trade-off: without chocolate, plain speculaas won’t meet your needs if you’re looking for a dark chocolate note.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important to?
Dark chocolate flavour Check the type of chocolate and the cocoa percentage. See whether the percentage refers to the chocolate or the whole biscuit. If I’m choosing it specifically for the chocolate note, I want to be able to assess what the chocolate is made from. This is a priority for around 40% of consumers.
Easy to share Compare chunks with individual biscuits, and check the pack weight and any portion information. For a plate guests can help themselves to, size matters more to me than cocoa. Around 30% of consumers prioritise how easy it is to share.
Allergens and labelling Read the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current pack. Check the best-before date and storage instructions too. When I’m serving guests with a food allergy, I need to know what’s in the pack I’ve chosen. Checking the label is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means the cocoa content you want

    A dark chocolate description doesn’t necessarily tell you whether the flavour will be dark enough for your sharing platter.

    Look for a specific cocoa percentage on the packaging and check which chocolate component it refers to.

  • Treating an old product page as proof it’s still available

    Albert Heijn lists its 320 g AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade as no longer in its range. So the product page doesn’t confirm that you can still buy it.

    Check the current in-store range or the retailer’s app before relying on a particular version being available.

  • Serving speculaas without reading the allergen label

    Jumbo Speculaasbrokken lists wheat and gluten, and warns that the product may contain almonds and nuts. Other products may have different labels.

    Read the packaging of the pack you’re serving, and keep it available for guests who want to check the ingredients.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn has a product page for 320 g AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade.

  • The product name makes it clear that this was speculaas with dark chocolate.
  • Albert Heijn marks this version as no longer in its range, so check what’s currently available before counting on it.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers speculaas chunks and baker’s speculaas as examples of plain speculaas.

  • The product information includes details such as ingredients, allergens, pack weight and storage instructions.
  • These plain speculaas products aren’t a substitute for speculaas with dark chocolate if the chocolate note is your priority.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crisp speculoos biscuit with a caramelised flavour.

  • It’s a familiar alternative if that’s the speculoos flavour you’re looking for.
  • Speculoos and speculaas with dark chocolate are different choices; check the label if cocoa is your main criterion.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘dark chocolate’ mean speculaas has a high cocoa content?

No. The description alone doesn’t show whether the cocoa content suits your taste. Look for a specific percentage on the label and check whether it applies to the chocolate or the whole product.

Should I check the allergen label for a neighbourhood get-together?

Yes, especially if you’re serving guests with a food allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on labels, so read the packaging of the pack you’ve chosen, even if you already know the product name.

Can I rely on an online supermarket product page for ingredient information?

Use the online page to compare products, but read the packaging of the pack you’ve bought before serving it. Ingredients and allergen information can vary between products or recipes.

How should I store speculaas until the get-together?

Follow the storage instructions on your speculaas packaging. Jumbo says its Bakkers Speculaas should be stored in a cool, dry place; check the best-before date on the pack too.