Choose speculaas if you’d like to serve a spiced biscuit with coffee or tea on New Year’s Eve; a plain digestive is a better choice if you’re after something milder. If you’re catering for guests with allergies, always check the packaging itself. Nutritional values and the number of biscuits or servings also vary by product.
If you’re serving something to share with coffee or tea, your choice will mainly depend on the flavour and the pack size that suits the occasion. Albert Heijn lists its Bakkers speculaas in a 600 g pack with 48 servings; this doesn’t tell you how many servings are in other packs.
Ingredients and allergen warnings vary from one biscuit to another. Even with a gluten-free option, check the current packaging for any other allergens.
If sugar and fibre matter to you, check the nutritional information per 100 g for the specific speculaas and digestive you’re considering. The name ‘digestive’ doesn’t, on its own, mean that it benefits digestion.
Ideal for: serving a plate of boldly spiced biscuits with coffee or tea.
Bear in mind: a standard variety isn’t automatically suitable for guests who need to avoid gluten or other allergens.
Ideal for: a milder biscuit or a biscuit base for a dessert.
Bear in mind: plain digestives can contain wheat too; a chocolate variety is also a different flavour choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and sharing | Check the flavour description and the number of biscuits or servings in the pack. | If I’m putting out a plate with coffee, I want to choose a flavour that suits the occasion. Flavour and sharing are the top priorities for around 29% of consumers. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements; check the gluten-free label on the pack if needed. | If a guest needs to avoid an allergen, I want to be able to check the specific pack before serving anything. Around 29% of consumers put this check first. |
| Sugars and fibre | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and per serving for the products you’re considering. | I don’t want to compare speculaas and digestives by name alone; I also want to see how their nutritional values differ. This is the first consideration for around 21% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Compare the net weight and number of servings with the number of guests. | For a small gathering, I don’t want to choose a large pack that won’t get used. Around 21% of consumers place the greatest importance on choosing the right amount. |
A gluten-free label doesn’t replace the need to check for other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg and warnings about other allergens for its 125 g Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. The labels on Albert Heijn products also show why it’s worth comparing nutritional values by product: AH Digestive lists 16 g of sugars and 3.2 g of fibre per 100 g, compared with 33 g of sugars and 1.5 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Bakkers speculaas. This comparison applies only to these two products.
The product name doesn’t prove that a biscuit aids digestion. Nutritional values can also vary between digestive biscuits.
If they’re important to your choice, check the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific product.
Jumbo lists egg and the possible presence of other allergens for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. For the gluten-free Schär Digestive Landtaler, Jumbo lists soya and the possible presence of lupin and egg.
Ask which allergens are relevant to your guest and check the current information on the packaging for that exact variety.
A large pack isn’t necessarily right for a small gathering, especially if you’re serving other biscuits too.
Choose a pack size and number of servings to suit your guests, and check the storage advice for an opened pack.
The range can vary by shop and when you buy. For example, ALDI directs customers to its store for Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas.
Check availability before you shop. If you choose an alternative, check its ingredients, allergens and pack size again.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff biscuits as having a caramelised flavour and a crunchy texture; the brand suggests serving them with coffee.
Albert Heijn provides product information for both Bakkers speculaas and Digestive, so you can compare these two specific own-brand products.
Jumbo lists both standard Bakkers Speculaas and a separate gluten-free speculaas variety.
ALDI lists Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas in a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.
Lidl describes Sondey as a brand with a range of biscuits and cookies.
These products include one speculaas variety and three digestive options for serving around New Year’s Eve. The two chocolate digestives offer a different flavour from a plain digestive; check the current packaging for each product if your guests’ allergies are a concern.
Image unavailable
A speculaas option for serving with coffee or tea. The pack contains 450 g; check the current pack for allergens before serving these biscuits to guests.
Image unavailable
A plain digestive to serve alongside speculaas if you’d like a biscuit without a chocolate coating. The pack contains 400 g; check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
Image unavailable
A milk chocolate digestive to add a chocolate flavour to your biscuit plate. The pack contains 266 g; don’t treat this variety as interchangeable with a plain digestive, and check the allergens.
Image unavailable
A dark chocolate digestive for anyone who’d like to offer that flavour alongside speculaas. The pack contains 266 g; compare the ingredients and allergens in this variety with those of the other biscuits on the table.
The name ‘digestive’ isn’t proof of any benefit to digestion. It’s better to compare the ingredients and nutritional values of the specific biscuits you’re considering.
Not necessarily. Jumbo lists egg and warnings about other allergens for its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas. So, if you’re serving a particular guest, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
Follow the storage advice on the pack. The product information reviewed for speculaas and digestives says to store them in a cool, dry place; also check the instructions for resealing after opening and the date on your pack.
