Parents who want to keep treats small
You’re looking for something festive for a special occasion, without turning biscuits into an everyday snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends offering biscuits once a week rather than once a day.
Who is this relevant for?
Parents checking allergens and how easy a biscuit is to chew
Your child has a food allergy or is still learning to chew properly. Speculaas recipes vary: Lotus Biscoff Original lists gluten and soya, while the filled speculaas described by Jumbo also contains almonds, egg and milk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must be shown on the label of pre-packed products.
Families sharing a festive treat
You’re considering filled speculaas for a shared dessert, but want to be able to set aside a small amount for your toddler. If you choose this type, check the filling and the allergens listed on the packaging too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether speculaas is right for this occasional treat and how much you want to offer. Then compare the product types and check the label of the biscuit you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Small, occasional portion | Check the portion size on the label and how many biscuits are packed together. | When I offer something festive, I want to be able to set aside a small amount beforehand rather than serve the whole packet. For around 46% of consumers, keeping the portion small and occasional is the top priority. |
| Allergens and ease of chewing | Read the current label, including allergen warnings, and consider whether the size of each piece suits the way your child chews. | If my child has an allergy or is still learning to chew, I want to know what’s in the biscuit and whether I need to break it into smaller pieces. This check comes first for around 36% of consumers. |
| Festive product type | Compare plain and filled speculaas by ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, as well as by the amount you plan to serve. | For a shared celebration, I want to decide whether a plain biscuit will do or whether to serve filled speculaas. Around 18% of consumers give choosing a more festive product type the highest priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming that wholegrains or a premium look make a biscuit an everyday snack
For Biscoff 6 Grains, Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists 4.7 g of fibre and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Having more fibre than other biscuits doesn’t change the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to choose foods from the Wheel of Five for everyday snacks.
Compare speculaas products with one another and save biscuits for an occasional treat.
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Thinking of a whole packet as a toddler-sized portion
The number of biscuits in a packet doesn’t tell you how much to offer at one sitting. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Bakkers speculaas as having 48 portions per packet, with a stated portion size of 13 g.
Set aside a small amount on a plate beforehand and put the rest away.
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Assuming all speculaas contains the same allergens
Lotus Biscoff Original lists gluten and soya. The filled version described by Jumbo also lists almonds, egg and milk, among other ingredients. It’s worth checking the current packaging even if you’ve bought the product before.
Check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packaging every time you buy, especially if your child has a relevant allergy.
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Assuming a product page guarantees the item is in stock
The product page for a particular filled Jumbo speculaas said that it was no longer part of the online range. Lidl presents its 600 g Bakkers speculaas as an in-store product.
Check the current range before you go shopping.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Speculoos biscuits, including Original and a 6 Grains version.
- For Original, Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists 38.1 g of sugars and 8.0 g of saturates per 100 g; for 6 Grains, the brand lists 4.7 g of fibre and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g.
- Both versions described list gluten and soya. Compare the 6 Grains version with other biscuits, rather than treating it as a replacement for an everyday snack from the Wheel of Five.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand range including plain Bakkers speculaas and filled varieties.
- Albert Heijn lists a portion size of 13 g and 48 portions per packet for AH Bakkers speculaas.
- This product contains wheat and may contain almonds. Check the current packaging, especially if allergens are a concern.
Jumbo
The filled speculaas with butter and almond paste described here is an option to compare as a more festive product type.
- Jumbo lists 46% almond paste for this specific version.
- The same version lists almonds, egg, gluten, milk and soya, among other ingredients. The product page said it was no longer part of the online range; check current availability.
Biscotto (ALDI)
Bakers’ speculaas in a larger pack of individually wrapped biscuits.
- ALDI lists 600 g and 48 biscuits per packet.
- Don’t use the number of biscuits as a serving suggestion; check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Lidl
Crisp 600 g Bakkers speculaas, listed by Lidl as an in-store product.
- The product description confirms the type of biscuit and the pack size.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging before buying; Lidl directs customers to the packaging or customer services for this information.
Speculaas biscuits on Joybuy
These three products are plain speculaas biscuits for anyone wanting to set aside a small amount for an occasional treat. Consider the portion and whether the biscuits are easy for your child to chew; the pack size isn’t a toddler-sized portion.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas Cookies, 8 pieces, 200 g
An option if you want to set aside a small amount of biscuits for an occasional treat.
The packet contains 8 pieces and weighs 200 g. Decide how much to offer based on the current packaging and check the label for allergens.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie, 250 g
A plain speculoos biscuit, so you can choose a small amount to offer at a time.
The packet weighs 250 g. Check the current label for the weight of each biscuit and for allergens before serving.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas, 450 g
An option if you’re looking for plain bakers’ speculaas and want to set aside a small portion for a treat.
The packet weighs 450 g. Use the label to check the weight of each biscuit and any relevant allergens.
Frequently asked questions
Is speculaas suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler?
No, not as part of an everyday routine. For young children and toddlers, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing foods from the Wheel of Five for snacks, such as vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread, and suggests biscuits once a week rather than every day.
How can I keep a speculaas treat small?
Set aside a small amount beforehand instead of serving a whole packet. Check the portion size and nutritional information on the current packaging; the portion shown on the label isn’t automatically the amount you’ll want to give your toddler.
What should I check if my child has a nut allergy and I’m considering filled speculaas?
Check the allergens on the current packaging before offering the biscuit. The filled speculaas described by Jumbo contains almonds; don’t judge another version by its name or appearance alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must be shown on the label of pre-packed products.
Should I check the label again when buying the same product?
Yes, especially if an allergy is a concern. Albert Heijn says that product information, including ingredients and allergens, can change, so check the packaging of the product you’re buying at the time.
Does having more fibre make multigrain speculaas suitable as an everyday snack for a toddler?
No. Having more fibre than other speculaas biscuits doesn’t make biscuits an everyday snack from the Wheel of Five. For Biscoff 6 Grains, Lotus Bakeries Netherlands lists 4.7 g of fibre and 35.5 g of sugars per 100 g. Compare the nutritional values of similar biscuits without drawing conclusions about your child’s everyday eating habits.