Biscuits for the tin
You want to serve speculaas biscuits to your family or guests without any baking preparation. Check how many biscuits are in the pack and consider whether you can seal it securely after opening.
Who is each option best for?
Crumb-base bakers
You want to crumble speculaas biscuits for a tart base or dessert. Jumbo uses crumbled speculaas in a recipe for a crumb base; a ready-to-eat biscuit is quite different from dough for making fresh kruidnoten.
Kruidnoten makers
You want to shape and bake biscuits yourself, perhaps with the family. First choose between kruidnoten and soft pepernoten, then check which ingredients or baking mix you’ll need for your chosen recipe.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you want to eat biscuits, crumble them or bake your own. Then consider the pack size, recipe and label in light of how you plan to use them.
Ready-to-eat speculaas biscuits
Choose these if: you want to fill the biscuit tin straight away or share them.
Bear in mind: the shape and spices are already set, so you can’t use these to bake fresh kruidnoten.
Speculaas biscuits for crumbling
Choose these if: your recipe calls for crumbled biscuits to make a base or dessert.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need the other recipe ingredients; biscuit crumbs aren’t dough you can shape into kruidnoten.
Bake your own
Choose this if: shaping and baking biscuits is the main event.
Bear in mind: the recipe or baking mix will take time to prepare and may require extra ingredients. Follow the instructions for baking the dough.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Especially useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking the biscuit tin | Compare the weight in grams and check how to seal the pack after opening. | If I need enough ready-to-eat biscuits for family or guests, I want a pack that suits how much we eat. Having enough in stock would be the main reason for buying for around 31% of consumers. |
| Biscuits for a crumb recipe | Check which type and quantity of biscuit the recipe calls for. | For a base or dessert, I want biscuits I can crumble to suit my recipe. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. | If someone in my household needs to avoid an ingredient, I want to check whether this particular pack is suitable. For around 19% of consumers, checking the label would come first. |
| Baking your own biscuits | Choose a recipe for kruidnoten or pepernoten and check what you’ll need to make them. | I want to shape the dough myself and bake the biscuits; a pack of ready-to-eat speculaas won’t help me do that. Baking from scratch would be the main reason for choosing for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking a pack of speculaas biscuits for a kruidnoten baking mix
You can serve ready-to-eat speculaas or crumble it, but you can’t shape it into fresh kruidnoten. Albert Heijn also distinguishes between kruidnoten and the softer pepernoten.
Before you shop, decide whether you want to fill a biscuit tin, make a crumb base or bake biscuits yourself. For the latter, choose a suitable recipe with ingredients or a baking mix.
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Automatically choosing the largest pack
A large pack is less practical if you won’t finish the biscuits or can’t seal it securely after opening.
Choose a quantity that suits how you’ll use them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing pepernoten in a cool, dry, dark place in a well-sealed container; Albert Heijn recommends keeping its speculaas biscuits in a closed tin after opening.
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Treating an online ingredients list as definitive
A product’s ingredients can change, so information about a different pack or an earlier version may not be enough when checking for allergens.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before using the biscuits.
Brands to consider
These examples show the types of products and recipes that may help you choose. Details about a particular pack don’t necessarily apply to other biscuits from the same brand.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells speculaas biscuits in a 600 g pack and publishes a recipe for a speculaas crumb base.
- The recipe shows how ready-to-eat speculaas can be used as a crumb ingredient.
- The weight and ingredients of the pack mentioned don’t tell you anything about other Jumbo biscuits, so check the pack you choose.
Biscotto
ALDI lists Biscotto speculaas biscuits in a 600 g pack.
- According to ALDI, this pack contains 48 biscuits, which can help you estimate how many you’ll need for the biscuit tin.
- Check the label on the exact pack for ingredients and allergen information.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as speculoos biscuits that can also be used as an ingredient in the kitchen.
- They’re worth considering when a recipe calls for crumbled speculoos.
- Speculoos biscuits aren’t dough for kruidnoten. If you need to avoid any ingredients, always check the pack you choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells speculaas biscuits and shares recipes that explain the difference between pepernoten and kruidnoten.
- The recipes help you choose which type of biscuit you mean before you buy your ingredients.
- For AH Bakkers Speculaas, Albert Heijn recommends storing the biscuits in a closed tin after opening. Check the current pack for product information too.
Biscuits to enjoy straight away or use in crumb recipes
These biscuits are suitable for serving as ready-to-eat speculaas or choosing for a crumb recipe. If you want to shape your own kruidnoten, they’re no substitute for ingredients or a baking mix.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas 450 g
A ready-to-eat biscuit for the tin, or to crumble when your recipe calls for speculaas.
Pack size: 450 g. Choose a quantity that suits your plans, and check the current label if ingredients or allergens are important to your decision.
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Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuits 250 g
Speculoos biscuits to consider if you want to serve biscuits or crumble them into a dessert.
Pack size: 250 g. Check that the quantity suits your recipe, and read the label on the pack you choose if ingredients or allergens are relevant.
Frequently asked questions
Are pepernoten and kruidnoten the same?
No. Albert Heijn describes pepernoten as softer and irregular in shape, while kruidnoten are smaller and harder, and contain speculaas spices. If you’re baking your own, check which type the recipe is for.
Can I use a family pack of speculaas biscuits for baking?
Yes, if you’re making a recipe that uses crumbled ready-to-eat speculaas. Jumbo uses speculaas crumbs with butter and sugar for a base. If you want to shape and bake fresh kruidnoten, you’ll need dough or a suitable baking mix rather than a pack of biscuits.
How should I store an opened pack?
Seal the pack well and follow the storage advice on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping pepernoten in a cool, dry, dark place; Albert Heijn advises storing its Bakkers Speculaas in a closed tin after opening.
Where can I check which allergens are in speculaas?
Read the allergen information on the label of the exact pack. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be listed on labels of prepacked foods, so don’t rely solely on information about a different product or an earlier pack.
Can I taste dough made with a speculaas baking mix raw?
Not if the packaging advises against it. Jumbo says that the dough in the Koopmans Speculaas Koekjespakket is not intended to be eaten raw and must be heated thoroughly. Follow the preparation instructions for the mix you’re using.