Parents who want to hand them out quickly
Individual bags mean less to sort out on the day. Don’t just look at the number of bags: Jumbo says its Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 contains two biscuits per bag.
Which format works best for you?
Parents who want to put the portions together themselves
A large pack gives you the flexibility to fill your own party bags. Albert Heijn lists AH Bakkers speculaas in a 600 g pack, with a serving size of 13 g; decide how many biscuits you want to give each child.
Parents who need to follow class rules
Before you go shopping, check what the school or after-school club allows and whether any children avoid particular ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking about allergies and dietary requirements in advance.
What should you look for when buying?
Before choosing a treat for school or an after-school club, check the rules and ingredients. Then decide between ready-to-hand-out bags, speculaas you can portion yourself, or a filled or almond variety.
Individual bags
Useful if: you want to give each child a sealed bag without having to divide up the biscuits on the spot.
Bear in mind: one bag doesn’t necessarily contain one biscuit; Jumbo’s Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 has two in each bag.
Large pack
Useful if: you want to decide how much speculaas each child gets and can fill the party bags in advance.
Bear in mind: portioning and packing take extra time; if there are allergies, keep the information from the original pack to hand.
Filled or almond speculaas
Consider this if: you specifically want to hand out this variety and its ingredients are suitable for the children taking part.
Bear in mind: the ALDI filled speculaas we looked at contains almond; Jumbo also lists egg and milk in its almond speculaas.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Handing them out as they are | The number of individual bags and biscuits in each bag. | If I want to hand them out without repacking, each bag needs to contain the right amount for each child. Around 36% of consumers might put handing them out as they are first. |
| Class rules and ingredients | The school or after-school club’s policy, and the ingredients and allergens listed on the current packaging. | If children can’t or shouldn’t eat everything, I want to know before buying whether the treat is suitable for them. For around 29% of consumers, this might be their first concern. |
| Quantity | The amount in each pack and how many party portions you want to make yourself. | For a whole class, I want enough to go round without buying more packs than necessary. Around 21% of consumers might focus above all on how much they need. |
| Type of speculaas | Whether you choose plain, filled or almond speculaas, and which ingredients the specific variety contains. | If the group has a particular product preference, I want to choose a variety that suits it. For around 14% of consumers, that preference might be the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a multipack contains one biscuit per bag
Jumbo says its Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 contains ten bags, each with two biscuits. So, with this pack, one bag per child means two biscuits per child.
Before buying, count both the bags and the biscuits in each bag, then check that they suit your party plans.
If you still want to give each child just one biscuit, you may need separate party bags.
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Handing out almond speculaas to the whole class without checking first
The Jumbo Almond Speculaas we looked at contains almonds, egg, milk and wheat. So a special treat won’t automatically suit every child’s dietary needs.
Ask about allergies and other dietary requirements in advance, and read the label on the pack you buy.
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Buying a large pack before checking the school rules
A school or after-school club may have its own rules about birthdays and handing out food. The pack size only matters if speculaas is allowed under those rules.
Before you go shopping, check what you’re allowed to hand out at the school or club.
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Relying on the online description when it comes to allergies
Albert Heijn warns that product information, including ingredients and allergens, may change.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re actually handing out.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
The XL 2P x 10 pack is worth considering if you want to hand out individually portioned speculoos. Jumbo lists ten bags, each containing two biscuits.
- The number of individual bags and biscuits in each bag is clearly stated.
- Two biscuits per bag won’t suit every party plan; check the ingredients too if there are allergies.
Albert Heijn
AH Bakkers speculaas comes in a large pack for you to portion yourself. Albert Heijn lists a pack size of 600 g and a serving size of 13 g.
- The stated weight helps you work out how much you’ll need.
- You’ll need to put the party portions together yourself; check the current label if there are allergies.
Jumbo
The Jumbo products we looked at include plain baker’s speculaas in a 450 g pack and almond speculaas in a 400 g pack.
- If you’re making your own portions, you can choose between these different varieties and pack sizes.
- Jumbo lists almond, egg, milk and wheat in its almond variety; check for a possible nut warning on the plain baker’s speculaas too.
ALDI
ALDI lists a seasonal pack of filled speculaas containing two 250 g packs, with almond and almond paste.
- You can open the two packs separately if you’re not handing everything out at once.
- This isn’t a pre-portioned children’s serving; check the ingredients and whether the pack is available when you shop.
Speculaas products on Joybuy
If you want to give out speculaas in individual bags, this is one product to assess for its size and ingredients. Before buying, check how many biscuits you want to give each child.
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Hellema Smoeltjes speculaas biscuits, 8 pieces, 200 g
An option if you want to portion out treats in advance; check how many biscuits you’ll give each child. The product name lists 8 pieces and 200 g. If there are allergies, check the label, particularly for wheat, milk, egg and possible traces of peanuts and nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Does a multipack mean one biscuit per child?
No, the number of biscuits in each bag varies by pack. Jumbo says its Lotus Biscoff XL 2P x 10 contains ten bags, each with two biscuits, so count both before deciding how many bags you need.
What should I ask before handing out speculaas at school?
Ask what rules the school has for treats and whether any children don’t eat certain products. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre specifically recommends asking about allergies and dietary requirements related to religious beliefs.
Do all types of speculaas contain the same allergens?
No, ingredients vary from product to product. The Jumbo Almond Speculaas we looked at contains almond, egg, milk and wheat; if a child has an allergy, check the information on the pack you’re actually handing out.
How should I store speculaas from an opened large pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For AH Bakkers speculaas, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a cool, dark and dry place and keeping it in a sealed tin after opening.