Parents looking for a little extra
A plain speculaas biscuit is an option if you want to add something small alongside a regular lunch. Check how many biscuits are in the pack and the portion size per biscuit.
Which option is right for you?
Families who need to check allergens
The product name alone isn’t enough: ingredients and warnings about possible cross-contamination vary between products. Check the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
Shoppers buying for an occasional dessert
A filled or butter-rich version may be a good choice when you’re looking for a larger biscuit. Compare the portion size and check that it fits with the school’s rules.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide whether you want a little addition to lunch or a separate treat. Then check the label and the school’s rules for the product you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Compare the weight per biscuit and the number of biscuits per portion; a filled biscuit isn’t necessarily a small addition to lunch. | I want to pack one little extra without treating a large filled biscuit as a regular lunch portion. For around 36% of consumers, portion size is the most important factor. |
| Allergens and gluten | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about possible cross-contamination for the exact product. | If a child needs to avoid certain ingredients, the packaging of that specific product needs to be suitable. A gluten-free label doesn’t answer every question about allergens. For around 29% of consumers, this check comes first. |
| Packing and taking it along | Check how many biscuits are packed together and whether you can easily take out a small amount. | I want to pack biscuits in a lunchbox without any fuss and decide in advance how many to include. For around 21% of consumers, this practical aspect is the main consideration. |
| Filled version | Compare the portion size and check which filling and allergens are listed for the biscuit you’ve chosen; also check the school’s rules. | For an occasional celebratory treat, I’m more likely to choose a filled biscuit than a small plain speculaas biscuit. For around 14% of consumers, its dessert-like character is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Counting a filled biscuit as a small speculaas biscuit
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses a 7 g biscuit for speculaas and a 40 g large piece of filled speculaas in its nutrition tables. These are not equivalent portions per biscuit.
Decide whether you want a little addition to lunch or a larger treat, then compare the weight per biscuit.
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Confusing gluten-free with allergen-free
A gluten-free speculaas product may still contain other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg in its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
For every product you choose, also check the other ingredients and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
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Overlooking the school’s rules
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that schools may have their own rules about treats and celebrations. So, if you’re taking biscuits in to share, you need to check more than just the product label.
Check the school’s or class’s rules before packing speculaas or taking it in to share.
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Assuming general nutrition information applies to every brand
A general nutrition value per speculaas biscuit doesn’t necessarily describe the ingredients or weight of a particular brand’s biscuit.
When making your final choice, compare the nutrition information per 100 g and, if provided, per portion on the exact packaging.
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Bakeries lists classic speculoos, a 6-grain version and a Pocket Pack containing 8 × 2 biscuits.
- The Pocket Pack gives you a set number of biscuits in each pack.
- The classic version lists wheat and soya. According to Lotus Bakeries, the 6-grain version contains 4,7 g of fibre per 100 g, but that doesn’t make it suitable for everyone with an allergy.
Albert Heijn
The range includes Bakkersspeculaas and a separate gluten-free filled speculaas biscuit.
- According to Albert Heijn, the 60 g filled biscuit contains almond paste and pastry cream.
- Gluten-free doesn’t mean suitable for people with other allergies; check the allergen information for this filled version separately.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both Bakkers Speculaas and Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
- Jumbo displays the Crossed Grain symbol on the gluten-free version.
- Bakkers Speculaas contains wheat; the gluten-free version lists egg and the possible presence of other allergens.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists Bakkers speculaas biscuits in a 600 g pack.
- The stated pack size can help you choose between a multipack and a smaller quantity.
- Check the label on the product you buy for allergen and nutrition information.
ALDI / Biscotto
ALDI Netherlands lists Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas in a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.
- The stated number of biscuits is useful if you want to spread the pack over several lunches.
- Check the current label for ingredients, allergens and nutrition information.
Speculoos biscuits at Joybuy
If you’re looking for a plain biscuit to add as a little extra, the pack of Lotus Biscoff speculoos below may be worth considering. Check how many biscuits you want to include in each lunchbox and whether the label is suitable for any allergies.
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Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuits, 250 g
A plain biscuit option if you want to add a small amount to a lunchbox yourself.
Pack size: 250 g. Check the weight per biscuit and whether they’re individually wrapped if you need pre-portioned servings.
If you have allergies, check the current label, paying particular attention to the listing for wheat and soya.
Frequently asked questions
Can speculaas be part of a daily school lunchbox?
It’s better to treat speculaas as a little extra rather than a replacement for a regular lunch. When it comes to biscuits as treats, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends choosing a small biscuit. Check the portion size and nutrition information for the product you’re packing.
When should I choose filled speculaas instead of a small biscuit?
Filled speculaas is better suited to an occasional dessert or treat than a little addition to lunch. In its general nutrition table, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses 40 g for a large piece of filled speculaas, compared with 7 g for a speculaas biscuit. Check the actual portion size and the school’s rules.
Is gluten-free speculaas suitable for people with every type of allergy?
No. Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from other allergens. For its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas, Jumbo lists egg and the possible presence of other allergens, among other things. Always read the label for the exact product.
How should I store speculaas for a lunchbox?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen and seal any opened pack properly. Jumbo says to store Bakkers Speculaas in a cool, dry place; the Lotus Biscoff product information says to reseal the pack properly after opening.