Parents planning a school snack
A biscuit is easy to pack, but check the portion and nutritional information if it’s going into the lunchbox regularly. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit and vegetables as snacks for children.
Who might find this choice relevant?
Shoppers keeping an eye on fibre
Compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g, and consider how many biscuits you actually plan to eat. For constipation, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre also highlights the importance of drinking enough and keeping active, so choosing speculaas is only one part of the picture.
Shoppers who need to choose gluten-free
Ordinary bakery speculaas and gluten-free speculaas aren’t interchangeable if you need to avoid gluten. Check the label on the pack you choose, and read the information about other allergens too.
What should you look for when choosing?
Ordinary bakery speculaas
Choose it when: you’re after the classic speculaas flavour and gluten isn’t a concern.
Consider: treat it as a biscuit, not as a way to meet your fibre needs.
Gluten-free speculaas
Choose it when: you want to eat speculaas but need to avoid gluten.
Consider: gluten-free doesn’t tell you anything about other allergens or fibre content, so read the full label.
A different school snack
Choose it when: you’re looking for a snack for an ordinary school day, rather than speculaas in particular.
Consider: fruit and vegetables won’t give you the speculaas flavour you’re after, but the Netherlands Nutrition Centre does recommend them as snacks for children.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre and bowel movements | Compare fibre per 100 g and per planned portion. Consider the biscuit as part of your overall diet. | If I’m keeping an eye on my fibre intake, I want to know how much the biscuits add to my diet, without seeing them as a solution for constipation. Fibre is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| School snack and portion size | Check the portion size and sugars per 100 g, then decide how many biscuits you want to pack. | For a school break, I’m looking for something that’s easy to portion out, without automatically turning a biscuit into an everyday snack. Portion size and practicality are priorities for around 36% of consumers. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including relevant warnings such as ‘may contain’. | If I need to avoid gluten or another allergen, the pack I choose must suit my dietary requirements. Checking allergens is the main concern for around 28% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming spices aid digestion
The fact that speculaas contains spices doesn’t make it a treatment for constipation. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses fibre, fluids and exercise as part of a broader approach.
Choose speculaas for its flavour, and look at other foods in your diet to help meet your fibre needs.
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Checking only the ‘gluten-free’ label
A gluten-free option may still contain other allergens. For example, Jumbo lists egg and warnings about other allergens for Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
If you have an allergy, read the full information on the current pack.
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Comparing products by the front of the pack
The nutrition table gives you a clearer comparison: Albert Heijn lists 33 g of sugars and 1.5 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Bakkers speculaas, while Jumbo lists 29 g and 1.0 g per 100 g respectively for Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas. These figures apply to these products and may change if the recipe is updated.
Compare the current values on the same basis, and take the portion you plan to eat into account.
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Treating online information as the definitive label
Product ingredients and allergens can change. If you have an allergy or follow a strict diet, the information on the specific pack is therefore the most important.
Check the physical pack or ask for up-to-date information about the product before you decide.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells products including 600 g packs of AH Bakkers speculaas, as well as a separate gluten-free speculaas option.
- AH Bakkers speculaas lists its ingredients, allergens, portion size and nutritional values.
- The regular version contains wheat and may contain almonds. Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, so check the current pack.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells regular Bakkers Speculaas and a separate gluten-free option, Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas.
- Jumbo displays the Crossed Grain mark on its gluten-free option.
- The regular version contains wheat and gluten. For the gluten-free option, Jumbo lists egg and warnings about other allergens.
Lotus Biscoff
Lotus Biscoff is a range of caramelised speculoos biscuits, as well as other product formats. Speculoos isn’t the same product as bakery speculaas.
- Lotus Bakeries describes the biscuits as crisp and caramelised.
- This description doesn’t say anything about digestive benefits. Check the nutritional and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Lidl
Lidl lists a bakery speculaas product.
- The product name helps you identify the type of speculaas.
- To compare nutritional values or allergens, you’ll need the pack or current information about that product.
ALDI
ALDI lists products including 600 g packs of Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas.
- ALDI states that this pack contains 48 biscuits.
- Use the nutritional and allergen information on the current pack to choose an option that suits your needs.
Speculaas and speculoos at Joybuy
These biscuits are suited to a measured school snack: the selection includes speculaas and a separate speculoos option. Check the current packaging if fibre, portion sizes or allergens are important to your choice.
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Hellema Smoeltjes Speculaas, 8 stuks, 200 g
A pack of eight biscuits for anyone who wants to choose a set amount for a school snack in advance. Compare fibre only when it’s clear whether the value is per 100 g or per portion, and check the current allergen information too.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie, 250 g
For anyone looking specifically for a speculoos biscuit rather than bakery speculaas; the pack contains 250 g. Check the pack to see how many biscuits you’d like to take with you, and read the nutritional and allergen information.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas, 450 g
A 450 g pack of bakery speculaas for anyone looking for a classic biscuit. Choose your own portion for a school snack, and compare sugars and fibre using the current nutritional information per 100 g.
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g'woon Almond Speculaas, 400 g
A speculaas option with almonds in a 400 g pack. If you have an allergy, read all the information on the pack. To compare fibre, also check the nutrition table and the portion you plan to eat.
Frequently asked questions
Does speculaas help with constipation?
Speculaas isn’t a solution for constipation on its own. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends getting enough fibre, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping active; consider a biscuit as part of your overall diet rather than choosing it because of its spices.
Can I choose regular speculaas if I need to eat gluten-free?
If you need to avoid gluten, don’t choose regular speculaas without checking the label. Jumbo lists wheat and gluten in its regular Bakkers Speculaas. If you choose a product labelled gluten-free, check the information about other allergens too.
What should I check if I have a food allergy?
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the current pack of the specific product. Also look for a warning such as ‘may contain’ if it’s relevant to your allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
How should I store an opened pack of speculaas during the school week?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. For AH Bakkers speculaas, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a sealed tin once opened. Check the current pack for the instructions for your product.