Anyone who wants to share a plate of biscuits
Look for crisp speculaas to enjoy with coffee, tea and presents. A 600 g pack of traditional baker’s speculaas is an option for a group.
Who should choose speculaas?
Anyone who wants to serve filled speculaas
Choose this if you’re looking for almond paste and portions that are more like cake than individual biscuits. The portion size and allergens in the variety you choose are also worth considering.
Anyone catering for dietary requirements
Check in advance whether a biscuit is suitable for your guests’ dietary requirements and allergies. A label such as ‘vegan’ doesn’t replace checking the ingredients and allergen information.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’d like to serve individual biscuits or filled speculaas. Then compare the packaging, nutritional information and allergens of the varieties that could suit your guests.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Biscuits to share | Check the pack size and decide whether traditional baker’s speculaas or a filled variety is right for you. | If lots of guests are joining us, I want plenty of individual, crisp biscuits on the table. For around 33% of consumers, sharing is the top priority. |
| A filled treat | Check that the product actually contains almond paste and look at the stated serving size. | For a treat served in slices, I’m specifically looking for speculaas with almond paste, not just a biscuit with almond. This is the most important requirement for around 25% of consumers. |
| Dietary requirements and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, including any warnings that the product may contain certain ingredients. | If a guest has an allergy or follows a plant-based diet, the variety you choose needs to be suitable before flavour or size comes into consideration. This is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Nutritional value and portion size | Compare sugars, saturated fat, salt and fibre per 100 g, then consider how much you’ll actually serve. | I wouldn’t compare traditional and filled biscuits based only on the stated serving size, as these can differ. This comparison matters most to around 17% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing nutritional values per serving only
A small biscuit and a piece of filled speculaas aren’t the same serving size. So a difference per serving doesn’t necessarily tell you how the products themselves compare.
Start by comparing nutritional values per 100 g, then consider how many biscuits or how many grams you’d like to serve. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises comparing labels per 100 g.
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Assuming vegan means allergen-free
The standard Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuit reviewed here is labelled vegan, but according to the product information it contains wheat and soya.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and any warnings on the current packaging of the variety you choose.
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Assuming filled speculaas is a substitute for any individual biscuit
The Albert Heijn filled speculaas reviewed here contains almond paste and lists almond, egg, milk and wheat among its ingredients. This makes it a different choice for guests with those allergies than a plate of individual biscuits.
Check the label before serving filled speculaas and keep different types of biscuits clearly separate.
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Leaving a large pack open without sealing it properly
The product pages reviewed recommend storing speculaas in a cool, dry place and resealing the packaging after opening.
Seal the pack or biscuit tin properly after serving.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The own-brand products reviewed offer a choice between traditional baker’s speculaas and butter-filled speculaas.
- AH Bakkers speculaas comes in a 600 g pack and is labelled vegan and lactose-free according to the product information.
- According to Albert Heijn, the filled variety reviewed contains 47% almond paste and lists almond, egg, milk and wheat among its ingredients. Check the packaging of the variety you choose.
Jumbo
The product pages reviewed feature Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas and separate Lotus Biscoff varieties.
- Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas is available in a 600 g pack.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each product: information about traditional baker’s speculaas doesn’t automatically apply to a Biscoff variety.
Lotus Biscoff
The standard speculoos biscuit is an individual biscuit to enjoy with coffee or tea; the sandwich variety reviewed here also has a filling.
- According to the product information, the standard 250 g pack reviewed here contains around 32 biscuits and is labelled vegan.
- The standard variety contains wheat and soya. Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g of any sandwich variety separately.
Lidl
The baker’s speculaas reviewed here comes in a 600 g pack of crisp biscuits.
- The pack size makes it a good option if you want biscuits to share.
- Check the packaging of the product you choose for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
Speculaas and speculoos at Joybuy
These products offer individual biscuits to share or enjoy with coffee and tea: traditional baker’s speculaas, speculoos and almond speculaas. Almond speculaas isn’t necessarily the same as filled speculaas with almond paste.
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g'woon traditional baker’s speculaas 600 g
Traditional baker’s speculaas for anyone who wants to serve individual biscuits. The pack contains 600 g; if you’re catering for guests with allergies, check the current allergen information.
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Lotus Biscoff speculoos biscuits 250 g
Individual speculoos biscuits to enjoy with coffee or tea. According to the product information, the 250 g pack contains around 32 biscuits and is labelled vegan; if you have allergies, check the current packaging for the listed wheat and soya.
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g'woon almond speculaas 400 g
A 400 g pack of almond biscuits to serve individually. If you’re specifically looking for filled speculaas with almond paste, check the product description and ingredients. Also check the current allergen information for your guests.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare traditional and filled speculaas?
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then consider how much you’d like to serve. An individual biscuit and a piece of filled speculaas often have different serving sizes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that comparing labels per 100 g gives you a consistent basis.
Is vegan speculoos also suitable for someone with an allergy?
Not on the basis of that label alone. According to the product information, the standard Lotus Biscoff biscuit reviewed here contains wheat and soya. Check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging for the specific allergy.
Which allergens should I check in speculaas?
It depends on the variety you choose: the products reviewed here include ingredients such as wheat, soya, almond, egg and milk. Read the ingredients list and any warnings on the exact pack you’re serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on labels for packaged foods.
How should I store speculaas after opening?
Keep the biscuits dry and seal the pack or biscuit tin properly after opening. Also follow the storage advice on the packaging of the product you choose.