Who is this choice relevant to?

People with a strict limit on sugar

You want a biscuit labelled ‘sugar-free’ and don’t want to accidentally choose regular speculaas made with sugar or syrup. You’ll also want to check the sweetener, nutritional values per 100 g and serving size.

Film-night viewers keeping an eye on portions

You’re after that speculaas flavour, but want to weigh up how many biscuits you eat against their energy and saturated fat content. A sugar claim won’t tell you how much sugar is in the portion you choose.

People with allergies or ingredient preferences

Before buying, you need to be able to check whether the biscuit contains ingredients such as wheat, almonds, egg, milk or soya. A ‘sugar-free’ claim won’t tell you that.

What should you look for when choosing?

Before your film night, decide whether ‘sugar-free’ is a strict requirement. Then compare the nutritional values per 100 g, the serving size and the ingredients. A regular speculoos biscuit may be a flavour choice, but it isn’t a substitute for a sugar-free biscuit.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugars and sweeteners Read the exact claim, the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g and the ingredients list. Jumbo states that Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, sugar-free, contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g and uses maltitol as a sweetener. I want to rule out regular speculaas made with sugar or syrup if ‘sugar-free’ is what matters most to me. For around 42% of consumers, sugar would be their main concern when buying.
Serving size and nutritional values Compare energy, fat and saturated fat per 100 g, then check the amount per biscuit. Jumbo states that the Céréal version contains 44 kcal per 11 g biscuit. During a long film, I want to know how many biscuits I’m eating rather than relying only on the front of the pack. Serving size and nutritional values would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Allergens and ingredients Check the latest allergen information and which sweetener has been used. Céréal’s product information lists wheat, almonds, barley, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients, and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. If I need to avoid certain ingredients or take polyols into account, I want to know before I buy. Around 25% of consumers would put ingredients and tolerance first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sugar-free’ means ‘low in calories’

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, claims such as ‘no added sugars’ don’t automatically mean a product is sugar-free or low in calories. Jumbo states that Céréal sugar-free speculoos contains 404 kcal and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional values per 100 g, then decide how many biscuits you want to eat during the film.

  • Choosing regular Lotus Biscoff as a sugar-free option

    Lotus Biscoff product information on Joybuy lists sugar and caramelised sugar syrup as ingredients, and states that the biscuits contain 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g. Other ingredient preferences don’t change the sugar content.

    If avoiding sugars is your priority, check the sugar information, nutritional values and ingredients list for the specific biscuit.

  • Overlooking allergens and polyols

    Céréal speculoos with almond pieces lists several allergens. Albert Heijn also warns that excessive consumption of this maltitol-sweetened product may have a laxative effect.

    Check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergens, especially if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.

  • Taking a recipe title as proof that it’s ‘sugar-free’

    Jumbo’s recipe titled ‘Sugar-free speculaas’ lists 500 g of maple syrup in its ingredients. So the title alone doesn’t tell you whether the recipe meets your requirements.

    If you’re baking from scratch, check all the ingredients and quantities before choosing a recipe.

Brands and shops to consider

Céréal

Céréal offers a speculoos biscuit with almond pieces that is marketed as ‘sugar-free’.

  • Jumbo states that this version contains 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g and uses maltitol as a sweetener.
  • The same product information lists 404 kcal, 20 g of fat and 29 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the allergens and the warning about excessive consumption too.

Lotus Biscoff

The Lotus Biscoff speculoos discussed here is a regular biscuit, not a sugar-free option.

  • An option if you’re looking for regular speculoos and don’t need to avoid sugars.
  • Joybuy’s product information lists sugar and caramelised sugar syrup as ingredients, and states that the biscuits contain 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s product information describes Céréal sugar-free speculoos with almond pieces.

  • The product page includes nutritional information and a warning about excessive consumption.
  • Albert Heijn notes that product information may change. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens when you buy it too.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for Céréal speculoos with almond pieces and also publishes speculaas recipes.

  • Céréal product information lists ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g.
  • Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free speculaas’ recipe lists 500 g of maple syrup. So assess a recipe by its full ingredients list, not its title.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘sugar-free’ mean the same as ‘no added sugars’?

No, the claims don’t mean the same thing. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that a product with no added sugars may still contain sugars. So check the exact claim and compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information.

Does ‘sugar-free’ tell me anything about calories or fat?

No, the claim won’t tell you how much energy or fat a biscuit contains. Jumbo states that Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces, sugar-free, contains 404 kcal and 20 g of fat per 100 g. Compare those values per 100 g, then consider your portion size.

Which allergens should I check in Céréal speculoos?

At the very least, check the latest packaging for wheat, almonds, barley, egg, milk and soya, which are listed in the product information for this version. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products appears on the label.

Why does Céréal speculoos carry a warning about excessive consumption?

The product information lists maltitol and 29 g of polyols per 100 g, alongside a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Keep this warning in mind when deciding how many biscuits to eat.

Can I rely on a recipe with ‘sugar-free’ in the title?

No, read the full ingredients list and quantities. For example, Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free speculaas’ recipe lists 500 g of maple syrup. The title alone doesn’t tell you whether the recipe suits your requirements.