For a little treat you want to serve straight away, a filled speculaas muffin could be just the thing. Dry baker’s speculaas is more practical for taking with you and keeping in stock, as long as you follow the storage instructions. If you’d like to make your own dessert, you can use speculaas or speculaas spread as an ingredient, but you’ll need time to prepare it and must keep any dairy ingredients chilled as directed. Whatever you choose, check the latest label, especially if allergies are a concern.
If you’re looking for a filled treat for a small group, an individual speculaas muffin is an option that requires no extra dessert preparation. Check in advance whether it’s available in store, and read the packaging if you have any allergies.
For a trip or a stay in a holiday home, a dry biscuit may be more suitable than a chilled dessert. Store it according to the instructions on the packaging; the Voedingscentrum advises keeping biscuits cool, dry and dark, in a well-sealed container.
You can use crumbled speculaas or speculaas spread to put together a dessert at your destination. Bear in mind that you’ll also need extra ingredients and time to prepare it. If your dessert includes cream or mascarpone, you’ll need access to a fridge.
First decide whether you want something ready to serve, a dry biscuit to take with you or the ingredients to make a dessert at your destination. Then check the storage instructions and the label for the specific product.
Choose this if: you’re looking for an individual filled portion for a small group, without having to prepare a dessert.
Bear in mind: Albert Heijn says the AH Luxe gevuld speculaas muffin is only available in store.
Choose this if: you want to take biscuits with you without needing the refrigeration required for a vlaai.
Bear in mind: dry speculaas still needs to be stored appropriately, and it won’t have the presentation of a finished dessert.
Choose this if: you want to combine speculaas or a spread with other ingredients at your destination.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to prepare the dessert and have a fridge for any chilled ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to serve | Check the number of portions, the filling and current availability. | I want to put something out for a small group without having to prepare another dessert. For around 36% of consumers, being able to serve it straight away is the top priority. |
| Taking it with you and storage | Read the storage instructions and check whether you can reseal the packaging once opened. | I don’t want to take a product on holiday that needs to be kept chilled at all times. Taking it with you and storing it are the top priorities for around 29% of consumers. |
| Making it yourself | Check what extra ingredients you’ll need and whether you can keep them chilled. | I want to decide for myself how to use speculaas in a dessert at my destination. This freedom to prepare it your own way matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging. | If allergies are a concern, I want to know whether the specific product is suitable before anything else. Around 14% of consumers say checking allergens is their top priority. |
Jumbo said that its Luxe Speculaasvlaai Half had to be stored at a maximum of 7 °C. By contrast, Jumbo says to store dry baker’s speculaas in a cool, dry place, so the two need to be handled differently while travelling.
Before you set off, check whether you can store a chilled product according to the label while travelling and at your destination. If you can’t, consider taking dry speculaas instead and making a dessert with chilled ingredients once you have access to a fridge.
A name such as almond speculaas doesn’t tell you which other allergens the product contains or what precautionary allergen information applies. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked foods.
If you have a relevant allergy, read the ingredients list and allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re buying, even if you’ve already checked the product details online.
Jumbo says that its Luxe Speculaasvlaai Half is no longer in its online range. So a product you found earlier isn’t a reliable option to base your holiday plans on.
Check whether the exact product is available shortly before you leave. If you can’t buy it, consider whether dry speculaas or a dessert you make yourself would work with your plans.
Albert Heijn stocks various types of speculaas and also lists the AH Luxe gevuld speculaas muffin.
Jumbo sells both dry baker’s speculaas and a chilled speculaas vlaai, which have different storage requirements.
Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff spread as an ingredient for desserts, as well as a spread to enjoy on its own.
These products suit two holiday plans: taking dry speculaas with you or using a spread to put something together yourself. If you want a filled treat that’s ready to serve, you’ll need to choose something else.
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A spread for anyone who wants to make something with a speculaas flavour at their destination; you’ll need other ingredients and some preparation to make a dessert.
Net weight: 400 g. Check the storage and allergen information on the packaging before use.
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Dry baker’s speculaas for anyone who wants to take biscuits with them rather than a chilled dessert. It isn’t a filled, finished dessert portion.
Net weight: 450 g. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging while travelling, and check the label if you have allergies.
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An almond variety for anyone who wants to take dry speculaas with them or crumble biscuits into a homemade dessert. It isn’t a ready-made dessert portion.
Net weight: 400 g. If you have allergies, check the ingredients and precautionary allergen information on the latest packaging.
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A spread for anyone who wants to make something with a speculaas flavour. Allow time for preparation and extra ingredients if you’re making a dessert; the spread isn’t a ready-made treat.
Net weight: 400 g. Read the storage and allergen information on the packaging before use.
Store dry speculaas according to the label; don’t assume a hot car is a suitable place for it. The Voedingscentrum advises keeping biscuits cool, dry and dark, in a well-sealed container. A chilled vlaai isn’t an interchangeable alternative: the Jumbo Luxe Speculaasvlaai Half had to be kept at a maximum of 7 °C.
Read the ingredients list and allergen information on the latest packaging for the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that labelling must cover 14 allergens; which ones are relevant will depend on the recipe.
Don’t count on being able to buy it online: Jumbo says the Luxe Speculaasvlaai Half is no longer in its online range. Check whether the exact product is available shortly before you leave and whether you can follow its storage instructions.
No. When comparing products, use the nutritional information and portion size for each product. For one large 40 g portion of filled speculaas, the Voedingscentrum gives 175 kcal and 11,3 g of sugars as a general reference; those values don’t automatically apply to a muffin or a different portion.
