Who is this choice relevant to?

Fans of dark cocoa flavours

You’re looking for speculaas spices alongside a pronounced cocoa flavour. A stated cocoa percentage can help you choose; the word ‘dark’ alone doesn’t tell you what percentage you’re getting.

People who fancy a little something late at night

You want to keep your portion in check and take the snack’s nutritional value into account. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, the chocolate you eat just before bed matters too.

People who need to check allergens

You need to know whether a product contains ingredients such as wheat, milk or soya, and whether it carries warnings about almonds or other nuts. This information varies by product.

What should you look for when choosing?

For a late-night snack of speculaas biscuits and chocolate, there are three options: speculaas with dark chocolate whose cocoa content you can check; plain speculaas with chocolate chosen separately; or milk chocolate with speculaas crumbs if that’s the combination you’re after.

Speculaas with dark chocolate

Choose this if: you’re looking for a ready-made combination and can check the cocoa percentage on the current packaging.

The trade-off: the words ‘dark chocolate’ alone don’t confirm the cocoa percentage you’re looking for.

Speculaas and chocolate separately

Choose this if: you want to put together your own combination of speculaas, chocolate and portion size for each snack.

The trade-off: you’re choosing two products instead of one ready-made variety.

Milk chocolate with speculaas crumbs

Choose this if: what you really want is milk chocolate with a hint of speculaas.

The trade-off: the Verkade variety listed by Jumbo is milk chocolate with at least 29% cocoa solids in the chocolate, not a confirmed high-cocoa option.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Cocoa content and flavour Check the percentage of cocoa solids and the type of chocolate on the current packaging. I want to pair speculaas spices with a pronounced cocoa flavour, rather than relying on the word ‘dark’ alone. For around 42% of consumers, a confirmed cocoa content comes first.
Portion size and evening snack Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion; decide how much you want to have and bear in mind the caffeine in chocolate. Late at night, I want to keep my portion in check and take caffeine into account if I’m going to bed afterwards. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this consideration.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about possible traces. If I have an allergy, I need to know what’s listed on this particular pack before choosing. For around 25% of consumers, this check is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means a confirmed high cocoa content

    The listing for AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade doesn’t state a cocoa percentage, and the product is marked as no longer available. So its name doesn’t give you a useful confirmation of the cocoa content for a current purchase.

    If you want to compare products by cocoa content, check the percentage on the current packaging rather than relying on the name or the colour of the pack.

  • Confusing milk chocolate with speculaas crumbs for speculaas in dark chocolate

    The Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade listed by Jumbo is a chocolate product with speculaas crumbs. According to the product listing, the milk chocolate contains at least 29% cocoa solids.

    Choose this type of product if that’s the combination you’re after, but don’t treat it as confirmation of the high cocoa content you have in mind for dark chocolate.

  • Treating the whole pack as one portion

    Jumbo lists its Speculaasbrokken at 503 kcal and 34 g of sugars per 100 g. If you don’t pay attention to how much you eat, a large pack isn’t a useful guide to one late-night snack.

    Check the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, then set aside the amount you want to eat in advance.

  • Only reading the front of the pack if you have allergies or are sensitive to caffeine

    The allergens differ between speculaas biscuits and milk chocolate with speculaas crumbs. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that too much caffeine can cause sleep problems; chocolate can also contain caffeine.

    Check the current allergen information and any warnings about possible traces every time you buy. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, also take into account any other caffeinated drinks you have that evening.

Brands to use as a reference

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers various types of speculaas, including chunks and traditional baker’s speculaas.

  • The range offers different types of speculaas to use as a starting point for your choice.
  • AH Speculaas Met Pure Chocolade is listed as no longer available; before choosing a current chocolate variety, check the label.

Jumbo

Jumbo Speculaasbrokken are plain speculaas chunks for anyone who prefers to choose their chocolate separately.

  • The product information lists the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values, so you can assess these chunks on those points.
  • This product doesn’t contain chocolate as an ingredient. It contains wheat and gluten, and may contain almonds and nuts.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.

  • That description can help you decide whether you’re looking for a caramelised biscuit to pair with chocolate chosen separately.
  • Before choosing a particular chocolate variety for this combination, check its cocoa content, ingredients and allergens separately.

Verkade

Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade is a milk chocolate product with speculaas crumbs.

  • Jumbo lists 10% biscuit crumbs and at least 29% cocoa solids in the milk chocolate for this variety.
  • It isn’t a confirmed high-cocoa option. The product information lists milk, wheat and soya among its allergens.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘dark chocolate’ on speculaas confirm a high cocoa content?

No, those words don’t tell you what percentage of cocoa the chocolate in that product contains. To choose by cocoa content, check the percentage on the current packaging or in the latest product information.

Can chocolate in a late-night speculaas snack affect my sleep?

It can if you’re sensitive to caffeine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that too much caffeine can cause sleep problems; also take into account any caffeinated drinks you’ve had that evening.

Which allergens should I check in speculaas with chocolate?

Check the current packaging for any allergens relevant to you, which may include wheat, milk, soya, almonds and other nuts. Also read any warnings about possible traces: Jumbo Speculaasbrokken and the Verkade Speculaas Melkchocolade listed by Jumbo have different allergen information.

How do I compare the nutritional value of two late-night snack options?

First compare the same amount, such as the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how much you actually want to eat. Pay attention to portion size and the stated sugars and saturated fats; a description such as ‘dark’ doesn’t replace this information.