Bakers who want to taste the biscuit base
If you want the base itself to add a spiced or caramelised flavour, speculaas is one option. Lotus and Jumbo publish recipes that use crumbled Biscoff or speculaas mixed with butter to make a tart base.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Bakers who want the filling to take centre stage
For a tart with a creamy, fruity or refreshing filling, you may prefer a less spiced base. Jumbo uses digestives for a chilled strawberry quark cheesecake; Albert Heijn pairs AH Digestive with cheesecake recipes.
Bakers who need to check ingredients and allergens
Take extra care if wheat, soya, nuts or other allergens are a concern. The biscuits reviewed here vary by product, so always check the ingredients list and any warnings on the latest packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want the biscuit base to have a flavour of its own or simply complement the filling. Then check your recipe’s method and, where necessary, the ingredients on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour of the base | Choose between plain digestives and speculaas with a distinct spiced flavour. With other varieties, look out for extra flavours you may not want in your tart. | If I want to taste the biscuit in every bite, a spiced base takes priority. Around 40% of consumers put that flavour first. |
| Suitability for the recipe | Check the biscuit-to-butter ratio and whether the recipe calls for the base to be chilled or baked. | For a chilled quark cheesecake, I want the base to suit the method in my recipe. For around 30% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warning; don’t judge suitability by the product name alone. | If I need to avoid a particular allergen, I want to check the exact variety. For around 30% of consumers, ingredient choice comes first. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming speculaas and digestives are interchangeable
A spiced speculaas base can have a stronger effect on the flavour of the whole tart than a plain digestive base. This matters most when you want the filling to have a subtle flavour.
Decide what flavour you want the base to add. If you’re trying a new recipe, you could taste a little of your chosen biscuit alongside the filling you plan to use.
-
Preparing every crumb base in the same way
Jumbo uses digestives and butter for a chilled quark cheesecake base, but the brand also publishes a recipe for a baked speculaas crumb base. So the type of biscuit alone won’t tell you which method to use for your tart.
Follow the recipe you’re making for the biscuit-to-butter ratio, tin and oven or fridge instructions.
-
Assuming a dietary claim is a complete allergen check
Claims such as ‘gluten-free’, ‘vegan’ or ‘lactose-free’ don’t automatically answer questions about other allergens. For example, Albert Heijn lists soya in Schär Digestive Landtaler, although the product is sold as gluten-free and wheat-free.
Every time you buy, read the latest ingredients list and check the packaging for warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
-
Assuming a filled or flavoured biscuit is a straightforward substitute
Chocolate, nuts or a filling add flavours and potentially other allergens to a base where the recipe simply calls for ‘digestives’ or ‘speculaas’.
For a recipe like this, choose a plain, unfilled variety unless you specifically want those additions to complement the tart.
Brands to consider
These examples show some of the types of biscuits you can compare for a crumb base. Always check the variety you’ve chosen: a feature of one product won’t necessarily apply to an entire brand.
Lotus Biscoff
A speculoos option for when you want a caramelised biscuit flavour to be part of your tart.
- In its cheesecake recipe, Lotus Bakeries uses 200 g of crumbled Biscoff biscuits and 70 g of melted butter for the base.
- The Biscoff variety reviewed contains wheat and soya; check the packaging if allergens are a concern.
Albert Heijn
The range includes both AH Digestive and AH Bakkers Speculaas, giving you a choice between a milder and a spiced base.
- The AH Digestive pack reviewed is 400 g; AH Bakkers Speculaas is 600 g and, according to Albert Heijn, contains 1,4% speculaas spices.
- Both varieties reviewed contain wheat. Albert Heijn says product information can change, so always follow the packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers varieties of both digestives and Bakkers Speculaas, and publishes recipes for bases made with each type of biscuit.
- Jumbo’s recipes show separate ways to use a chilled digestive base and a speculaas crumb base.
- Jumbo lists gluten and wheat in its digestive variety reviewed; its Bakkers Speculaas may contain almonds and nuts.
Lidl
A supermarket own-brand offering crisp Bakkers speculaas in a 600 g pack.
- This biscuit type is worth considering if you want to crumble speculaas for a tart base.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging before using this variety in a recipe with dietary requirements.
ALDI Biscotto
Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas is a spiced biscuit option in a 600 g pack.
- ALDI lists 48 biscuits per pack, which can help you work out how many you’ll need for your recipe.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the variety you buy.
Biscuits for a spiced tart base
These Joybuy products are speculaas and speculoos biscuits for anyone who wants a spiced biscuit flavour in their tart base. Choose the amount of biscuit and butter according to your tart recipe; whether you choose speculaas or plain digestives depends on the flavour you’re after.
Image unavailable
De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas 450 g
Worth considering if you’d like to use speculaas rather than milder digestives for your tart base.
450 g pack. If allergens are a concern, check the latest packaging, including for wheat and the possible presence of nuts.
Image unavailable
Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie 250 g
An option if you want the distinctive Biscoff flavour in your base; Lotus Bakeries uses crumbled Biscoff biscuits in a cheesecake recipe.
250 g pack. Carefully check the latest packaging for allergens, particularly wheat and soya.
Image unavailable
g'woon Bakers Speculaas 600 g
Worth considering if you want to make a speculaas base and the quantity of biscuits in this pack suits your recipe.
600 g pack. Check that the packaging says Bakers Speculaas, not an almond variety, and read the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Which biscuits suit a tart where the filling takes centre stage?
Plain digestives work well in a tart where you don’t want a pronounced speculaas spice flavour in the base. Jumbo uses digestives and butter for a chilled strawberry quark cheesecake; follow the quantities in your chosen recipe.
When should I choose speculaas instead of digestives?
Choose speculaas when you want a spiced biscuit flavour to be part of the tart. Lotus Bakeries uses Biscoff in a cheesecake base, and Jumbo publishes a recipe for a speculaas crumb base; make sure the extra flavour works with a subtle filling.
Does a crumb base always need to go in the oven?
No, it depends on the recipe. Jumbo chills the digestive base for its strawberry quark cheesecake, but bakes its speculaas crumb base. So follow the preparation method in your recipe as well as choosing the right biscuits.
Are gluten-free digestives also free from other allergens?
No. Albert Heijn lists Schär Digestive Landtaler as gluten-free and wheat-free, but also mentions soya and the possible presence of eggs and lupin. Check the latest packaging for the allergen that matters to you.
How should I store any biscuits left over after baking?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal an opened pack well. For the digestives and Bakkers Speculaas reviewed, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a closed tin once opened; Joybuy says to keep McVitie's Digestive in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.