Looking for a sweet spread
If you want speculoos flavour on bread, toast or crackers, look for a spreadable speculoos paste. A packet of biscuits or a chocolate bar won’t do the same job.
Which product type is right for you?
Fans of both chocolate and speculoos
If you want both flavours in one product, distinguish between a chocolate speculoos spread and a chocolate bar. If you’re looking for a gift, check the packaging separately.
Careful label readers
Ingredients and allergens vary between products. Check the packaging of the product you want to buy, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for breakfast spread, a biscuit to enjoy on its own or a chocolate gift. You can then compare products of that type by their ingredients and packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Check whether it’s a spread, a biscuit or chocolate, and what the packaging says it’s intended for. | If I want speculoos flavour on bread, I’m looking for something spreadable rather than a biscuit to eat on its own. Product type comes first for around 40% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list for the exact variant, along with any warnings about possible cross-contamination. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check what’s in a jar, biscuit or bar before I choose one. Ingredients and allergens are the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Sugars and portion size | Compare sugars per 100 g with the amount you actually use, and check the rest of the nutritional information too. | If I regularly have a sweet breakfast, I want to know how much I spread on my bread or eat as a biscuit. Around 20% of consumers prioritise sugars and portion size. |
| Gifting or sharing | Check whether it really is gift packaging, and look at the contents and number of items. | If I want to give speculoos with chocolate as a gift or share it, the packaging matters more than whether it works as a spread. Presentation or how easy it is to share comes first for around 10% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a jar, packet of biscuits, bar and box of chocolates are all the same kind of product
Joybuy describes Lotus Biscoff spread as suitable for bread rolls or toast. A speculoos biscuit or chocolate bar is a different type of product; and a bar isn’t automatically a box of chocolates.
Before you buy, decide whether you need a spread, a treat to enjoy on its own or gift packaging. Check the product description and packaging, not just the flavour name.
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Checking only the flavour name when it comes to allergens
Ingredients vary between products. Albert Heijn lists milk, hazelnut and wheat, among other allergens, for AH Duo speculoos pasta chocopuur; wheat and soya are listed for the Lotus Biscoff spread reviewed here.
Read the current ingredients list for the exact variant, and look out for warnings about possible cross-contamination.
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Assuming a sweet product makes a complete breakfast
A biscuit, bar or layer of spread doesn’t tell you what the rest of your breakfast consists of. And nutritional values per 100 g don’t tell you how much you’ll have at breakfast.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and work out your portion size too. Consider the sweet product alongside the rest of your breakfast.
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Assuming a supermarket product is automatically available online
Lidl lists Mister Choc Speculoos creamy as an in-store product. That doesn’t tell you whether the exact variant is available through the channel you want to buy from.
Check how it’s currently sold and whether it’s available before basing your choice on a particular pack.
Brands and supermarket own labels compared
These brands show different types of product: spread, biscuits and chocolate with speculoos. A brand name alone won’t tell you which variant or pack is right for your breakfast or gift.
Lotus Biscoff
A good option if you’re looking for speculoos-flavoured spread; biscuit and chocolate bar variants are available too.
- Joybuy describes the 400 g spread as suitable for bread rolls or toast. There’s also a 700 g Crunchy variant.
- A chocolate bar isn’t a spread or a confirmed box of chocolates. For this brand’s spreads, check the exact variant for wheat and soya.
Albert Heijn
The supermarket’s AH Duo speculoos pasta chocopuur combines speculoos and dark chocolate in a spreadable product.
- Albert Heijn describes the 400 g variant as suitable for bread or baking.
- Albert Heijn lists 46 g of added sugars per 100 g, and milk, hazelnut and wheat among its allergens. Read the label on the jar you choose.
Jumbo
Offers both speculoos spread and Bakkers Speculaas: different options for spreading and enjoying as a biscuit.
- Jumbo’s product pages list a 400 g jar of speculoos spread and a 600 g pack of Bakkers Speculaas.
- The speculoos spread described doesn’t have a confirmed chocolate component. For Bakkers Speculaas, Jumbo lists wheat and says it may contain almond and nuts.
Mister Choc
Lidl lists 400 g Speculoos creamy under this label as an in-store product.
- An option to look for in store if you’re after speculoos spread.
- Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information before comparing this variant with other spreads.
Biscotto
ALDI lists bakers’ speculoos biscuits under this label for anyone looking for biscuits to enjoy on their own.
- ALDI lists a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.
- This is a biscuit product, not a spread or confirmed chocolate gift pack.
Speculoos spread and speculoos biscuits at Joybuy
These products offer two ways to enjoy speculoos flavour with a sweet breakfast: use the spread on bread or have a speculoos biscuit on its own. If you’re looking for a chocolate gift, check the actual product and packaging type separately.
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Lotus Biscoff Spread 400 g
A spreadable option if you want speculoos flavour on bread or toast; Joybuy lists both uses.
400 g jar. Check the label for portion size and any allergens. This isn’t a chocolate bar or gift pack.
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Lotus Biscoff Crunchy 700 g
For anyone looking for speculoos spread who prefers the Crunchy variant to a smooth spread.
700 g jar. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for this variant on the packaging; the name doesn’t indicate a chocolate or gift pack.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas 450 g
A biscuit option if you want to enjoy speculoos on its own alongside breakfast, rather than as a spread.
450 g pack. Check the packaging for the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per portion.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose speculoos spread or a chocolate bar for breakfast?
Choose speculoos spread if you want to spread speculoos flavour on bread or toast; a chocolate bar is a treat to enjoy on its own. For both, check the ingredients and how much you use.
Which allergens should I check in speculoos with chocolate?
Check the ingredients list and warnings for the exact variant: the products described list wheat, soya, milk and hazelnut, among other allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens which must be declared need to be clearly distinguishable from other ingredients on the label.
How should I store speculoos spread or biscuits?
Follow the storage advice and use-by or best-before information on the packaging of the product you choose. Seal an opened jar or biscuit pack securely.
Can I rely on a claim such as vegan or gluten-free?
Always check the claim on the packaging of the exact variant; a claim for one speculoos spread doesn’t automatically apply to another. Also read the ingredients list and any warnings about possible cross-contamination.