Who is this relevant to?

Hosts keeping an eye on sugars

You’re looking for a biscuit you can serve straight away with coffee, and want to be able to check its sugar content rather than relying on the front of the pack.

Hosts with guests who need to avoid certain ingredients

You take allergens or sensitivity to polyols into account when choosing. A statement about sugars won’t tell you whether a biscuit is suitable for these guests.

Home cooks who want to choose their own ingredients

You’d rather bake your own so you can decide what goes into the recipe. To do that, you check all the ingredients and quantities, not just the recipe name.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a ready-made biscuit or would rather bake your own. For packaged speculoos, check the nutritional information and ingredients on the current label; for a recipe, all the quantities used matter.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Sugars in a ready-made biscuit Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends this basis for comparing packaged products. I want something I can serve straight away with coffee and be able to assess its sugar content. This is the main consideration for around 42% of consumers.
Allergens and polyols Read the ingredients and allergens on the current label, and look out for polyols and any warnings about their use. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely only on a statement about sugars. Allergens and tolerance are the most important factors for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients when baking your own Check all the sweetening ingredients and their quantities in the recipe, and take the serving sizes you choose into account. I want to decide for myself what goes into the speculoos and am happy to bake. This level of control is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Relying only on the front of the pack or the recipe title

    A recipe with ‘sugar-free’ in the title may still contain a sweetening ingredient. For example, Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free speculoos’ recipe uses 500 g of maple syrup.

    For packaged biscuits, check the nutritional information per 100 g. If you’re baking your own, read the full recipe before making any claims about its sugar content.

  • Assuming ‘sugar-free’ means suitable for every guest

    According to product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn, Céréal Speculoos almond pieces contain, among other things, wheat, barley, milk, egg, soya and almonds.

    Ask guests in advance which ingredients they need to avoid, and check the current label before serving the biscuits.

  • Overlooking the warning about polyols

    According to product information, the same Céréal variety contains 29 g of polyols per 100 g. The pack warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the warning before serving, and choose a different biscuit if polyols are a concern for any of your guests.

  • Assuming another variety is sugar-free

    A name such as ‘6 grains’ describes something other than the sugar content. Lotus Bakeries offers this type of Biscoff variety alongside its Original Speculoos.

    Assess each variety separately by checking the claim on the packaging and the nutritional information per 100 g.

Brands to consider

Céréal

Céréal has a Speculoos variety with almond pieces labelled ‘sugar-free’.

  • According to product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn, the 110 g pack contains biscuits with 0.4 g sugars per 100 g.
  • The variety also contains 29 g of polyols and 12 g of saturated fat per 100 g, as well as several allergens. The pack warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries sells Biscoff as Original Speculoos and also offers a 6-grain variety.

  • The varieties give you a point of reference if you’re considering regular speculoos to serve with coffee.
  • Don’t assume a variety has a low sugar content based on its name; check the nutritional information for the specific product.

Products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check the sugar content of speculoos?

Look at the ‘of which sugars’ figure in the nutritional information per 100 g, so you can compare packaged biscuits on a like-for-like basis. Product information from Jumbo and Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g sugars per 100 g for Céréal Speculoos almond pieces with no added sugars; check the current label when you buy them.

Does ‘sugar-free’ tell me anything about the rest of the nutritional information?

No. Compare any other values that matter to you too. According to product information from Jumbo, the Céréal variety mentioned contains 404 kcal, 12 g of saturated fat and 0.71 g of salt per 100 g.

Can I serve the Céréal variety to guests who need to avoid gluten or nuts?

Don’t assume it’s a suitable alternative: the product information lists wheat, barley and almonds, among other ingredients. Ask your guests what they need to avoid and read the current label, even if the pack says ‘sugar-free’.

Why does the pack warn about a laxative effect?

The product information for the Céréal variety lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect. Bear this warning in mind when choosing biscuits for a group of guests.

Can I serve speculoos made from a recipe with ‘sugar-free’ in the title?

You can bake it, but don’t use the title as a description of its nutritional value. Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free speculoos’ recipe contains 500 g of maple syrup, so check the full ingredients list and quantities before offering it as a lower-sugar option.