Planner of an open coffee buffet
You want to estimate in advance how many biscuits you’ll need, and be able to top up a larger pack alongside the coffee or tea without ending up with unnecessary leftovers.
Who are the different pack sizes for?
Organiser serving guests individually
You want to lay out or hand out portions, rather than use one open plate that everyone helps themselves to.
Planner with dietary and allergen procedures
You want to offer a suitable alternative alongside the regular selection, keep it separate and give guests clear allergen information.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide how you’ll serve the biscuits and which dietary requirements you know about in advance. Then compare the number of portions or individual biscuits with your serving plan; the weight alone won’t tell you how many guests you can cater for.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and a separate alternative | Read the current label on the pack you’ve chosen. For a gluten-free option, check for any other allergens listed too, and keep it separate when serving. | If guests need a gluten-free option, I want to know what I can offer them alongside the regular spiced biscuits, and which allergens I need to mention. For around 42% of consumers, suitability is the most important factor. |
| Portions and serving | Compare the number of biscuits, portions or individual packets, and decide whether guests will help themselves or be given a portion. | For a short coffee break, I want to be able to set out biscuits for each guest rather than have everyone take them from one plate. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this way of serving. |
| Quantity and storage | Check the stated number of portions against your serving method, and see how the pack should be resealed and stored after opening. | For a planned group, I want to buy enough spiced biscuits without being left with lots of opened packs. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this kind of volume planning. |
A bulk pack works well for a managed buffet, but needs to be stored properly once opened. Individually wrapped portions make it easier to plan for serving each guest. A gluten-free option is a separate choice for guests who need one, not necessarily a replacement for the regular selection.
Common serving mistakes
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Assuming vegan or gluten-free means allergen-free
Lotus Bakeries lists wheat and soya for Lotus Biscoff Original. Jumbo lists egg in Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas and warns that it may contain, among other things, nuts, milk and sesame.
Check the allergen information on the pack you’re actually buying. Keep any alternative separate from the regular biscuits during storage and serving.
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Putting out a plate without allergen information
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says customers must be informed about allergens present in food sold unpackaged. This is relevant as soon as you take biscuits out of their packaging and serve them on a plate.
Make sure guests know where to find the allergen information when they’re served, and that it’s readily available.
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Comparing pack weights alone
Albert Heijn says that AH Bakkers speculaas, 600 g, contains around 48 portions. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Lotus Biscoff Speculoos XL contains 10 packets, each with two biscuits. Weight and the number of portions you can serve are therefore two different things.
Compare the label with your serving plan: will you hand out individual biscuits or packets, or serve them from a buffet?
Brands to consider
Lotus Biscoff
Offers several pack formats for coffee breaks. Lotus Bakeries describes a 1 kg box containing four 250 g sleeves for professional use; according to Albert Heijn, the XL pack contains 10 packets, each with two biscuits.
- The XL packets provide a set quantity for serving each guest individually.
- Lotus Bakeries lists wheat and soya for Biscoff Original. If you have questions about allergies, check the label on the specific variant you’ve chosen.
Albert Heijn
AH Bakkers speculaas comes in a 600 g pack, which Albert Heijn says contains around 48 portions.
- The stated number of portions gives you a starting point for planning a coffee buffet.
- Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten, and warns that the product may contain almond. After opening, the retailer recommends storing it in an airtight tin; check the current label.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists around 48 portions for Bakkers Speculaas 600 g and also offers Lekker Vrij van Gluten Speculaas 125 g as a separate variant.
- The two packs let you offer a regular selection and a separate gluten-free option, as long as you present them separately in an appropriate way.
- According to Jumbo, the gluten-free variant contains egg and may contain, among other things, almonds, hazelnuts, milk, sesame and walnuts.
Spiced biscuits and speculoos at Joybuy
These packs are suitable for biscuits at a coffee buffet: two types of baker’s spiced biscuits and a smaller pack of Lotus Biscoff speculoos. If you’re serving each guest individually, don’t choose by weight alone; check whether the pack contains individual portions.
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g'woon Bakers Speculaas 600 g
A pack to consider if you’re sharing spiced biscuits at a planned coffee buffet.
Contents: 600 g. Work out how many packs you need based on your portions, and check the label for allergen information to give guests if serving unpackaged.
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De Ruiter Bakers Speculaas 450 g
A pack to compare for a coffee break where you’ll serve the spiced biscuits yourself.
Contents: 450 g. Decide how many portions you want to make from it, and check the current label before displaying allergen information alongside an open plate.
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Lotus Biscoff Speculoos Cookie 250 g
A smaller pack of speculoos to consider alongside baker’s spiced biscuits for a coffee break.
Contents: 250 g. If you want to serve each guest individually, check the pack format before buying; don’t assume the biscuits are individually wrapped. If serving unpackaged, consult the current label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to provide allergen information if I put spiced biscuits on a plate?
Yes. In the Netherlands, guests must be able to get information about allergens present in unpackaged food served by caterers before making their choice. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how to make this information available when serving food, including when staff provide it verbally.
Are vegan spiced biscuits suitable for someone with a food allergy?
Not automatically. Lotus Bakeries lists wheat and soya for Biscoff Original, while Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for AH Bakkers speculaas. Ask which allergens are relevant and check the label on the exact product.
How do I work out how many packs I need for a coffee break?
Start with the number of portions, biscuits or individual packets stated on the pack, then compare this with your serving plan. Albert Heijn lists around 48 portions for AH Bakkers speculaas 600 g; according to Albert Heijn, the Lotus Biscoff XL pack contains 10 packets with two biscuits in each.
How should I store spiced biscuits after opening them for a later coffee break?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. For AH Bakkers speculaas, Albert Heijn recommends a cool, dark, dry place and, once opened, an airtight tin. For its catering box, Lotus Bakeries recommends storing it in a dry place away from heat.