Which option is right for you?

For anyone looking for a strictly sugar-free option

You want to choose a biscuit for the parade whose sugar content on the label meets the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim, rather than relying on ‘no added sugar’.

For anyone who wants a speculoos flavour

You’re looking for a biscuit that tastes just right for Sinterklaas and is easy to carry or hand out, without assuming that regular speculoos is sugar-free.

For anyone who compares ingredients carefully

When sharing biscuits, you pay particular attention to allergens, the sweeteners used and any warnings on the packaging. Portion size also matters when choosing.

What should you look for?

First decide whether the biscuit needs to be strictly sugar-free or whether you simply want to avoid adding sugar. Then compare the flavour, ingredients and portions for the parade.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar-free claim Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim may be used when a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I’m handing out biscuits as sugar-free, I want to be able to check that against the label. Around 36% of consumers make this strict requirement their priority.
Speculoos flavour and handing out Check the stated flavour, the number of biscuits and the weight of each biscuit. Jumbo lists Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces as weighing 11 g per biscuit. When I’m out and about, I want a biscuit that suits Sinterklaas and is easy to hand out. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this combination.
Allergens and ingredients Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact pack; a sugar claim tells you nothing about these. When I’m sharing biscuits, I want to check first that the ingredients are suitable for everyone. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this check.
Portion size and polyols Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and per portion, and read any warnings about polyols such as maltitol. I want to decide in advance how many biscuits to take and take the sweeteners into account. This is the first consideration for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’

    Dates, apples and raisins can add sugars to a biscuit, even when no sugar has been added to the recipe. So a homemade biscuit won’t automatically meet the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    If you want to describe a biscuit as sugar-free, check the sugar content per 100 g of the finished product. Don’t describe a recipe with no added sugar as sugar-free without checking this.

  • Checking only the sugar claim

    The amount of sugar doesn’t tell you how much energy, fat or carbohydrate a biscuit contains. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% Sugar at 465 kcal per 100 g; Jumbo lists Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces at 404 kcal per 100 g.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g, then consider how many biscuits you actually want to take or hand out.

  • Overlooking sweeteners and warnings

    Biscuits without sugars may contain polyols such as maltitol. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, products with more than 10% added polyols carry a warning that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and any warning on the packaging, and bear portion size in mind when handing them out.

  • Choosing speculoos flavour over checking allergens

    The Céréal speculoos-flavoured variety with almond pieces described by Jumbo contains, among other things, almonds, wheat, milk, egg and soya. The flavour name doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for everyone in a group.

    Check the allergens on the exact pack before buying, and keep the packaging available when handing out the biscuits.

Brands and retailers to explore

Céréal

Céréal offers packaged biscuits labelled ‘sugar-free’, including a variety with a speculoos flavour and almond pieces.

  • Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this speculoos and almond variety.
  • Check the polyols and allergens for each variety; the ingredients aren’t the same across all Céréal biscuits.

Albert Heijn

AH Digestive 0% Sugar is a biscuit for anyone who prefers a more neutral flavour to speculoos.

  • Albert Heijn lists a 400 g pack and 0.3 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • According to the product information, this biscuit contains wheat, 20 g of fat and 14 g of polyols per 100 g.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s product information is useful for comparing the listed Céréal varieties by flavour, sugar content, polyols and allergens.

  • The information for the speculoos and almond variety allows you to compare its nutritional values per 100 g.
  • Check that your chosen variety is available before heading to the parade; the sesame and vanilla variety was no longer listed in the online range.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original Speculoos is a familiar example of the speculoos flavour associated with Sinterklaas, but it isn’t a sugar-free option in itself.

  • Lotus Bakeries describes Original Speculoos as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.
  • If you want to present a Lotus Biscoff product as sugar-free, check the claim and nutritional information for the exact variety.

Related products at Joybuy

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

When can a biscuit be called sugar-free?

Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, the ‘sugar-free’ claim may be used if a product contains no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g or 100 ml. For biscuits, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the packaging.

Is a biscuit with no added sugar also sugar-free?

No, not automatically: ingredients such as dates, apples or raisins may still add sugars. A recipe with no added sugar is therefore different from a biscuit whose sugar content per 100 g meets the requirements for a ‘sugar-free’ claim.

Does sugar-free also mean lower in energy?

The sugar claim doesn’t tell you that. Albert Heijn lists AH Digestive 0% Sugar at 465 kcal per 100 g, while Jumbo lists Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces at 404 kcal per 100 g. Compare the full nutritional information and the portions you plan to hand out.

What should I look out for if a biscuit contains maltitol?

Read the ingredients and any warnings about polyols on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre states that products with more than 10% added polyols carry a warning about a possible laxative effect if consumed excessively.

Can I hand out regular Lotus Biscoff as a sugar-free biscuit?

If you’re looking for a sugar-free biscuit, don’t assume regular Lotus Biscoff is suitable just because it has a speculoos flavour. Check the claim and the sugar content per 100 g on the exact pack before presenting it as sugar-free.