Who is this choice relevant to?

Parents who want to check the sugar claim

For packaged biscuits, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients too. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal’s speculoos-flavoured biscuits.

Families who want to bake together

If kneading and shaping are part of the fun, baking from scratch lets you choose the ingredients. Be sure to check the whole recipe, though: Jumbo includes maple syrup in its ‘Sugar-free Speculaas’ recipe.

Families who need to check ingredients carefully

If you have allergies or questions about sweeteners, it’s important to check the latest packaging. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information lists ingredients including wheat, almond, barley, egg, milk and soya in the Céréal biscuits, as well as maltitol as a sweetener.

What should you look for when choosing?

Ready-made biscuits

Choose these when: You want biscuits you can serve straight away and check the sugar content on the packaging.

The trade-off: Céréal’s biscuits aren’t dough to shape together, and their ingredients and warnings also need your attention.

Make speculaas from scratch

Choose this when: Mixing, rolling and shaping with children are an important part of your baking session.

The trade-off: Baking from scratch takes preparation and use of the oven, and a recipe title doesn’t prove which sweeteners are used.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugars and labels Compare sugars per 100 g and read the ingredients list; check polyols separately. If I want to keep a close eye on sugar, I need to know what the packaging says about the whole biscuit. This is a priority for around 33% of consumers.
Convenience and portions For ready-made biscuits, check the number of biscuits, the weight per biscuit and the nutritional information per portion. When things are busy, I want to serve biscuits without having to make dough first. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this convenience.
Allergens and sweeteners Read the latest allergen information, check which sweeteners are used and look for any warnings on the packaging. Before children tuck in, I want to check that the ingredients are suitable for my family. This is the main concern for around 20% of consumers.
Baking together Check all the ingredients in the recipe, especially sugar, syrup and honey, and allow enough time for preparation. I want children to be able to help with mixing and shaping, without treating a recipe title as proof of its ingredients. For around 20% of consumers, the baking session is the priority.

Common mistakes

  • Taking a recipe title that says ‘sugar-free’ at face value

    Jumbo calls its recipe ‘Sugar-free Speculaas’, but maple syrup is also on the ingredients list. So the title doesn’t make it suitable if you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option.

    Read the full recipe before you start baking, and check separately for sugar, syrup, honey and other sweeteners.

  • Looking only at the sugar content

    As well as 0.4 g of sugars, Albert Heijn lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g for the Céréal biscuits. A sugar claim doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s nutritional value.

    Compare like-for-like products per 100 g, and check the rest of the nutritional information and the ingredients too.

  • Forgetting about allergens in biscuits with sweeteners

    According to the product information, the Céréal biscuits contain ingredients including wheat, almond, barley, egg, milk and soya. The sugar claim doesn’t change what’s in them.

    Check the latest packaging before serving the biscuits, and when baking together, check the ingredients in any other products you use too.

  • Overlooking the warning about maltitol

    The product information says that eating too many Céréal biscuits may have a laxative effect.

    Read the warnings and bear portion size in mind when serving them.

Brands and retailers to consider

Céréal

Céréal makes speculoos-flavoured biscuits with pieces of almond under the name ‘No Sugars’.

  • Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g for this variety.
  • These are ready-made biscuits, not baking dough; check the allergens and the warning about the sweetener.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn provides product information for Céréal’s speculoos-flavoured biscuits.

  • The nutritional values listed make it possible to compare products per 100 g.
  • For your final decision, use the information on the latest packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes the Céréal biscuits and also publishes a recipe for homemade speculaas.

  • The recipe offers a baking activity that involves rolling out dough.
  • The ‘Sugar-free Speculaas’ recipe includes maple syrup, so it isn’t suitable if you’re looking for a strictly sugar-free option.

Lotus Biscoff

According to Lotus Bakeries, Biscoff has a caramelised flavour and a crunchy texture.

  • It’s a familiar point of comparison if you’re specifically looking for speculoos-style biscuits.
  • Don’t rely on the flavour or product name to indicate the sugar content; check the packaging for the variety you choose.

Lidl

Lidl describes Baker’s Speculaas as speculaas biscuits in a 600 g pack.

  • The product description makes it clear that these are ready-made speculaas biscuits.
  • Before choosing them as a strictly sugar-free option, check the nutritional information and any sugar claim on the specific packaging.

ALDI

ALDI describes Biscotto Baker’s Speculaas as a 600 g pack containing 48 biscuits.

  • The number of biscuits helps you assess the pack size.
  • Don’t assume the product is sugar-free based on its name; read the nutritional information on the pack you choose.

Joybuy products related to this topic

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Frequently asked questions

Does ‘no sugars’ mean a biscuit contains no sweeteners?

No. Albert Heijn lists 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal’s speculoos-flavoured biscuits; according to the product information, maltitol is used as a sweetener. So check the ingredients as well as the nutritional information.

Can I use Jumbo’s ‘Sugar-free Speculaas’ recipe if I want to bake strictly sugar-free?

Not with the ingredients listed: Jumbo includes maple syrup in the recipe. If you want to use the baking method, check exactly which ingredients you’ll be adding to the dough first; the recipe title alone isn’t enough to confirm that it’s suitable.

What should I look out for when children eat Céréal’s speculoos-flavoured biscuits?

First, check the latest packaging for allergens and the warning about the sweetener. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information lists ingredients including wheat, almond, barley, egg, milk and soya, and says that eating too many may have a laxative effect.