Who might this choice be right for?

Parents specifically looking for sugar-free speculoos

You want to check whether the biscuits meet the definition of ‘sugar-free’, rather than relying on terms such as ‘sugar-conscious’ or ‘no added sugar’.

Organisers of parties with different dietary requirements

You’ll be handing out treats to several children, so you ask about allergies, other dietary requirements and any rules set by the school or after-school club in advance.

Parents who want to hand out a small treat

You want to keep portions modest and are considering whether speculoos, fruit or another small treat would suit the party.

What should you look for in a party treat?

Sugar-free almond speculoos

A good choice when: you want a speculoos flavour and a verifiable sugar-free claim, and you’ve checked in advance that the guests can eat the listed ingredients.

The trade-off: according to Jumbo, the Céréal version contains 0.4 g of sugars and 29 g of polyols per 100 g, but it also contains several allergens.

A small treat without biscuits

A good choice when: a modest portion matters more than a speculoos flavour. You could consider fruit or plain popcorn, for example, as recommended in the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s guidance on party treats.

The trade-off: you’ll be leaving out the speculoos; check that any alternative is suitable for the children’s allergies and dietary requirements too.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
The ‘sugar-free’ claim Check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the current packaging. Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a product must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g to carry the ‘sugar-free’ claim. If I want to hand out genuinely sugar-free speculoos, I want to be able to check the sugar content rather than relying on the product name alone; for around 42% of consumers, a verifiable claim would be the priority.
Allergens and dietary requirements Ask parents about dietary requirements in advance, and check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging. Also check for any rules set by the school or after-school club. When I’m handing out treats to a group of children, I want to know whether my choice is suitable for the guests; for around 33% of consumers, suitability for the group would be the main concern.
A modest portion Decide how much you want to give each child and, if needed, compare a biscuit with a small treat that doesn’t include biscuits. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small portions for party treats. If I’m mainly looking for a small party treat, I want to be able to choose between speculoos and something else, such as fruit; for around 25% of consumers, portion size would matter most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘sugar-conscious’ means ‘sugar-free’

    A retailer’s category or the words ‘no added sugar’ don’t, on their own, tell you whether a biscuit meets the EU threshold for the ‘sugar-free’ claim.

    Compare the claim with the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging you’re buying.

  • Assuming a sugar-free biscuit is suitable for every child

    Céréal’s almond speculoos lists almonds or nuts, wheat, barley, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients. The sugar content doesn’t tell you whether it’s suitable for someone with an allergy.

    Ask about allergies and dietary requirements before buying. Choose another suitable treat if the biscuits aren’t right for one of the guests.

  • Looking only at sugars when deciding on a portion

    ‘Sugar-free’ describes the sugar content, not the overall nutritional value or how much you want to hand out. Alongside 0.4 g of sugars, Jumbo lists 29 g of polyols per 100 g for the Céréal version.

    Check the nutritional information and choose a small portion mindfully. If speculoos isn’t essential to the party, you could consider another treat too.

Brands and retailers to consider

Céréal

Céréal makes a speculoos version with almond pieces, labelled ‘no sugars’.

  • For this version, Jumbo lists 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g; Céréal Netherlands gives the energy value as 44 kcal per biscuit.
  • The version contains almonds, cereals containing gluten, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Check the current packaging before handing them out.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists Céréal’s almond speculoos in the ‘Biscuits (sugar-conscious)’ category.

  • The product name helps you identify the Céréal version in question.
  • The category label ‘sugar-conscious’ doesn’t replace checking the sugar content and allergen information for the individual product.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists nutritional information for Céréal Zonder Suikers Smaak Speculoos Stukjes Amandel, in a pack of 2 × 5 biscuits weighing 110 g.

  • The product information lists sugars and polyols per 100 g, as well as ingredients and allergens.
  • Even if the sugar content is suitable, you’ll still need to check the allergens for the guests you’re handing them out to.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Bakeries describes Biscoff as a crunchy biscuit with a caramelised flavour.

  • The brand is worth considering if you’re weighing up a classic biscuit flavour against a specific sugar claim.
  • Don’t assume a Biscoff product is sugar-free based on the brand name; check the claim and nutritional information for the version you choose.

Lidl

Lidl lists baker’s speculoos in a 600 g pack.

  • This is a familiar option if you’re considering regular speculoos for the party.
  • If you specifically want sugar-free speculoos, check the claim and sugar content per 100 g for the version you choose.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘sugar-free’ mean for speculoos?

Under European Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a food carrying the ‘sugar-free’ claim must contain no more than 0.5 g of sugars per 100 g. So, for speculoos, check the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g; ‘no added sugar’ is a different claim.

Can I hand out Céréal almond speculoos to every child?

No, don’t assume it’s suitable without checking first: this version lists almonds or nuts, wheat, barley, egg, milk and soya, among other ingredients. Ask about allergies and dietary requirements in advance, and check the packaging of the product you’ll actually be handing out.

What should I check before bringing treats to school or an after-school club?

Ask in advance about the children’s allergies and religious or other dietary requirements. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking this before bringing in party treats; also find out what rules the school or after-school club has for handing them out.