Who is this choice relevant to?

Organisers with a strict sugar target

You want to check the amount of sugars and the sweetener used on the label, rather than relying on the product name alone.

Organisers who need to communicate allergen information

You’re offering biscuits to a mixed school community and want to know which allergens they contain before the sale, and how visitors can access that information.

Bakers who want to choose their own ingredients

You want to choose the recipe and portions yourself, and are happy to check all the ingredients, including sources of sweetness and allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

Ready-made speculoos biscuits

A good choice when: you want to buy individual biscuits and the current packaging shows they meet your sugar target.

The trade-off: according to Jumbo and Albert Heijn, the Céréal version contains maltitols and several allergens. A low sugar content doesn’t make it suitable for every visitor.

Baking your own speculoos

A good choice when: you want to choose the ingredients, shape and portions yourself.

The trade-off: you’ll need to set aside time to bake and keep track of the ingredients and allergens yourself. Check the source of sweetness too: a Jumbo recipe with ‘sugar-free’ in the title lists maple syrup.

Regular speculoos

A good choice when: only if offering a product without sugars isn’t the aim.

The trade-off: Jumbo lists its Bakkers Speculaas at 29.0 g of sugars per 100 g; the product information for Lotus Biscoff lists 38.1 g per 100 g. These products therefore don’t meet the same sugar requirements.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Sugar content and sweetener Check the sugars per 100 g and per portion, and look at the ingredients list to see which sweetener is used. If I want to offer speculoos with as little sugar as possible, the value on the packaging needs to support my choice. Around 37% of consumers put this sugar target first.
Allergen information Check the current allergen declaration and make sure visitors can get the information before buying unwrapped biscuits. When catering for a mixed school community, I want to be able to say which biscuits contain specific allergens. For around 36% of consumers, this information is the top priority.
Portions and preparation Check the number of biscuits and the weight of each one. If you’re baking your own, work out how many portions you can make and how much preparation time you’ll need. If I want to offer lots of small portions, the time needed to divide and prepare them matters. This practical format comes first for around 27% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Relying on ‘sugar-free’ in a recipe title alone

    A Jumbo recipe with this title lists 500 g of maple syrup as an ingredient. The title doesn’t tell you which sources of sugar the recipe contains.

    Read the full ingredients list before choosing a recipe for the school fair.

  • Confusing a low sugar content with a low number of allergens

    According to Jumbo, the Céréal version lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat among its allergens.

    Check the sugar content and allergens separately, and make sure the current allergen information is accessible alongside the product being offered.

  • Overlooking the warning about maltitols

    Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption of the Céréal biscuits may have a laxative effect. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre notes that large amounts of polyols can cause bowel problems.

    Include the packaging warning when preparing portions and product information for the school fair.

  • Treating online product information as definitive

    Albert Heijn says that a product’s ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information may change.

    Before the sale, check the physical packaging, including the ingredients, allergens and best-before date.

Brands and retailers to consider

Céréal

Céréal Speculoos pieces with almonds, no sugars, is a ready-made option you can assess using the information on the label.

  • Jumbo and Albert Heijn list 0.4 g of sugars per 100 g for this version; the pack contains 10 biscuits weighing 11 g each.
  • The product contains maltitols and several allergens, including almonds, gluten-containing cereals, egg, milk and soya. Check the current packaging.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn provides product information for the Céréal version.

  • The product page shows details including ingredients, nutritional information, allergens and a warning about excessive consumption.
  • Albert Heijn says that product information may change, so use the current packaging to make your final choice.

Jumbo

Jumbo provides product information for the Céréal version and its regular Bakkers Speculaas, as well as a recipe titled ‘Speculoos without sugar’.

  • The product information lets you check the ingredients and nutritional values for each individual product.
  • Jumbo Bakkers Speculaas lists 29.0 g of sugars per 100 g. The recipe mentioned contains maple syrup, so don’t judge either by its name alone.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff is a regular speculoos option if avoiding sugars isn’t a priority.

  • Lotus Bakeries describes the biscuits as crunchy, with a caramelised flavour.
  • The product information consulted lists sugar as an ingredient and 38.1 g of sugars per 100 g.

Biscotto (ALDI)

Biscotto Bakkersspeculaas is a regular multipack to consider when your sugar target isn’t strict.

  • ALDI lists 48 biscuits in a 600 g pack, making it easier to plan how many packs you’ll need.
  • Check the nutritional information and allergens on the current packaging before choosing these speculoos biscuits for the school fair.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘without sugars’ tell you about a speculoos biscuit?

It doesn’t mean ‘without fat, calories or sweeteners’. For the Céréal version reviewed, Jumbo and Albert Heijn list 0.4 g of sugars, 404 kcal, 20 g of fat and 29 g of polyols per 100 g. Check the portion size and ingredients too.

What should I consider if biscuits for children contain maltitols?

Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that children can consume sweeteners, but large amounts of polyols can cause bowel problems. Albert Heijn warns that excessive consumption of the Céréal version may have a laxative effect.

Which allergens are listed for the Céréal speculoos biscuits?

For the Céréal version reviewed, Jumbo lists almonds, barley, egg, milk, soya and wheat, including gluten-containing cereals. Check the current packaging before the school fair, as the product’s composition may change.

How do I provide allergen information for unwrapped biscuits at a school fair?

Make sure visitors can get clear information about the allergens present before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out an information requirement for businesses offering food to consumers; for unwrapped products, information can be provided in writing or, under certain conditions, verbally. Whether this requirement applies to a particular school fair depends on the organiser and how the food is sold. A written list beside the biscuits makes the information accessible in any case.