Who is this choice relevant to?

Host with a strict sugar-free requirement

You only want to offer biscuits as sugar-free if the nutritional information supports that claim. So check the packaging of the biscuits you’re actually handing out.

Organiser of a birthday party with a mix of guests

You’re looking for a treat for a range of guests and want to know in advance which ingredients, allergens and sweeteners the biscuits contain.

Home baker who wants to choose the ingredients

You want to make spiced biscuits yourself and choose the recipe and portion sizes. A recipe with no added sugar does not automatically make the finished biscuits sugar-free.

What should you look for in a birthday treat?

Packaged sugar-free speculoos

A good fit if: the treat needs to carry a clear ‘sugar-free’ claim and you can discuss the packaging with guests or parents in advance.

Bear in mind: the Céréal variety with almond pieces contains maltitol and several allergens; the sugar claim says nothing about these.

Bake spiced biscuits yourself

A good fit if: you want to choose the recipe and the size of the biscuits yourself.

Bear in mind: baking takes preparation, and a sugar-free recipe does not prove that the baked biscuits are sugar-free.

Regular speculoos

A good fit if: there’s no sugar-free requirement and you want to serve regular biscuits.

Bear in mind: Lotus Bakeries lists 38,1 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Original, so don’t serve it as a sugar-free treat.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar claim Read the exact claim and compare the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g. Under the EU regulation on nutrition and health claims, ‘sugar-free’ is only permitted when a product contains no more than 0,5 g of sugars per 100 g. If I need a strictly sugar-free treat for my guests, I want to know whether the biscuits really meet the requirements for that claim. For around 42% of consumers, this sugar claim is the most important factor.
Allergens and sweeteners Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging. For biscuits containing polyols, also check which sweetener is used and whether the label carries a warning. When guests have different allergies or sensitivities, I want to be able to say what’s in each biscuit and how many I’m serving. Allergens and tolerance are the main concern for around 33% of consumers.
Treat and recipe Decide whether you want to hand out packaged biscuits or bake them yourself. If you make spiced biscuits, check the ingredients before making a sugar claim. I want the biscuits to suit the party and may want to choose the ingredients and portions myself. Around 25% of consumers put this choice first.

Common mistakes

  • Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’

    These claims don’t mean the same thing: a biscuit can contain sugars even if no sugar has been added. Under the EU regulation on nutrition and health claims, ‘sugar-free’ means a product contains no more than 0,5 g of sugars per 100 g.

    Before calling the treat sugar-free, check both the claim and the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g on the packaging.

  • Handing out sugar-free biscuits without checking for allergens

    Jumbo’s product listing for Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces names almonds, wheat, soya and egg, among other ingredients. ‘Sugar-free’ says nothing about whether a product is suitable for guests with a food allergy.

    Ask about any relevant allergies in advance and keep the current packaging with the biscuits so guests or parents can read the information.

  • Leaving out a bowl of biscuits containing polyols for guests to help themselves to freely

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols can cause bowel discomfort. Jumbo’s listing for the Céréal variety names maltitol.

    Check the packaging for sweeteners and any warnings, and decide how many biscuits to serve at a time.

Brands to consider

Céréal

Céréal sells speculoos with almond pieces labelled ‘sugar-free’; Albert Heijn and Jumbo list this variety.

  • A packaged option whose sugar claim and nutritional information per 100 g you can check.
  • Jumbo’s product listing names maltitol and ingredients including almonds, wheat, soya and egg. Check the pack you buy before handing out the biscuits.

Damhert

De Online Drogist describes Damhert Sugar-Free Almond Biscuits as almond spiced biscuits sweetened with maltitol.

  • Another packaged biscuit option to compare for its sugar claim and ingredients.
  • Before choosing these for your guests, check the current packaging for allergens, nutritional information and warnings about the sweetener.

Lotus Biscoff

Lotus Biscoff Original is regular speculoos, included here as a comparison when there’s no sugar-free requirement.

  • The manufacturer publishes the ingredients and nutritional information, making it easy to compare the sugar content.
  • Lotus Bakeries lists sugar and candy syrup as ingredients, and 38,1 g of sugars per 100 g. Original is therefore not a sugar-free treat.

Spiced biscuits and speculoos at Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘sugar-free’ mean on a pack of spiced biscuits?

Under the EU regulation on nutrition and health claims, a biscuit can only be called ‘sugar-free’ if it contains no more than 0,5 g of sugars per 100 g. So, as well as checking the claim on the front, look at the ‘of which sugars’ value per 100 g in the nutritional information.

Are homemade spiced biscuits with no sugar automatically sugar-free?

No. The other ingredients also affect how much sugar the baked biscuits contain. If you want to call them sugar-free, the finished product must meet the limit for that claim; the recipe title alone isn’t enough.

Which allergens should I check in Céréal speculoos with almonds?

Always check the full allergen information on the packaging you’re handing out. Jumbo’s product listing for Céréal Speculoos with almond pieces names almonds, wheat, soya and egg, among other ingredients; if someone has an allergy, don’t rely on the product name alone.

What should I look out for if sugar-free biscuits contain maltitol?

Check the ingredients, portion sizes and any warnings on the packaging. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, large amounts of polyols, including maltitol, can cause bowel discomfort.

Can I serve Lotus Biscoff Original as a sugar-free option?

No. Lotus Bakeries lists 38,1 g of sugars per 100 g for Lotus Biscoff Original and names sugar and candy syrup as ingredients. Only serve it as a regular biscuit option when there’s no sugar-free requirement.