Speculoos is a crisp Belgian biscuit flavoured with caramelised sugar, the Belgian cousin of spiced speculaas, traditionally baked around Saint Nicholas Day; in Belgium we have verified places to eat it in Bruges and Brussels.
Speculoos · Bruges
Speculoos is a crisp Belgian biscuit flavoured with caramelised sugar, the Belgian cousin of spiced speculaas, traditionally baked around Saint Nicholas Day.
Belgian speculoos leaves out the traditional speculaas spices and takes its flavour from caramelised sugar; it began in the early 20th century as a cheaper alternative. Speculaas itself is moulded with traditional images and was eaten around Saint Nicholas Day in early December. Maison Dandoy in Brussels, founded in 1829, still uses wooden moulds, and Lotus Bakeries has made speculoos since 1932. In Bruges, Maison La Confiance bakes its own speculoos and speculoos spread.
Where to eat in Bruges:
- Maison La Confiance
Where to eat Speculoos in Bruges: the editor picks
Speculoos · Brussels
Crunchy brown-sugar biscuit baked with real butter, cloves and cinnamon in wooden moulds. Maison Dandoy has baked it since 1829 and sells it by the box.
Modern Belgian speculoos uses caramelised sugar rather than the traditional speculaas spice mix. Maison Dandoy, founded in Brussels in 1829 and established on Rue au Beurre in 1858, is among the oldest producers still working and makes its speculoos with real butter, brown sugar, cloves and cinnamon in handcrafted wooden moulds. Speculoos are the traditional treat of Saint Nicholas on 6 December. The biscuit later gave its name to a spread, which Lotus Bakeries sells as Biscoff.
Where to eat in Brussels:
- Maison Dandoy
- Maison Dandoy Rue au Beurre
Where to eat Speculoos in Brussels: the editor picks
