Belgian speculoos is a spiced shortcrust biscuit with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and dark brown sugar: crispier than the Dutch version, carved from wooden moulds at Ghent bakeries.

Speculoos is the spiced biscuit of the Low Countries, with roots in the 5th December Sinterklaas tradition when biscuits shaped as bishops, windmills and animals were given to children. The Belgian version, produced industrially by Lotus since 1932, is flatter and spicier than the Dutch speculaas. Artisan versions at Ghent's Patisserie Joost Arijs use hand-carved wooden moulds and a house spice blend with higher cinnamon and cardamom ratios. The biscuit is at its peak around Christmas but sold year-round.

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