If you are a little unsure about what exactly Speculoos spread is, then you are in for a treat! It looks a little bit like peanut butter (it has even been marketed as Europe’s alternative to peanut butter) but it is actually very different. It tastes like cinnamon cookies, but in spread form. A ‘cookie butter’ if you will.
Speculoos spread (also known as Biscoff spread in English-speaking countries) is made from a belgian cinnamon cookie called Speculoos and is probably one of my biggest addictions. I’m absolutely obsessed with the Lotus brand and nothing else I’ve tried has tasted as good. The cookies remind me a bit of ginger snaps except with a cinnamon flavour instead of ginger. Dip them in tea and they are dangerous. The spread is basically all of the cookie taste but with a peanut butter-like texture. It may have zero nutritional value (it is basically made up of sugar, fat, and flavouring) but I say it’s good for the soul. Try it and you’ll understand.
Unfortunately, while I’ve been able to find Speculoos cookies in Canada, the spread is very hard to come by. I had high hopes when I found the Trader Joes brand of “Speculoos cookie butter” in Vancouver. However my hopes were soon dashed. It was a sad day when I discovered it was nothing like the Lotus brand. While I’m a huge fan of Trader Joes, their ‘cookie butter’ just didn’t cut it for me. As a result, I:
1) Ordered some Lotus Biscoff spread online from the US, which ended costing me more than I would like to say (desperate times.) It was also not very straightforward using a Canadian address, which made me actually resort to contacting Lotus bakeries (like I said, desperate times.) p.s. I still have not received it in the mail.
2) Decided that I would set off to make my own version so I would no longer be stuck in such a desperate situation.
And here you have it… if you can’t get your hands on the actual stuff this is the next best thing and closest Lotus Speculoos spread imitation.
Ingredients
1 pack (250 g) Lotus Speculoos cookies (aka Biscoff cookies)*
1/4 cup brown sugar (50 g)
1/2 can full fat coconut milk (200 mL/200 g)
2 tbsp. vegetable shortening (20 g)
2 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
*The only Canadian store I’ve found these cookies is at Save on Foods.
Directions
Grind the cookies together with the brown sugar in a food processor until you get fine crumbs.
Add the coconut milk and blend for a few minutes, scraping sides with a spatula if necessary, until the cookies are fully mixed in.
Melt the vegetable shortening and add to the mixture along with the lemon juice and cinnamon.
Blend until completely uniform, transfer to a jar, and store in the fridge.
Here is a tip on how to best enjoy Speculoos spread: my favourite way is on toasted crumpets. The crumpet holes are perfect for holding melty, delicious Speculoos. It is also great to spread on crepes, pancakes, and waffles, as a dip for apples, or you know, to just eat by the spoonful.
Hi Ashleen! You mention you’re a big fan of Trader Joe’s – just wanted to let you know that there IS one in Vancouver. It is actually called ‘Pirate Joe’s” as that is exactly what they do – they go down to Bellingham and buy stuff and resell it in Vancouver. Each item is about a dollar more, but hey, certainly saves a trip down to Bellingham. It is located close to me on West Broadway – 3474 (at Collingwood) The fellow that runs it is really nice, and does take special orders and will bring stuff back for you. He was telling me there will be a web site soon for ordering. I just LOVE Trader Joe’s stuff, and this is certainly the next best thing, and certainly better than a day trip to Bellingham!
Hope you will be enjoying the Pride Parade on Sunday – I won’t be going as we’re going out to Tsawwassen that day – but it is so much fun – you’ll love it. And definately a Vancouver experience!!!
Hey Louise! Thanks for the info! I’ve been to Transilvania Trading in Kits, which also carries Trader Joes but I will have to check that one out too!
You have a great weekend too!
I will enjoy the pride parade
It’s the same place!!! I just noticed a sign in their window this week that said “Pirate Joe’s” and of course the sign still says Transylvania Trading as well. used to be a fantastic bread shop – which has moved down to 4th just off Alma. Really good and heavy bread. Expensive, but worth it (if you LOVE bread – I could live on the stuff!)
wow! didn’t know that a Canadian girl could be so addicted to speculoos spread. I can have this anytime but I had it only a few times I’m a Canadian curently living in North of France. Have you tasted speculoos ice cream? pure joy!
Lol… yes I am addicted. Also, very jealous that you have unlimited access to it! I have yet to try speculoos icecream but it is now on my to make list
Hi! If any readers live in Edmonton, K&K Foodliner on Whyte Avernue and 99 street sells Lotus Speculoos Spread and the cookies too! I love this stuff, great on toast.
I was flying back from a speaking engagement and had them on Delta. I may only fly Delta from now because of these cookies! OMG – sooo good and Katy thanks for the Edmonton tip -I am definitely going to go to K&K! WHOO HOO!
Lol! So addictive right! Glad you got to experience the joy of speculoos
Too bad I don’t live in Edmonton!
Hi, thanks for the recipe!
i was just wondering, how long will this spread be good for when stored in the ref? 
I’m not sure because I go through it too quickly! If yours lasts longer than a week or two, then you have much more willpower than I do
Speculoos Spread is too good. Its make food more delicious and tasty.
I live in West Michigan, which has the highest Dutch population in N. America- you can buy speculoos and Biscoff from VanderVeen’s at http://www.thedutchstore.com… good luck!
For the quick fix: empty a jar of smooth peanutbutter into a blender add “Koek & speculaas kruiden” spices to taste, mix well. Then put back into a clean jar. Enjoy or let mature for at least a week. Heating the spices before adding is a good move too.
In Belgium it’s Speculoos (less spicy), the Dutch version is Speculaas a lot more spicy also the spice mix (“kruiden”) is easier to get. Speculaas=dutch spice cookies.
I’m sure you can order the spices on the internet anno 2012 and most countries have a Dutch or European Deli in the major cities. But a small deli in a big city….
Just thought of another one: chocolate spread (white, milkchocolate or dark) or nutella with the “speculaas/speculoos” spices works too. Or crumble Speculaas (dutch spice cookies) into the spread.
I’m a Belgian living in the UK and am now also having to do without my favorite spread! Just as a point of interest, the spread is actually based on a breakfast table tradition. We would dunk speculoos biscuits in coffee and then put them on our bread. A lady invented the spread based on that tradition, took part in our version of American Inventor and it went on from there. She’s probably rich now cause it has become such a phenomenon in Belgium, probably because it reminds so many of their childhood and it’s less messy than dunking the biscuits
There’s also a crunchy version of the spread now! Even better!
I must try this – can’t get Speculoos spread here in Scotland readily – but we get the biscuits. It sounds delicious and if it’s anything like the cookies – OMG!!
This STUFF is absolutely fantastic!!! A friend picked up some for me at Trader Joe’s – which I know you said isn’t quite right, Ashleen – but anyhow I found myself eating it out of the jar last night! Does anyone happen to know where you can get “the real one – Lotus – I believe it is called – in Vancouver? Stong’s doesn’t have it. It’s like having a cookie on a spoon!
The holland shopping centre in new Westminster has the lotus spread, as does the Dutch store in Coombs on the island.
Apparently can get it online from a dutch store in Ontario …
http://www.dutchshoponline.com/food/sandwich-spreads-and-sprinkles/jams-spreads/lotus-speculoos-spread-400g.html
You can get Biscoff spread at Gourmet Warehouse (on Hastings)! The smooth or crunchy kind
Thanks! Can hardly wait to try it. Have tried Trader Joe’s and it is pretty good, so I’m thinking that the Lotus brand must be amazing!
Thanks for this post. I found you while I was out searching for a homemade Speculoos Spread recipe to save me from inventing my own, because I stumbled upon David Lebovitz’s post on Speculoos Spread (really funny, comments too!) I went to the Biscoff company’s US website, read the ingredients and knew I would not pay that much for those ingredients. I almost bought the Trader Joe’s knock-off from Amazon but some intuition told me not to, now confirmed by you. Yea. Glad I didn’t do that! Your recipe sounds like MY way into the experience… far better than the commercial product, at least as to the ingredients. Of course, to further control the ingredients, I will be making the Speculoos cookies (the Belgian recipe) to start out with too. Thanks again.
I have to admit I never really tasted it…
as a base, and instead of the coconut milk I put heavy cream and added vanilla extract.
They started importing it here in Israel just now and everybody is making a big fuss about it.
Since I don’t eat white sugar nor white flower, I wanted to make a homemade version.
I used a cookie recipe ( http://www.shirley-nemesh.com/2011/07/3344 ) which you can ask google to translate
Came out rather thick, but since I want to use it for cooking only- It’s perfect!
Never tried the original, but I like the taste.
Thanks
Adi
Wow! Don’t know how I stumbled on here but glad I did! I have been addicted to Biscoff biscuits a few years now and can’t wait to try this recipe out. I also like one commenter’s back-story on how it came about. Anyway, I do know they sell them in the speciality cookie section (in the cookie aisle) at any super Walmart–of all places! Thanks again for the recipe!
Just so you know the lotus spread is available to buy in waitrose supermarkets in the uk. It is called “lotus caramelised biscuit spread”
I just picked some up today in Sainsbury’s – it was on offer and both smooth and crunchy varieties were available. I considered it fate having read Bakerella’s Biscoff crispy treat recipe on my blog roll the other day only to come across it in my local supermarket while getting ingredients for an altogether different bake. Obviously it would have been rude to pass by without adding it to my basket!
Perhaps It should be called “Spectaculoos”! This spread is so addicting-like no other….But I wanted it lower fat/lower sugar…So, I will try making my own cookies/spread-we’ll see if it is anything close-Thanks for the recipe! Here in the states it sold by Kroger’s grocery-under the name “Lotus Biscoff Spread”
Anyone here who can’t seem to find Biscoff anywhere locally, I just found it is sold online by Amazon (including free shipping for Prime members) for about $9.00 a jar (that’s about double the price of most groceries selling it here in the states). You can also buy the cookies on Amazon for about $5.00 a box if you purchase it in a bulk/ five box quantity (including free shipping for Prime members). MMMMmmm…Maybe worth the price : )
If you’re ever in Victoria, Wanna Wafel sells the original!