Table Conversation: The Speculoos Spread / Cookie Butter Invasion
on 21 March, 2013
There’s a big chance that you’ve all seen jars of speculoos spread, both smooth and crunchy, in all forms of social media. I am guilty of posting a couple of photos myself. I was lucky enough to have discovered this a year before it became extremely popular through some friends who brought me a jar of the Lotus Speculoos crunchy spread; hand carried from Europe. My friend prepared a fresh Belgian waffle she had learned to make and paired it with the spread. Pardon the cliché, it was love at first bite.
I did a bit of research and the Lotus (Biscoff in the US) speculoos cookies are served by Delta Airlines. Its origin is from Belgium, the cookie like a cross breed between a Marie biscuit and a gingerbread cookie with more cinnamon and caramel flavor. Lotus still uses the same recipe from 1932, but the spread had only been created just a few years ago (around 2007-2009) on a Belgian reality TV show by a contestant, Els Scheppers. When the spread was first released in the market, it sold out in 3 hours. Lotus’ competitors joined the bandwagon and created their own version of the spread and resulted in a battle to court, trying to get patent rights to the spread. Trader Joe’s in the US also created their own cookie butter, which is what we can readily order here but sometimes the Biscoff brand is available too.
So you see, it’s not just Manila that’s crazy for speculoos spread, there are millions out there who love it as well. I like the spread on almost anything. I’ve had it in swirled in a waffle, gelato, ensaimada, and I bet it would taste great as topping on a cake. My favorite is still eating it straight from the jar with green apples. A Belgian friend recently brought back a chocolate bar with speculoos, but I’m saving that for a special occasion.
Do you love or hate speculoos? How do you like to eat it?
LABELS: Kitchyart, speculoos, Table Conversation
8
comments
Post a commentMARCH 24, 2013 4:40 PM
Mike De Guzman said...
not sure if i'm jumping on this bandwagon... gotta check its caloric contents first :-)
MARCH 25, 2013 2:28 AM
Gerard said...
I got curious and got myself a jar of the Trader Joe's variety. Not having any idea what the fuzz was about, my first impression was that it tasted like stroopwafels, which was really a pleasant surprise. About a third of the bottle is gone. It goes well with pretzels, pan de sal, white bread as well as straight up from the jar. I guess I love it. PS: how'd the Speculoos + Nutella combo taste like?
MARCH 25, 2013 4:07 PM
Anonymous Paul said...
Spread isn't bad, but I really like the cookie form better. When placed beside Nutella; its still Nutella all day, any day.
MARCH 25, 2013 4:49 PM
Chow Buzz said...
I prefer the Lotus brand when it comes to the spread. But, I really like the cookie more. Nutella still my number #1.
MARCH 26, 2013 10:07 AM
sanju said...
I like the spread with the cookie bits. You get the best of both worlds.
MARCH 26, 2013 2:03 PM
kitchyart said...
Gerard, the Speculoos + Nutella combo cancelled each other out when I ate them together but I think some crushed speculoos with nutella on banana bread would taste like a fiesta! I just got a bottle of the Lotus crunchy speculoos spread and I can't wait to open it up :-)
APRIL 10, 2013 11:58 PM
Ivy said...
Hi there, we are also selling Trader Joe's cookie butter and other products. Please check out our Sweet Tut's fb page here: https://www.facebook.com/sweettutsTraderJoes Thanks very much! :)
APRIL 24, 2013 2:59 PM
Anonymous Paul said...
Ok. I just saw a picture on Instagram using cookie butter for kare-kare. That is just wrong.