Benton’s Spekulatius Spiced Cookies (Winternacht Spekulatius Spiced Cookies)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This review is from 2021. Aldi is selling practically identical spekulatius cookies in 2025 under its Benton’s house brand. As of 2025, these cookies now list coconut as an additional potential allergen.
Every Aldi fan has their favorite products they love to tell others about. It might be the “red bag” chicken or the halloumi fries. Or during the holiday season, it might be the Aldi spekulatius cookies. These cookies used to be sold under the Aldi Winternacht private label, which included a variety of holiday cookies, chocolates, and classic German treats such as stollen. In the German language, winternacht means “winter night.”
In more recent years, though, Aldi seems to have phased out its Winternacht house brand. These cookies are now sold under the Benton’s brand, which is another Aldi private label.
Winternacht Spekulatius Spiced Cookies cost $2.99 for a 21.16-package when we bought them in 2021. As of 2025, they cost $4.09 for 21.16 ounces.
This is a product of Germany.
To the best of my knowledge, these are a Seasonal Favorite at Aldi, which means they should stick around in stores for longer than an Aldi Find, but they won’t be at Aldi forever. Most likely, they’ll be at Aldi through the holiday season. Keep in mind that Aldi does not offer online ordering for its specials after they’re gone from your local store.
German spekulatius is a spiced shortcrust biscuit (or cookie, if you’re in the United States) that is popular during the Christmas season. The name varies somewhat depending on what country it’s being served in, but these cookies are a favorite not just in Germany but also in France, Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands, and also in Indonesia. The name comes from a Latin term for “mirror,” because the cookies are created in molds that produce a mirror image.
Like other varieties of shortbread, these cookies don’t rise much when they bake. Spices used in spekulatius typically include cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom, and white pepper. (Although Aldi does not specify what spices go into its spekulatius.) Something else that is a key component of spekulatius is that each cookie bears an image or stamp related to the story of St. Nicholas. The Aldi cookies come in shapes that include windmills, a man with a pack on his back (presumably St. Nicholas?), and various animals.
Aldi spekulatius ingredients are wheat flour, sugar, vegetable oil (palm), caramelized sugar syrup, spices, leavening (sodium bicarbonate), and salt.
If you’re watching out for allergens, these contain wheat. They may contain milk, peanuts, or almonds. (As of 2025, potential allergens also include coconut.)
There are 20 three-cookie servings per package. One serving will net you 150 calories, 6 grams of total fat (7% DV), 105 mg of sodium (5% DV), 12 grams of total carbohydrates (7% DV), 1 gram of dietary fiber (2% DV), 8 grams of added sugars (16% DV), and 2 grams of protein.
Aldi spekulatius spiced cookies have a taste and texture similar to gingerbread cookies. They’re crisp, with plenty of cinnamon and spice flavor. They have a classic Christmas taste and smell. These spekulatius are delicious on their own, and they also pair well with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa. Perfect for enjoying on a winternacht, or winter night.
The Verdict:
Benton’s Spekulatius Spiced Cookies (formerly called Winternacht Spekulatius Spiced Cookies) are a crisp spiced shortbread cookie with a classic Christmas flavor, and they come in unique shapes. These German cookies are a must-add for your Aldi shopping list this holiday season.
Me and my granddaughter LOVE these cookies for breakfast with our coffee! I have not been able to find them in the store. How can I get more?
Aldi only carries them during the winter holiday season, so you’ll have to wait until the holidays to get them again from Aldi, unless you can find another retailer that stocks similar cookies year round.
If you have a world market near you sometimes they carry the foods made i other countries like these treats!
Where are they? They are not in my Aldi store in Lyons NY!! I bought butter spekulatis, but they are not the same as winter night spekulatis. Should I keep looking?
There may be a couple of different varieties. They all should be arriving in stores soon if they aren’t already there.
I bought two bags at my Aldi in Muskegon, MI. I don’t think the flavor is the same as previous years. Still good, but less cinnamon or maybe nutmeg?
The 2025 Spekulatius cookie produced by Aldi under the Benton’s brand is not what the German made Winternacht brand was. The “spice” is practically nonexistent in the Benton version.