If you’re buying rusks with aniseed sprinkles to celebrate a birth
You’re looking for a combination of rusks and aniseed sprinkles in a suitable colour. Check both packs so you don’t end up with rusks alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you also want to compare fibre content
You’d like to compare plain and wholemeal rusks. Check the nutrition information per 100 g for the exact varieties, without assuming that this changes the sprinkles.
If you need to check ingredients carefully
Before buying, check the allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements on both the rusks and the sprinkles. If baker’s salt is relevant to your dietary choices, check the ingredients of the rusks you’ve chosen too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want aniseed sprinkles for a traditional occasion or chocolate sprinkles as a chocolate topping. Then choose your rusks and check both labels.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Complete combination | Pick up both rusks and sprinkles, and compare the quantities on each pack. | If I want to serve rusks with aniseed sprinkles, I need both products. For around 45% of consumers, getting the complete combination would be the first priority. |
| Tradition and colour | Choose the colour you want and check that the product is aniseed sprinkles, not chocolate sprinkles. | For a birth celebration, I want aniseed sprinkles in a colour that suits my plans. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise tradition and colour. |
| Ingredients and nutrition information | Read the allergen information on both products; compare fibre and sugars per 100 g if they matter to your choice. | If I have a relevant allergy or want to make an informed choice based on nutritional values, I need to be able to check the exact products. For around 19% of consumers, these checks would be the main priority. |
Common mistakes
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Buying rusks only
Rusks are just the base for the traditional combination. Without the sprinkles you want, you don’t yet have rusks with aniseed sprinkles.
Before buying, check that you’ve chosen both products and that the pack sizes suit what you’re planning to make.
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Confusing chocolate sprinkles with aniseed sprinkles
Chocolate sprinkles are a chocolate topping; the aniseed sprinkles discussed here are sugar-coated aniseed seeds. They don’t serve the same purpose if you want to follow the birth tradition.
First decide which topping you’re actually looking for, then check the product name on the pack.
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Assuming all varieties of rusks are the same
Albert Heijn lists 9 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Wholemeal Rusks and 4.2 g per 100 g for AH Plain Rusks. Both varieties contain wheat and egg; a different fibre content says nothing about whether a product is suitable if you have an allergy.
Compare the nutrition and allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
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Assuming rusks contain baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. So don’t assume rusks contain a particular amount of iodine without checking the label.
Check the ingredients of the rusks you’ve chosen, or ask the manufacturer which salt was used if this matters to your dietary choices.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter offers coloured aniseed sprinkles to serve on rusks; the blue-and-white variety described contains 330 g of sugar-coated aniseed seeds.
- The colour makes it easy to identify the variety when choosing sprinkles for a particular occasion.
- The blue-and-white variety described lists wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the label of the colour you buy.
AH
AH offers plain and wholemeal rusks, which you can pair with aniseed sprinkles separately.
- The two varieties described give you a choice of fibre content; compare the nutrition information per 100 g.
- Both varieties described contain wheat and egg. Check the chosen pack for other allergen information too.
Jumbo
Jumbo Plain Rusks are a separate base to serve with aniseed sprinkles.
- The pack described contains 13 rusks and weighs 125 g, so you can choose a quantity to suit the occasion.
- The rusks described contain wheat and egg, and list other possible allergens too. Check the current label.
Goud Gebakken
ALDI’s Goud Gebakken Plain Rusks are a base for your topping, with 13 rusks in the pack described.
- You can pair these rusks with aniseed sprinkles of your choice.
- The pack of rusks on its own isn’t a complete combination of rusks with aniseed sprinkles.
Bolletje
Bolletje offers original rusks and multiseed rusks, among other varieties, as a separate base for toppings.
- The multiseed variety described contains seeds and kernels; check the nutrition information if you want to compare varieties.
- The product information described lists wheat and egg, and sesame in the multiseed variety. Check the exact pack.
Separate products to create the combination
These products let you choose rusks and coloured aniseed sprinkles separately to make rusks with aniseed sprinkles. Match the colour to the occasion and check the labels of both products.
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De Ruijter blue-and-white aniseed sprinkles, 330 g
For rusks with aniseed sprinkles when you’re looking for a blue-and-white variety; choose the rusks separately.
330 g pack. Check the current ingredient and allergen information, including the information for wheat.
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De Ruijter pink aniseed sprinkles, 330 g
For rusks with aniseed sprinkles when you’re looking for the pink variety; add your preferred rusks separately.
330 g pack. Check the current label for ingredients, sugars and allergens, including wheat.
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g'woon plain rusks, 125 g
Plain rusks as a separate base for the aniseed sprinkles of your choice.
125 g pack. Check the current label for information about milk, egg and cereals containing gluten.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use chocolate sprinkles instead of aniseed sprinkles?
Yes, if you want a chocolate topping, but not if you’re looking for traditional rusks with aniseed sprinkles. They’re different kinds of topping, so decide first which combination you want to make.
Do I need to check the allergens in packaged rusks and aniseed sprinkles?
Yes, read the allergen information on both current packs. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the labels of pre-packed products. The varieties described here list wheat, among other things, and the rusks described also list egg.
How should I store rusks and aniseed sprinkles after buying them?
Follow the storage instructions on each product’s own packaging. The AH rusks described say to store in a cool, dry place and, once opened, in a sealed tin; the aniseed sprinkles described should be stored in a dry place.
Do all rusks contain iodine-enriched baker’s salt?
Don’t assume they do. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients of the rusks you choose, or ask the manufacturer which salt was used.