Aniseed sprinkles are a practical advent calendar filler if you want to portion out small amounts yourself or use them as a topping. If you’re looking for something that can go straight into each compartment without any preparation, loose sprinkles are less convenient. Choose a colour to suit your calendar, then check the contents, ingredients and allergens for the variety you’ve selected.
You want to use pink-and-white, blue-and-white or festive aniseed sprinkles, and don’t mind preparing small portions or toppings yourself. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list these De Ruijter varieties in their ranges.
You want to decide how much goes into each compartment. Aniseed sprinkles are sold in boxes, so you’ll also need something to pack or store them in if you’re making individual calendar portions.
You’re filling a calendar for children or a group that includes people with allergies or dietary requirements. In that case, the label on the exact variety and the amount per portion matter more than the colour alone.
First, decide whether you want to portion out the sprinkles or use them as a topping. Then choose the colour and check the ingredients on the pack you’ve selected before filling your calendar.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning them yourself | Check the amount in the box and decide how many compartments you want to fill. Have small bags or cups ready if you’re putting the sprinkles loose into the calendar. | Anyone filling each compartment themselves will want to portion out the amount in advance, rather than treating the box as ready-made calendar portions. For around 42% of consumers, portioning them yourself comes first. |
| Colour and presentation | Choose between a festive variety, pink and white, or blue and white; check that the colour you choose suits your calendar. | If your calendar has a set colour theme, the topping should complement its presentation. Around 33% of consumers give colour choice the highest priority. |
| Ingredients and portions | Check the label on the exact variety for ingredients and allergens. Also decide how much you want to use each time. | Anyone filling a calendar for children or guests with dietary requirements will want to know what the sprinkles contain and how much will go in each compartment. Ingredients and portion size come first for around 25% of consumers. |
A box of aniseed sprinkles contains loose sprinkles, not individually filled advent calendar compartments. PLUS describes its 330 g pink-and-white box as containing around 22 portions; you decide how much to put in each calendar compartment.
Work out how many compartments will contain sprinkles and measure out the amount you want for each one before filling the calendar.
You may need small bags or cups for individual portions.
A pink-and-white or blue-and-white appearance tells you nothing about allergens. The product information for pink-and-white De Ruijter Muisjes lists wheat.
Check the label on the exact pack and, if you’re filling the calendar for someone else, ask about any relevant allergies or dietary requirements.
Aniseed sprinkles are a sweet topping. If you’re making a calendar for children, it’s a good idea to choose the amount for each treat mindfully; the Voedingscentrum recommends small portions for treats.
If you like, use the sprinkles on just a few days and alternate them with other fillings or activities.
De Ruijter offers a range that includes coloured and crushed Muisjes. The Dutch retailers mentioned list a variety of options.
Albert Heijn’s online aniseed sprinkles category lists several De Ruijter varieties.
Jumbo’s online aniseed sprinkles category lists several De Ruijter varieties, including whole and crushed sprinkles.
PLUS provides product information for De Ruijter Muisjes varieties, including pink-and-white and crushed.
These De Ruijter Muisjes suit a blue-and-white or pink-and-white calendar theme if you’re portioning them yourself or using them as a topping. Both products come in 330 g boxes, not as individually wrapped advent treats.
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For a blue-and-white colour theme if you’re making small portions or toppings yourself. The box contains 330 g of aniseed sprinkles; you’ll need to portion them out yourself for individual calendar compartments.
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For a pink-and-white colour theme if you’re making small portions or toppings yourself. The box contains 330 g of aniseed sprinkles; you’ll need to portion them out yourself for individual calendar compartments.
The product information for this variety lists wheat. If you have an allergy, check the label on the pack.
Yes, if you measure them out yourself and put them in suitable bags or cups; the boxes mentioned don’t contain individually wrapped calendar portions. You can also use the sprinkles as a topping for a treat.
Choose whole festive, pink-and-white or blue-and-white sprinkles if you want the colour to stand out and suit your theme. Crushed Muisjes are another type of topping; PLUS mentions using them on Dutch crispbread and in yoghurt. Whichever type you choose, you’ll need to prepare the calendar portions yourself.
Check the label on the exact variety before filling the calendar. The product information for pink-and-white De Ruijter Muisjes lists wheat; don’t assume this applies to other varieties.
It depends on the portions and the rest of the calendar’s contents; aniseed sprinkles are a sweet topping. The Voedingscentrum recommends small portions for treats. You could choose which days to use the sprinkles and come up with something different for the other compartments.
Keep the sprinkles dry and seal the pack well after opening. Check the storage instructions and best-before date on the box you’re using.
