If you’re looking for a low-sugar product to decorate your Christmas biscuits, don’t choose the pink and white, crushed or festive aniseed sprinkles discussed here from De Ruijter: according to product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS, they contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g. If you mainly want to add a little colour and aniseed flavour, you can use fewer sprinkles, but that won’t change the sugar content of the sprinkles themselves. Check the latest label too if wheat or gluten is a concern for you.
It’s not just the amount you sprinkle on each biscuit that matters, but also the nutritional value of the decoration itself. Albert Heijn and PLUS list 79 g of sugars per 100 g for the aniseed sprinkles discussed here; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines ‘low sugar’ as a maximum of 5 g per 100 g.
If you want to use aniseed sprinkles to add a splash of colour and aniseed flavour, decide how much to scatter over your biscuits. PLUS lists biscuits, cupcakes and cakes among the suggested uses for its festive aniseed sprinkles. Using less doesn’t make the sprinkles themselves low in sugar.
Even a small amount of decoration needs to meet your ingredient requirements. Albert Heijn and PLUS product information lists wheat and cereals containing gluten in the varieties discussed here. Check the latest label for the topping as well as the other baking ingredients.
First decide whether the decoration itself needs to be ‘low sugar’, or whether you simply want to use fewer sprinkles on each biscuit. Then check that the ingredients are suitable for the people you’re baking for.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar content of the decoration | Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g on the label. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines ‘low sugar’ as a maximum of 5 g per 100 g; according to Albert Heijn and PLUS, the De Ruijter varieties discussed here contain 79 g per 100 g. | If the decoration itself needs to be low in sugar, simply using a thinner layer of sprinkles won’t help. Around 42% of consumers prioritise this product requirement. |
| Decoration and quantity used | Decide how many sprinkles you want to use on each biscuit and check that the pack size suits the amount you’ll need. | I want to add colour and aniseed flavour to my Christmas biscuits, but not use more sprinkles than I need for the finish I want. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this balance. |
| Wheat and gluten | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the topping and the other baking ingredients. The varieties discussed here list wheat and cereals containing gluten. | If I’m baking for someone who avoids wheat or gluten, the decoration needs to meet that requirement too. This check is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Using fewer sprinkles limits how many you use, but doesn’t change their nutritional value per 100 g. According to Albert Heijn and PLUS, the varieties discussed here contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g.
If you need a low-sugar product, compare the nutritional values of other decorations rather than simply using fewer sprinkles.
A topping that matches the colour of your Christmas biscuits won’t necessarily meet all your ingredient requirements. The aniseed sprinkles discussed here contain wheat and cereals containing gluten.
Before you start baking, read the latest label for the decoration and check the biscuit dough and any other toppings too.
You may have some aniseed sprinkles left over after decorating a small batch of biscuits. The products mentioned are available in 270 g and 330 g packs.
Decide in advance how much you’ll use and follow the storage instructions on the pack for any leftovers.
If you’re decorating just a few biscuits, you’ll need to find a suitable place to store the leftovers or plan to use them another time.
The aniseed sprinkle varieties discussed here are sweet toppings containing aniseed, available in pink and white, crushed and festive versions, among others.
Albert Heijn provides product information for several De Ruijter aniseed sprinkle varieties, including pink and white and crushed versions.
Jumbo’s aniseed sprinkle category features several De Ruijter varieties, including festive and crushed aniseed sprinkles.
PLUS describes De Ruijter festive aniseed sprinkles as a decoration for biscuits, cupcakes and cakes, among other things.
No. Albert Heijn and PLUS list 79 g of sugars per 100 g for the pink and white, crushed and festive aniseed sprinkles discussed here. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines ‘low sugar’ as a maximum of 5 g per 100 g.
Using fewer sprinkles means you’ll put less on each biscuit, but it doesn’t make the sprinkles themselves low in sugar. When choosing a product, check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g; decide separately how much to use.
The pink and white, crushed and festive aniseed sprinkles discussed here aren’t suitable if the decoration needs to be free from wheat and gluten: Albert Heijn and PLUS list wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the latest label for another topping, as well as the labels for all your other baking ingredients.
Store them according to the instructions on the pack and check the best-before date. The product information discussed here says to store them in a dry place.
