Bakers looking for a dark chocolate accent
You want to pair dark chocolate with a distinctive aniseed-sprinkle topping. The chocolate and the sprinkles are two separate ingredients.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Bakers who care about the finishing touch
You’re choosing between clearly visible whole sprinkles and a finer layer of crushed sprinkles on small bakes.
Bakers checking for allergens
You check the packaging of each ingredient separately. The crushed De Ruijter sprinkles on Jumbo’s product page contain wheat; the chocolate may list different allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a separate chocolate component. Then choose the type of sprinkles and check the labels of both ingredients.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Dark chocolate accent | Choose the chocolate separately and compare the stated cocoa percentage and ingredients. | I want to keep the sprinkles as an aniseed decoration, but also want chocolate with a high stated cocoa content. This combination is the top priority for around 45% of consumers. |
| Type of topping | Compare whole and crushed sprinkles, and decide when to add them to the chocolate layer. | On small pepernoten, the visibility or fineness of the sprinkle is the deciding factor for me. This finish is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients and allergen information on the latest packaging of both products. | If I’m baking for someone with an allergy, I need to be able to assess both products separately. This check matters most to around 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark muisjes’ is a specific product type
The range listings consulted from Albert Heijn and Jumbo show whole and crushed De Ruijter sprinkles. A search term alone doesn’t tell you whether a product is chocolate sprinkles.
Read the product name and ingredients: choose aniseed sprinkles for the traditional decoration, and look for chocolate separately if you also want a dark chocolate accent.
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Assuming dark chocolate is free from other allergens
The Delicata bar containing at least 85% cocoa on Albert Heijn’s product page contains soya lecithin. The allergen information for that bar won’t necessarily apply to another chocolate product.
Check the latest label for the exact bar, chocolate drops or cooking chocolate you choose.
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Assuming crushed sprinkles are gluten-free
The crushed De Ruijter sprinkles on Jumbo’s product page contain wheat starch; wheat is also listed among the allergens.
If you’re avoiding wheat or gluten, check the label on the specific pack before using this decoration.
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Adding the sprinkles only after the chocolate has set
In a recipe from Jumbo, the sprinkles are added to the chocolate before it sets. A layer that has already set won’t give the topping the same chance to stick.
If you want to try this method with pepernoten, add the sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet, then leave them to set.
Brands and retailers to consider
De Ruijter
A brand of aniseed sprinkles with whole and crushed varieties in the range listings consulted from Albert Heijn and Jumbo.
- The whole and crushed varieties offer different ways to finish your bakes.
- The crushed variety on Jumbo’s product page contains wheat; check the label of the variety you choose.
Delicata
The bar containing at least 85% cocoa on Albert Heijn’s product page is a separate chocolate component, not an aniseed-sprinkle decoration.
- The cocoa percentage is stated, so you can take it into account when choosing chocolate.
- The ingredients list soya lecithin. Check the latest label for other allergen information too.
Jumbo
A supermarket chain whose range listing consulted shows whole and crushed De Ruijter sprinkles.
- The product information helps you compare the type and ingredients of a specific variety of sprinkles.
- Check the pack yourself if its ingredients or allergens are important to your purchase.
Chocolate and toppings at Joybuy
These products are chocolate bars and chocolate strands for anyone who wants to pair pepernoten with a chocolate component. They aren’t aniseed sprinkles: choose those separately for the distinctive aniseed flavour, and check that the bars are suitable for the way you plan to use them.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark, 100 g
A separate chocolate bar to consider if you want to pair aniseed sprinkles with chocolate containing a stated 90% cocoa.
Before buying, check that this bar is suitable for the chocolate layer you want to make. Read the latest label for allergen information; aniseed sprinkles are not included.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao, 100 g
A separate chocolate bar containing 78% cocoa to consider alongside your choice of aniseed sprinkles.
Check whether the bar is suitable for the recipe you have in mind. Read the latest label for milk and other allergen information, and choose your sprinkles separately.
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Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
A separate chocolate bar containing 70% cocoa; you’ll also need aniseed sprinkles for that distinctive topping.
Check that the bar is suitable for the chocolate layer you have in mind. If you have allergies, check the packaging before using the chocolate.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure, 390 g
These chocolate strands make a sprinkle-on topping, but they won’t replace aniseed sprinkles if that’s the effect you’re after.
If you want chocolate with a particular cocoa percentage or a topping to suit your pepernoten, check the packaging and intended use. Read the latest label for milk, soya and other allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Are ‘dark muisjes’ the same as dark chocolate sprinkles?
No, that search term doesn’t confirm the product type. The range listings consulted from Albert Heijn and Jumbo show whole and crushed De Ruijter sprinkles. If a product is sold as ‘dark’, check its name and ingredients to see what it actually is.
Which sprinkles should I choose for pepernoten: whole or crushed?
Choose whole sprinkles if you want to see individual grains, or crushed sprinkles for a finer topping. Jumbo’s product information also suggests crushed sprinkles as a decoration for cakes.
When should I add sprinkles to a chocolate layer?
Add them while the chocolate is still wet if you want to follow the method in a recipe from Jumbo. That recipe uses sponge fingers; you can try the same order with pepernoten, but don’t assume every chocolate layer will give the same result.
Which allergens should I check in aniseed sprinkles and chocolate?
Check the latest packaging of each product separately. The crushed De Ruijter sprinkles on Jumbo’s product page contain wheat, while the Delicata bar mentioned on Albert Heijn’s site contains soya lecithin. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens must be clearly identified in the ingredients list.