Parents handing out treats at school or an after-school club
They want a small treat that fits the group’s rules. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends asking in advance about allergies and foods children avoid for other reasons.
Who is this choice for?
Organisers of a treat table at home
They want to display aniseed sprinkles as a visible topping or decoration, without giving glass jars to children to take away. PLUS lists cupcakes and biscuits among the ways to use whole sprinkles.
Parents choosing by colour or product type
Pink and white, blue and white, or celebratory sprinkles suit different displays; crushed sprinkles have a different texture. Whichever pack you choose, check the current label for allergens.
What should you consider?
First decide whether the sprinkles will stay on the table or go home with the children. Then choose the product type and check the packaging before preparing portions.
Shared glass jar for the table
When: the sprinkles stay on a treat table and are used there as a topping or decoration under supervision.
Consider: glass makes the contents visible, but the jar must be clean and undamaged; a shared jar also doesn’t control how much each child gets. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the risk of glass splinters getting into food.
Individual treat without glass
When: children are taking the treat home, or it’s being handed out at school or an after-school club.
Consider: preparing individual portions takes time. First ask about the group’s rules and any dietary restrictions, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Group rules and allergens | Ask about the school or after-school club’s rules and any allergies. Check the label on your chosen sprinkles for wheat and cereals containing gluten. | If I’m handing out treats at school, I want to know whether they comply with the rules and whether the children can eat the ingredients. For around 40% of consumers, suitability for the group would come first. |
| Serving or taking home | Decide whether you need a shared jar for the table or individual packaging. Check a glass jar for damage. | If children are taking their treat home, I don’t want to put a breakable jar in a bag; for around 30% of consumers, how the treat is handed out would be the main concern. |
| Product type and presentation | Choose whole sprinkles for a visible topping, or crushed sprinkles if you want to scatter that type. Compare the net weight of the packs. | For the treat table, I want to choose a colour and product type that suit the bake. Presentation would matter most to around 30% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn describes crushed sprinkles as crushed, sugar-coated aniseed. The difference from whole sprinkles is the product type, not a different assessment of allergens or portion size.
Common mistakes
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Using a glass jar as an individual treat pot
A jar that stays on the table is used differently from packaging that children take away. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warns that glass splinters can make food unsafe or harmful.
For serving at the table, use only clean, undamaged glass and place it on a stable surface. For treats to take away, choose individual non-breakable packaging.
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Checking the colour and nothing else
The De Ruijter varieties reviewed list wheat and cereals containing gluten, according to product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS. A colour theme doesn’t tell you whether they’re suitable for every child.
Ask about allergies in advance and read the label on the pack you’ll actually be using.
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Assuming every school has the same rules
A school or after-school club may have its own rules about what can be handed out. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends checking these in advance.
Check the rules for the group in question before deciding on the contents and packaging of the treat.
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Using the size of the table jar to decide portion sizes
A shared jar shows how many sprinkles are available, not how much you want to give each child. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treat portions.
Decide on portions separately from the size of the jar, and take the rest of the treat and the group’s rules into account.
Relevant brands and retailers
De Ruijter is the brand of the sprinkles mentioned here; Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS are retailers whose product information can help you compare varieties. Their inclusion says nothing about availability at Joybuy.
De Ruijter
Brand of the whole and crushed sprinkles mentioned here. Product information from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS includes celebratory sprinkles, as well as pink-and-white and blue-and-white varieties.
- The whole varieties mentioned are available in 330 g packs; the crushed variety mentioned has a net weight of 270 g.
- The varieties reviewed list wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the current packaging before use.
Albert Heijn
Retailer with product information on De Ruijter Feestmuisjes and crushed sprinkles, among other products.
- The product information describes the type of the crushed sprinkles and lists allergens for the varieties mentioned.
- An online product description is no substitute for checking the label on the pack you buy.
Jumbo
Retailer whose sprinkles category includes whole celebratory sprinkles and De Ruijter crushed sprinkles, among other products.
- The product information for Feest Muisjes gives a net weight of 330 g and says to store them in a dry place.
- Check the pack you choose for the storage and allergen information relevant to your treat.
PLUS
Retailer with product information on De Ruijter pink-and-white and blue-and-white sprinkles.
- According to PLUS, each of the whole varieties mentioned has a net weight of 330 g; PLUS also suggests using them to decorate baked goods.
- The product information lists wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the label before handing them out.
Glass jars for the treat table
These glass jars are suitable for displaying sprinkles on a shared treat table, not for individual treats to give to children to take away. Choose a jar to suit the quantity you want and your table layout; a jar’s capacity in litres or millilitres is not the same as the net weight of a pack of sprinkles in grams.
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5five 1.7 l glass storage jar with stainless steel lid
For sprinkles displayed on a shared treat table, not for individual treats to take away.
Transparent glass with a stated capacity of 1.7 l. Check that the opening and dimensions suit your serving area.
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JORDAN&JUDY 350 ml glass jar with lid and spoon
For a smaller quantity of sprinkles on a shared table; decide separately how much to serve each child.
Glass jar with a stated capacity of 350 ml, lid and spoon. Check the dimensions and cleaning instructions to make sure it suits your needs.
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YumiPLUS Inspired airtight glass jars, set of 3
For displaying several jars together on a shared table, not for giving individual glass jars to children to take away.
Set of three glass jars. Before buying, check the capacity and dimensions of each jar, along with the cleaning instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give children a glass jar of aniseed sprinkles to take home?
For a treat that children are taking home, individual non-breakable packaging is more practical; it’s best to use a glass jar for serving at a shared table. Also check the school or after-school club’s rules. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority warns that glass splinters can make food unsafe or harmful, so don’t use a damaged jar.
Which allergens should I check in aniseed sprinkles?
The product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the De Ruijter varieties mentioned. Ask about allergies before handing them out and check the label on the pack you’re using.
How do I decide how much to put in each treat?
Decide how much each child will get separately from the amount in the table jar, and take the rest of the treat into account. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends small treat portions; also check the group’s rules with the school or after-school club.
How should I store aniseed sprinkles before serving?
Store them in a dry place, as the Jumbo product information for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes advises. Check the use-by date on the pack and keep the label to hand when you transfer the sprinkles to a glass jar for the table, so you can refer back to the allergen information.