Who is this choice relevant to?

Home bakers watching their sugar intake

You want to decorate cupcakes or a cake and compare the sugar content per 100 g. Chocolate sprinkles could be a good fit if aniseed flavour and the shape of aniseed sprinkles aren’t essential.

Bakers who love tradition

For a cake to celebrate a birth or another special occasion, you may prefer sugared aniseed sprinkles and their familiar look.

Bakers who check ingredients carefully

You check for wheat, milk, soya or sweeteners before buying, as the ingredients in classic aniseed sprinkles and the chocolate sprinkles mentioned here differ.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide whether aniseed flavour is essential for your bake. Then compare the sugars per 100 g, the ingredients and how much you need.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is this most important for?
Sugars in the sprinkles Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g and check that the alternative suits your bake in terms of flavour. If I want less sugar in the decoration, I might choose chocolate sprinkles instead of aniseed sprinkles. For around 42% of consumers, this sugar comparison comes first.
Aniseed flavour and the shape of the sprinkles Consider whether you want whole, coloured aniseed sprinkles or a finer, crushed topping. For a cake to celebrate a birth, I want to keep the familiar aniseed flavour and appearance, even if that makes reducing sugar less of a priority. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers.
Ingredients and sweeteners Read the allergen list for the exact variety and, for products containing polyols, check the warning on the packaging. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the sprinkles I choose before comparing sugar levels. This check is the deciding factor for around 17% of consumers.
Packaging and use Choose a pack size that suits your baking plans and follow the storage advice on the packaging. For a single cake, I don’t want to open more sprinkles than I can use and store. Around 8% of consumers put this practical consideration first.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘low in sugar’

    Comparing a product with a standard version doesn’t tell you how much sugar the sprinkles actually contain. According to Albert Heijn, AH milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar still contain 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

    For each product you’re considering, compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g.

  • Choosing chocolate sprinkles when you want aniseed sprinkles

    Chocolate sprinkles can decorate a bake, but they won’t give it the aniseed flavour or the shape of sugared aniseed seeds.

    Before comparing sugar levels, decide whether that flavour and appearance are essential for your bake.

  • Focusing only on the sugar content

    The classic aniseed sprinkles and chocolate sprinkles reviewed have different allergen information. The Céréal varieties also contain polyols; their product pages warn that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Check the ingredients, allergens and usage warnings on the packaging for the exact variety.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

The aniseed sprinkles reviewed are sugared aniseed seeds for traditional decoration. Albert Heijn also suggests using its pink-and-white sprinkles on cupcakes, cakes and pastries.

  • A good choice if aniseed flavour and the familiar shape of the sprinkles matter to you.
  • According to Albert Heijn, the pink-and-white and celebration sprinkles reviewed each contain 79 g of sugars per 100 g; also check the ingredients for the variety you choose.

AH

The AH milk chocolate sprinkles with less sugar reviewed here are chocolate sprinkles, not aniseed sprinkles.

  • Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g and compares the product with its standard milk chocolate sprinkles.
  • According to Albert Heijn, the milk variety contains milk and lactose, and gives bakes a different flavour and appearance from aniseed sprinkles.

Céréal

The dark and milk varieties reviewed are chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, not aniseed sprinkles.

  • The Albert Heijn product pages list 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g for the dark variety and 15 g for the milk variety.
  • Both varieties contain polyols and carry a warning about excessive consumption. Check the milk and soya information for each variety.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are classic aniseed sprinkles a good choice if I want to use less sugar?

Not if a lower sugar figure in the sprinkles is your main criterion: De Ruijter’s pink-and-white and celebration sprinkles each list 79 g of sugars per 100 g at Albert Heijn. Choose them if you specifically want aniseed flavour and traditional decoration.

Can I use lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles instead of aniseed sprinkles on a cake?

You can use them as a decorative topping, provided chocolate flavour suits your cake. Chocolate sprinkles won’t replace the aniseed flavour or familiar shape of aniseed sprinkles.

What should I check in Céréal lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles?

As well as the sugar content, check the polyols, allergens and warning about excessive consumption. According to the Albert Heijn product pages, the dark variety contains soya and may contain milk; the milk variety contains milk and soya.

How should I store leftover aniseed or chocolate sprinkles?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging and seal it properly after use. For the De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles reviewed, Joybuy recommends storing them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, heat and moisture.