BBQ guest looking for a gift
You want something you can hand over without having to prepare a dish first. A box of chocolates fits the bill; chocolate sprinkles are mainly intended as a topping or decoration.
Who is this choice for?
Group with a planned eating occasion
You want to add something to rusks, yoghurt, porridge or a dessert. Sprinkles could work, as long as you also provide something to put them on.
Shopper mindful of allergens
You’re buying for people who may need to avoid milk, soya, gluten or nuts, for example. According to the Voedingscentrum, the allergen information on the label is important for people with a food allergy, so check the specific product you choose.
What should you consider when choosing?
Box of chocolates or pralines
Choose this: if you want to bring a gift in its own right or share chocolate without any extra preparation.
Bear in mind: different chocolates and fillings may contain different allergens, so check the whole selection.
Rusks with chocolate sprinkles
Choose this: if you’re specifically serving rusks or want to add something to breakfast or dessert.
Bear in mind: sprinkles aren’t a ready-to-give gift; you’ll also need to provide rusks or another base to eat them with.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A ready-to-give gift | Decide whether you want to hand over a gift or bring ingredients for an eating occasion. Pralines and chocolate gifts are products in their own right; sprinkles need something to go on. | If I want to thank the host, I don’t want to have to prepare rusks or a dessert first. An estimated 36% of consumers choose a product primarily because it’s a ready-to-give gift. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen information and any relevant warnings on the exact packaging; don’t rely on the type of chocolate alone. | When I’m buying for guests with known allergies, the product I choose needs to suit their needs. Allergens are the main concern for around 29% of consumers. |
| Sharing and portions | Compare the pack size and any individual portions with the number of people you’re planning for. If you’re buying sprinkles, also think about what you’ll serve them on. | For a shared dessert, I want to know how much I need and how to divide it up. For around 21% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
| Storage around the BBQ | Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and don’t leave chocolate in the sun or somewhere warm. | If I need to store my purchase while the BBQ is going on, I want to make sure I can keep the chocolate in good condition. This is the first consideration for an estimated 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming sprinkles are an obvious alternative to a gift
Chocolate sprinkles are intended as a topping or decoration. Without rusks, bread or a dessert to go with them, they serve a different purpose from a box of pralines.
Before you buy, decide whether you want to give a gift or provide something to eat. If it’s the latter, bring the base you’ll need as well.
-
Relying on the chocolate name to check for allergens
Allergens vary from one product to another. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, as well as the assortment box examined, lists ingredients such as milk, soya, wheat or nuts in different products.
Check the allergen information on the exact packaging just before you buy, even if you’re familiar with another flavour or pack from the same brand.
-
Leaving chocolate in the sun
The storage advice for the chocolate sprinkles examined is to keep them in a cool, dry place. This is separate from the food safety advice for BBQ dishes that need to be chilled.
Keep chocolate away from sunlight and heat. For food that needs to stay chilled, follow its storage instructions separately. The Voedingscentrum advises throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.
-
Assuming a particular pack is always available
Lidl says the Mister Choc sprinkles examined are only available in store. Where you can buy them may therefore matter if you’re looking for a particular product.
If you’ve settled on a specific brand or pack size, check what your chosen shop has available shortly before you go shopping.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Chocolate sprinkles for toppings or decoration, including an eight-portion Kleintjes pack.
- Individual portions can be handy if you want to portion out sprinkles for a small eating occasion.
- Check the allergens for each product: Albert Heijn lists milk and soya in the pure chocolate sprinkles examined.
Venz
Sprinkles in various types for toppings or decoration.
- The Kwinkslag product described by Jumbo is a 400 g pack containing chocolate sprinkles and vanilla-flavoured sprinkles.
- Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat as allergens for this product; don’t assume the same applies to other Venz products.
AH
Own-brand products including pure chocolate sprinkles for toppings or decoration.
- Albert Heijn lists the pack size for the AH Hagelslag puur product examined as 400 g.
- Check the full ingredients and allergen information for this product too; a claim about one dietary characteristic tells you nothing about all its allergens.
Kiekeboe
ALDI own-brand pure chocolate sprinkles, with the product examined available in a 600 g pack.
- The pack size listed may be useful if you’re looking for sprinkles for a larger eating occasion.
- Check current availability at the shop where you plan to do your shopping.
Mister Choc
Lidl brand with the pure sprinkles examined available in a 600 g pack.
- Lidl’s product page clearly states the pack size.
- Lidl says this product is ‘in-store only’; check with your local branch if this is the pack you’re after.
Products for a gift or eating occasion
The first three products are chocolate assortments you can give or share without needing anything to serve them with. The last two are suited to a planned occasion with bread, rusks or dessert; don’t choose them as if they serve the same purpose as a box of chocolates.
Image unavailable
Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate assortment to give as a thank-you or share without needing anything else to serve it with.
125 g pack. If you have allergies, check the information on the exact packaging and store the chocolate as directed on the label.
Image unavailable
Milka Thank You Pralines Milk Cream, 110 g
Pralines for anyone looking to bring a chocolate gift in its own right, rather than a topping for a planned eating occasion.
110 g pack. Read the allergen information on the packaging you choose before offering it to guests.
Image unavailable
Milka Chocolate Assortment Party Pack, 143 g
A chocolate assortment to share when you don’t want to bring rusks or something to serve dessert with.
143 g pack. If you’re buying for guests with allergies, check the current label for this assortment.
Image unavailable
Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
For a planned occasion with rusks, bread or dessert, rather than as a gift in its own right.
400 g pack. Make sure you have something to serve them with and check the allergens for the exact product.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g
Chocolate chunks for anyone wanting to add something to a bread or dessert occasion; bring the food you plan to use them with separately.
390 g pack. Check the ingredients and allergens for this product and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
What should I take if I want to bring the host a gift for the BBQ?
A box of chocolates or an assortment of pralines makes a gift you can hand over straight away. Rusks with chocolate sprinkles are better suited to a shared breakfast or dessert; if that’s what you’re planning, bring something to serve the sprinkles with too.
Can I rely on the product name to check allergens when buying chocolate for a group?
No, check the allergen information on the exact packaging. The chocolate sprinkles and chocolate assortments examined contain different ingredients, including milk, soya, wheat and nuts. According to the Voedingscentrum, label information is important for people with a food allergy.
How should I store chocolate during a BBQ?
Follow the label and keep chocolate away from sunlight and heat; the advice for the chocolate sprinkles examined is to store them in a cool, dry place. Store meat, fish, salads and other chilled dishes separately, following their storage advice. The Voedingscentrum recommends throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.