Organisers of a regular work treat
If you want to put something out without any preparation, look for chocolates or pralines that can be handed out individually. ALDI Netherlands and Lidl show examples of these kinds of chocolate products.
Who is this choice for?
Organisers of a birth celebration or milestone
If the occasion is part of the treat, rusks with Dutch birth announcement sprinkles tie in with the birth tradition described by PLUS for De Ruijter sprinkles. Remember to allow time to prepare and serve the rusks, too.
Organisers who need to consider allergens
When sharing food, the information on the packaging of the product you choose matters more than the product category alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked foods is shown on the label.
What should you consider when choosing?
Chocolates or pralines
Choose these: if you want to hand out chocolate at a regular work meeting without any extra preparation.
Bear in mind: fillings and allergens can vary between products.
Birth announcement sprinkles with a base
Choose these: if you’re celebrating a birth or another suitable occasion and want to serve rusks with sprinkles or use them as a topping.
Bear in mind: these sprinkles aren’t chocolates; you’ll need to prepare the base and serving separately.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to serve | Check whether you’re buying individual chocolates or pralines, and whether there’s enough for the group. | If I want to put something out at a regular meeting, I don’t want to prepare rusks. Around 50% of consumers prioritise something that’s ready to serve. |
| Suitable for the occasion | Decide whether sprinkles suit the occasion and what you want to serve them on. | For a birth celebration, I want the treat to suit the occasion, even if it takes some preparation. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this kind of themed suitability. |
| Allergens | Check the label on every product you choose and keep the packaging available when serving. | If anyone attending needs to avoid allergens, I want to be able to check the information for the exact product. An estimated 20% of consumers put this check first. |
Common mistakes
-
Buying sprinkles as if they were a box of chocolates
Dutch birth announcement sprinkles are used as a bread topping or decoration. So, for a meeting treat that everyone can pick up straight away, they serve a different purpose from chocolates.
Use sprinkles for a suitable occasion and decide in advance what you’ll serve them on. Otherwise, choose something you can hand out without further preparation.
Bringing rusks or another base and preparing them takes extra time.
-
Serving an assorted selection without the labels
Ingredients and allergens can vary between different types of chocolate. PLUS also lists wheat and gluten for the De Ruijter Pink and White Sprinkles product reviewed.
Check the packaging of every product you choose, ask only about essential dietary requirements in advance, and keep the product information available when handing out the treats.
-
Choosing a shop product without checking your shopping plans
According to Lidl’s product page, the handmade pralines shown are available in store only. So the shop you choose needs to be part of your planning.
Check that the product you want is available shortly before buying, then read the packaging again.
Relevant brands and shops
De Ruijter
De Ruijter makes sprinkles for bread and decoration, including varieties suited to celebrating a birth.
- PLUS and Jumbo show a range of De Ruijter sprinkles.
- The pink and white sprinkles reviewed aren’t a box of chocolates; for this variety, also check the listed wheat and gluten.
Moser Roth
A chocolate brand stocked by ALDI Netherlands, with Belgian chocolates among its products.
- ALDI Netherlands shows Belgian chocolates in a 400 g pack.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the product you actually buy.
Lidl
A supermarket chain offering, among other things, selections of pralines and cream truffles.
- The handmade pralines shown come in a range of varieties.
- Lidl says this product is available in store only; check the packaging of the one you choose.
Jumbo
A supermarket chain with an online category for Dutch birth announcement sprinkles.
- Jumbo shows several De Ruijter varieties, including celebratory sprinkles and crushed sprinkles.
- The sprinkles category is useful for a themed treat, not for choosing a box of chocolates.
PLUS
A supermarket chain with product information for De Ruijter sprinkles.
- The information for pink and white sprinkles describes using them on rusks and as a decorative topping.
- Before serving, check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Chocolate treats on Joybuy
These products contain chocolate and are options to consider for a meeting break. They aren’t Dutch birth announcement sprinkles, and they’re not a substitute for a box of chocolates or pralines if you specifically want to hand out individual chocolates.
Image unavailable
Lu Lulu Bear Chocolate 150 g
A chocolate treat to consider for a meeting break, rather than a box of chocolates. The pack is 150 g; check the number of pieces and the allergens on the label before choosing it for the group.
Image unavailable
Lu Scholiertje Milk Chocolate Biscuits 150 g
Milk chocolate biscuits for anyone who’d rather serve biscuits than chocolates at a meeting break. The pack is 150 g; check the label to see how many portions you can serve and which allergens are listed.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dutch birth announcement sprinkles an alternative to a box of chocolates at a work meeting?
Not if you want to hand out individual chocolates without any preparation. PLUS describes these sprinkles as a topping for rusks and as a decoration. They’re better suited to a gathering celebrating a birth or another occasion where you want to prepare that kind of presentation.
How do I work out how many sprinkles I’ll need?
Use the portion information on the exact pack and the number of people attending as your guide. PLUS says that a 330 g pack of De Ruijter Pink and White Sprinkles contains approximately 22 portions. If you’re serving them on rusks, you’ll also need rusks and a suitable spread.
What should I check before handing out food to people with allergies?
Check the allergen information on the packaging of every product you choose, and keep it available while serving. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked foods is shown on the label.
Can I open the sprinkles in advance and store them?
For crushed sprinkles, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends sealing the packet tightly and storing it in a dry place. For the variety you buy, also follow the storage instructions and use-by date on the packaging.