If you want to give the birthday person a gift
A chocolate gift box can be given on its own. Aniseed sprinkles usually need a cake, crisp rusk or another edible base, so they serve a different purpose.
Who is each option for?
If you want to hand something out to guests
If guests can help themselves straight away, the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped matter more than whether the product is presented as a gift for one person.
If you’re decorating a birthday cake or treat
Celebration aniseed sprinkles are ideal for finishing cupcakes, cakes or biscuits. According to PLUS product information, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sugar-coated aniseed seeds that can be used on bakes like these.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the product is for the birthday person, to hand out straight away or to decorate something. Then compare the contents and the label within that product category.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A gift on its own | Check whether the packaging is designed for gifting and which types of chocolate it contains. | If I want to give the birthday person something they can unwrap without any preparation or a special time to serve it, I’m more likely to choose a chocolate gift box. For around 45% of consumers, being a gift in its own right is the main priority. |
| Sharing with guests | Compare the number of pieces with the expected number of guests, and check whether they’re individually wrapped. | If guests can help themselves straight away, I want to know there are enough portions without setting aside the whole box for one recipient. Sharing is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Decorating a treat | Check that the topping is suitable for the cake or bakes you have planned, and read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging. | If I’ve already planned a cake, I’m mainly looking for something to decorate it with, not another chocolate gift. Decorating is the main aim for around 22% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Mistaking aniseed sprinkles for a box of chocolates
Feestmuisjes are a topping or a bread topping. If you only bring a packet of aniseed sprinkles, you don’t have the same kind of gift as a box of chocolates.
Choose a gift box if the product itself is meant to be the present. Use aniseed sprinkles when you already have cake, cupcakes or crisp rusks to serve them on.
-
Choosing based only on the festive colours
The colours don’t tell you anything about the ingredients or allergens. PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten among the ingredients in De Ruijter Feestmuisjes.
Check the ingredients list and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying, especially if someone with a food allergy will be eating with you.
-
Buying a gift box to hand out straight away
A box intended for one recipient and chocolates that guests can take individually are suited to different moments at a party.
Decide who the contents are for. If you’re sharing them, compare the number of pieces, the flavours and the way they’re packaged.
Relevant brands to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sugar-coated aniseed seeds for topping bread and decorating bakes.
- PLUS says they can be used on cupcakes, cakes and biscuits, among other things.
- Not a chocolate gift box. PLUS lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for Feestmuisjes; check the label on the variety you choose.
Merci
Worth considering if you’re looking for a box of chocolates for one recipient.
- Albert Heijn describes the 400 g Merci Gift Box as a selection of eight types of chocolate.
- Check the flavours and allergens on each pack to make sure they’re suitable for the recipient.
Tony's Chocolonely
Worth considering if you want chocolates you can hand out at a birthday party.
- According to Albert Heijn, the Tiny's gift box contains 22 individually wrapped chocolates in ten flavours.
- If any guests have allergies, check the current packaging for information about each flavour.
Moser Roth
A brand to look at if you’re after chocolates.
- ALDI’s Moser Roth range includes cream-filled chocolates and Belgian chocolates, among other options.
- Check which variety is available at your chosen shop, and read the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging.
Products for gifting, sharing and decorating
These products suit different birthday moments: chocolate to give as a gift, chocolate or biscuits to serve, and aniseed sprinkles to use as a topping. Check the product format: not every chocolate pack is a gift box or contains individually wrapped pieces.
Image unavailable
Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate collection to consider for a recipient. The pack contains 125 g. Check the presentation and flavours if it needs to work as a birthday gift on its own.
If you have food allergies, read the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Image unavailable
Nestle Kitkat Itoen Matcha & Chocolate, 9 pieces, 104,4 g
For anyone who wants to serve chocolate wafers to guests. The product name lists nine pieces and 104,4 g. Check that the quantity and individual packaging suit your plans for handing them out.
Check the best-before date and allergen information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
Lu Scholiertje milk chocolate biscuits, 150 g
Milk chocolate biscuits to consider serving as part of a birthday spread, rather than as a chocolate gift box. The pack contains 150 g. If you’re catering for a particular number of guests, check how many biscuits or portions it contains.
Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Blue & White Aniseed Sprinkles, 330 g
For anyone who already has a cake, crisp rusk or another dish to serve the sprinkles on. Joybuy describes this 330 g variety as sugar-coated aniseed seeds; it isn’t a box of chocolates.
Check the ingredients and allergens for this blue and white variety on its own label, rather than relying on the information for another pack of aniseed sprinkles.
Image unavailable
KitKat Gold Wafer Chocolate Salted Caramel Flavour, 9 pieces
A salted caramel-flavoured chocolate wafer to consider as a party treat. The product name lists nine pieces; check the packaging if you need individual portions.
Read the ingredients and allergens on the label before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Are aniseed sprinkles an alternative to a box of chocolates as a birthday gift?
Not if the box itself is meant to be a chocolate gift. According to PLUS, De Ruijter Feestmuisjes are sugar-coated aniseed seeds for things like topping bread and decorating bakes. They’re best suited to occasions when you already have something to serve them on.
When should you choose individually wrapped chocolates for a birthday?
Individually wrapped pieces can be handy if you want to hand chocolate straight out to several guests. For example, Albert Heijn lists 22 individually wrapped chocolates in ten flavours in the Tony's Chocolonely Tiny's gift box. Compare the number of pieces with the size of your party, and check the label if anyone has allergies.
Where should you check for allergens in a birthday treat?
Read the allergen information on the label of the pack you’re actually buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that allergens must be clearly listed on food labels. Don’t rely on the ingredients for a different flavour or variety.