Serve chocolate flakes after a fish dinner as a sweet topping for dessert, baking or a brunch dish. The uses described here don’t suggest they’re suitable as a garnish for a savoury fish dish. For a larger group, pack size is a practical starting point, but work out how much you need based on your own dessert and check the current label for allergens before serving.
You want to add flakes to desserts, baking or yoghurt after a fish dinner. In that case, the amount in each pack and the number of desserts you’re making matter more than an assumed standard serving per guest.
You also use flakes at breakfast, brunch or for other sweet treats. A 300 g or 390 g pack could suit you, provided you can store the contents according to the pack instructions once opened.
You’re serving a topping to guests who need to know what’s in it. Check the label on every pack you use, and keep the product information available alongside the dessert.
First decide what you’ll serve the flakes with. Then work out how much you need by making a trial dessert, and check the pack before buying and serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per pack | Compare the weight of each pack with the amount you need for your desserts. A larger pack doesn’t necessarily make it a catering-size pack. | If I’m preparing toppings for a larger group, I want to know how many packs I need without guessing at a fixed serving size. Having enough in stock is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Flavour and use | Choose a variety that goes with your dessert or baking, and read the ingredients list to see what you’re serving. | For a yoghurt bar or a small cake, I want to choose deliberately between milk, dark or mixed flakes, for example. The intended sweet use is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Allergens and storage | Read the current label for allergen and storage advice, and check the best-before date on every pack. | When guests ask what’s in a topping, I want to be able to tell them when I serve it. For around 30% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
The uses described are sweet, such as in desserts, yoghurt and baking. They don’t tell you how flakes taste with a savoury fish dish.
Save them for the sweet finish, and try your dessert on a small scale beforehand.
A topping may contain relevant allergens. According to Jumbo, the De Ruijter Royaal extra dark variety reviewed contains soya and may contain milk.
Check the label on the pack you’re actually serving. If you’re setting up a buffet, keep the ingredient information close by. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority also sets out information requirements for businesses offering unpackaged food to customers.
If you don’t use all the flakes during dinner, you’ll need to be able to store the remaining packs according to their instructions.
Check the best-before date on each pack, and follow the instructions for storing and resealing after use.
De Ruijter flakes are available in varieties including milk, dark, white and Royaal. The packs reviewed include 200 g and 240 g sizes; some retailer listings show 300 g.
Jumbo lists its own-brand dark and milk chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
ALDI lists Kiekeboe milk or dark chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
Lidl Netherlands lists 300 g milk chocolate flakes as a shop product.
Jumbo lists Choca flakes in its flakes category in 200 g packs.
These products are included for comparison as sweet toppings after a fish dinner. Note the difference between flakes, chunks and sprinkles, and use the pack weight to plan how much you’ll need.
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Worth considering as a sweet topping after a fish dinner. The pack contains 390 g; work out how much to use based on your own dessert, and check the label for allergens.
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An option if you’d like to use chunks rather than flakes as a sweet topping. The pack contains 390 g; check that this shape suits your dessert and read the label before serving.
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A milk chocolate option to consider as a sweet topping. The pack contains 300 g; choose the number of packs to suit your dessert, and check the ingredients and allergens on the current label.
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A smaller pack for trying a sweet topping with your dessert. These are 200 g of sprinkles, not a pack of chocolate flakes; check the product type and label before choosing.
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A 200 g pack for a smaller amount of sweet topping. Try your chosen use beforehand, and check the ingredients and allergens on the pack for your guests.
Don’t assume they’re suitable as a garnish for fish: the uses described are sweet, including yoghurt, desserts and baking. If you’d still like to use them in your own savoury recipe, try it out first rather than assuming the flavours will work together.
A 300 g listing only tells you how much is in the pack. It doesn’t mean it’s a catering-size pack or tell you how many guests it will serve. Make a trial dessert to work out how much you’ll need for your menu.
Follow the instructions on the pack you bought. The De Ruijter product information reviewed says to store in a cool, dry place and close the pack securely after use. Also check the best-before date on the pack.
Read the allergen information on the current pack for each variety you choose, and keep it available when serving. According to Jumbo, the De Ruijter Royaal extra dark variety reviewed contains soya and may contain milk; don’t assume this applies to other varieties without checking their labels.
