Thoughtful meal planner
You’re looking for flakes for a late-night snack and want to know whether a 200 g or 300 g pack better suits how often you use them. Ideally, you’ll pick them up with the shopping you’re already doing.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Flavour and variety chooser
You’re specifically looking for milk, dark, white or mixed flakes for bread, yoghurt or porridge. In that case, the exact variety and ingredients matter more than the brand name alone.
Ingredients and nutrition label reader
You might check for milk, soya or gluten-containing cereals, or compare sugars per 100 g and the amount per serving. The information on the pack can help you identify the right variety.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which variety you’ll actually use. Then compare pack sizes, and read the label if ingredients or serving size will influence your choice.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and convenience | Compare the weight in grams and check whether the variety you want is available where you do your shopping. | If I fancy something sweet now and then, I want a pack that suits how much I use without having to make a separate trip to the shops. For around 46% of consumers, this practical consideration comes first. |
| Flavour and type | Check whether it’s milk, dark, white or a mix. Compare any stated cocoa content only for the relevant variety or chocolate component. | For yoghurt or porridge, I want to know in advance whether I’m getting one chocolate flavour or a mix. Around 27% of consumers put their preferred variety first. |
| Ingredients and portion | Read the ingredients and any warnings about traces; check sugars per 100 g alongside the amount you plan to use. | When ingredients are the deciding factor for me, I don’t want to rely on the words ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’; the amount I sprinkle on matters too. For around 27% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark or vegan means milk-free for everyone
PLUS labels its dark chocolate flakes as vegan, but also states that they may contain milk and lactose. De Ruijter Royaal extra dark contains soya and may contain milk.
If you have an allergy, check both the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the pack of the variety you’re buying.
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Treating a light sprinkle and a generous layer as the same portion
The amount of flakes changes how much sugar and fat you get from the topping. Voedingscentrum gives the example of 15 g of milk chocolate flakes on one slice of bread, which contains 10.5 g of sugar and 1.4 g of saturated fat. These figures won’t necessarily apply to other varieties or portions.
Check the nutrition information for your product and decide how much you want to use for your snack.
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Relying only on an online description
Products can have different ingredients and allergens, even when their names look similar. A mix is also not the same product as dark chocolate flakes.
Check the variety name, ingredients, allergen information and best-before date on the pack you’re buying.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Worth considering if you’re looking for a specific milk, dark, white or Royaal variety, rather than just any pack of chocolate flakes.
- According to Albert Heijn product information, De Ruijter milk chocolate flakes contain at least 20% cocoa solids; Royaal extra dark contains at least 40%.
- The milk variety contains milk, lactose and soya. Royaal extra dark contains soya and may contain milk, so always check the variety you’ve chosen.
Jumbo
Own-brand flakes in dark, milk and duo-mix varieties, in 300 g packs.
- Jumbo describes its duo mix as 50% chocolate flakes and 50% white flakes.
- If you have specific ingredient requirements, read the label for the particular mix or flavour. The ingredients in a dark variety don’t tell you what’s in a mix.
PLUS
Own-brand dark and milk chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
- PLUS labels its dark variety as vegan and states that it contains 63.8 g of sugars per 100 g.
- The dark variety may contain milk and lactose. The milk variety contains milk and lactose and states that it contains 67.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
Kiekeboe
ALDI own-brand chocolate flakes in milk or dark varieties, in a 300 g pack.
- ALDI product information lists both flavours and says the cocoa is Rainforest Alliance certified.
- If nutrition values or allergens will influence your choice, read the information on the pack for the variety you’ve chosen.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand mixed, milk and dark flakes in 300 g packs, for anyone who wants to pick them up as part of their usual AH shop.
- Albert Heijn’s range overview distinguishes between mixed, milk and dark flakes.
- Check the label on the individual variety if ingredients, allergens or nutrition values matter to your choice.
Flakes and toppings at Joybuy
These products offer a range of flavours, mixes and pack sizes for use as a sweet topping. Check whether each product is chocolate flakes or another type of sprinkle, and read the pack if ingredients matter to you.
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g'woon Milk Chocolate Flakes – 300 g
For anyone who wants to use milk chocolate flakes on bread or in yoghurt. The pack contains 300 g; check the label if milk or wheat is important to your choice.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast – 200 g
For anyone looking for a mix of chocolate and vanilla flakes for bread, yoghurt or porridge. This pack contains 200 g; if you have an allergy, check the label for information about wheat, soya and possible milk traces.
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Venz Jungle Flakes – 200 g
For anyone who wants a mixed chocolate and vanilla topping for bread, yoghurt or porridge. The pack contains 200 g; if you have an allergy, check the label for soya, wheat and possible milk traces.
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Sprinkles Choca Flakes – 200 g
A cocoa topping for anyone who wants to add flakes to bread or yoghurt. The pack contains 200 g; if you have an allergy, check the latest information about wheat, soya and possible milk traces.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure – 390 g
For anyone considering a dark chocolate topping in a 390 g pack. If the type of sprinkle matters for your snack, check whether it’s flakes or chocolate strands; also check the label for milk ingredients and soya.
Frequently asked questions
How should I factor chocolate flakes into a late-night snack?
Consider the portion you choose and the nutrition information for the variety you’re using. Voedingscentrum gives the example of 15 g of milk chocolate flakes on one slice of bread, which contains 68 kcal, 10.5 g of sugar and 1.4 g of saturated fat. Those figures won’t necessarily apply to a different amount or variety.
Should I check each pack for milk, soya and gluten-containing cereals?
Yes, especially if an ingredient or allergen matters to your choice. According to Albert Heijn product information, De Ruijter milk flakes contain milk, lactose and soya, while PLUS dark flakes may contain milk and lactose. So check the ingredients and any warnings about possible traces on the product you’re buying.
Are dark or vegan chocolate flakes automatically free from milk traces?
No. PLUS labels its dark flakes as vegan, but says they may contain milk and lactose. Don’t treat the words ‘dark’ or ‘vegan’ as a substitute for the allergen information on the pack.
How should I store an opened pack of flakes?
Store the flakes in a cool, dry, dark place and seal the pack tightly after use, as advised in the product information from PLUS, Jumbo and De Ruijter. Check the pack for the best-before date and any product-specific storage instructions.