School fair organisers planning lots of portions
If you’re buying ingredients for several batches, you’ll want to know how many flakes your recipe needs and how many packs to buy.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Volunteers sharing allergen information
If you use flakes on unpackaged cupcakes or rolls, you need to be able to match the information on the pack you used to the right bake. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the need to provide information about 14 allergens for unpackaged foods.
Bakers looking for a specific dark chocolate finish
If you want a visibly dark chocolate topping, the variety you choose may matter more than giving all your bakes a uniform finish. Check whether you can get enough flakes in the quantity you need.
What should you look for when buying?
First, work out how much you need for the school fair. Then decide which variety to use for each recipe, so your planning and allergen information stay aligned.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per portion | Make a test portion and use it to calculate the total weight you’ll need. | If I’m making lots of cupcakes or rolls, I don’t want to switch toppings halfway through. Around 36% of consumers put the quantity needed for all portions first. |
| Pack size and availability | Check the net weight and whether you can get enough packs of the same variety. | For a uniform finish, I need enough packs of exactly the same type. For around 29% of consumers, this consistency matters most. |
| Allergen information | Read the current label on every variety you use and keep the information together for each recipe. | When I sell unpackaged bakes, I want to be able to tell visitors which ingredients I’ve used. For around 21% of consumers, this information is the top priority. |
| Taste and appearance | Choose milk or dark chocolate for the recipe in question and check a test portion. | I want the topping to suit the flavour and look of my bake. Around 14% of consumers put this choice ahead of the other considerations. |
Common mistakes
-
Assuming a product page means the item is in stock
A listing doesn’t always tell you whether you can get enough packs in time. For example, Lidl describes its chocolate flakes on the product page as an in-store item; the De Ruijter Royaal listings checked at Jumbo and Albert Heijn were marked as no longer available in the range.
Check whether you can buy the product before building all your recipes around one variety. Also make sure any alternative will work for the ingredient information for your bakes.
A last-minute substitute could mean an extra trip to the shops and a new allergen information sheet.
-
Not matching the label to the bake you’re selling
Visitors need allergen information when you sell unpackaged food. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this should include information about 14 allergens; you can’t automatically use the label for one variety to provide information about another.
Make a note of the pack you actually used for each recipe, and keep its ingredient and allergen information to hand.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter Royaal extra dark is a specific variety to consider if you’re looking for dark chocolate flakes to finish your bakes.
- Albert Heijn states that Royaal extra dark contains at least 40% cocoa solids.
- Check that you can get this variety before planning around Royaal; the online listings checked were marked as no longer available in the range.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its own chocolate flakes in dark and milk varieties, in 300 g packs.
- A 300 g pack gives you a standard unit to use when planning quantities.
- Check which variety you’re actually buying and use the allergen information on that pack.
PLUS
PLUS lists dark chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
- The listed pack size is useful for calculating how many packs you’ll need for a recipe.
- The listing for this dark variety says it may contain milk and lactose; check the label on the pack you use.
Kiekeboe / ALDI
ALDI lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, in 300 g packs.
- You can decide in advance which flavour you want and how many packs you’ll need.
- Check in store that there’s enough of your chosen variety available.
Lidl
Lidl lists 300 g packs of dark chocolate flakes as an in-store item.
- The listed pack size helps you plan the total weight you’ll need.
- Check the pack and availability in store before choosing this variety for the school fair.
Flakes and other toppings at Joybuy
For the school fair, the chocolate flakes below are shown alongside chocolate sprinkles and chocolate chunks. When choosing, consider the difference between these toppings, the net weight on the pack and the allergen information for the variety you use.
No image available
g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g
A milk chocolate variety for anyone looking to top school fair bakes with chocolate flakes.
The product name lists 300 g. Check the net weight and allergen information on the pack you receive before deciding how many to buy.
No image available
De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g
Chocolate chunks are a different topping from chocolate flakes, so choose them if that shape suits your bake.
The pack is listed as 390 g. Check the label for the ingredients and allergens in this variety.
No image available
g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smiley faces, 600 g
For anyone who’d like to use shaped sprinkles instead of chocolate flakes.
The product name lists 600 g. Check the pack to make sure the ingredients and allergens suit your recipe plans.
No image available
De Ruijter Intense dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
A dark chocolate sprinkles option to consider if your recipe doesn’t specifically call for chocolate flakes.
The product name lists 200 g. Work out how many packs you’ll need for your planned portions, and read the current label.
No image available
De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
For a dark chocolate sprinkles finish when that shape suits your bakes.
The product name lists 390 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you’ll use for the school fair.
Frequently asked questions
What allergen information do I need if I sell cupcakes with flakes unpackaged?
Make sure visitors can get allergen information for the cupcakes you’re actually selling. For unpackaged foods, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the need to provide information about 14 allergens. So, note the ingredients for each recipe and check the label on every pack you use.
Can I treat dark flakes labelled vegan as milk-free?
No. A vegan label on its own doesn’t guarantee that a product won’t say it may contain milk. For example, the listing for PLUS dark chocolate flakes says they may contain milk and lactose. For your allergen information, use the current label on the exact pack you bought.
How do I plan how many flakes I’ll need for several batches?
First, make a test portion using the amount of topping you want, then calculate the total for all the portions you’re planning. Divide that total by the net weight of your chosen pack, and check whether you can get enough packs of the same variety.