Who is this relevant for?

Anyone looking for a snack to share

You want to put something out for guests to help themselves to from a bowl. First, consider whether chocolate flakes are what you’re after: the flakes described here are intended as a bread topping or dessert topping.

Anyone putting together a bread or dessert table

You want to serve a sweet topping for several guests. A larger pack may be practical, as long as you’ve also thought about what to do with any leftovers.

Anyone checking labels for the group

You’re sharing one product with people who need to check ingredients or allergens. Check the exact packaging before serving, as varieties differ in their ingredients and allergen information.

What should you consider when choosing?

First decide whether guests want something to snack on or flakes to use as a topping. Then choose a suitable quantity and read the label on the variety you plan to serve.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Snack or topping Think about whether you’ll have bread or desserts to serve the flakes on. Choose a different type of product if guests want something they can eat straight from a bowl. If I want guests to help themselves from a bowl, I don’t want to put out a topping that needs something else to go with it; around 44% of consumers prioritise the type of snack.
Quantity Compare the net weight with the number of times you’ll serve the topping, and consider whether you’ll use an opened pack later. For a bread or dessert table, I want enough flakes without ending up with too many left over; around 33% of consumers prioritise getting the right quantity.
Label Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for the exact variety. Don’t rely on the flavour name or the front of the pack alone. If I’m sharing one pack with a group, I want to know what’s in it before serving; ingredients and allergens are the main concern for around 23% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a box of flakes for a sharing pack

    Chocolate flakes are described as a bread topping or dessert topping. Without bread or dessert to serve them on, they may not be suitable for an evening when guests are expecting snacks to eat on their own.

    Decide how you’ll serve them before buying. If you don’t have an occasion to use them as a topping, look for a snack that’s intended to be shared and eaten straight away.

  • Assuming dark chocolate or a vegan label means dairy-free

    PLUS dark chocolate flakes carry a vegan label, but the product information also says they may contain milk and lactose. The Venz mix reviewed lists milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients.

    For every variety you choose, read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, even if the flavour name or a label seems suitable.

  • Leaving an opened pack unsealed

    A larger pack is only useful for later if you can store the contents properly after serving.

    Seal the pack and store the flakes in a dry place, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

A good option if you’re looking for different flavours or styles of chocolate flakes for bread and desserts.

  • The Jumbo selection described included milk, dark and white varieties, mostly in 200 g packs, as well as a 240 g Royaal variety.
  • A particular flavour doesn’t automatically mean it comes in a pack for eating straight from a bowl.

Venz

Worth considering if a mix of flavours and shapes is part of the way you’re presenting a topping.

  • The Rimboe kroko variety described combines different elements in a 200 g pack.
  • Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat for this variety. According to the product label, the shapes may be unsuitable for children under 3 because of their size.

Jumbo

A supermarket own-brand to consider if you want to use 300 g of chocolate flakes as a topping.

  • The selection described includes 300 g dark, milk and duo-mix varieties.
  • A larger pack doesn’t turn a bread topping into a snack to eat straight from a bowl.

Kiekeboe

ALDI’s own brand of chocolate flakes, available in a 300 g milk or dark variety.

  • ALDI lists both flavour options in this pack size.
  • Check which variety is available at the store you’re buying from, and read the label on that pack.

PLUS

An own-brand with options including 300 g dark chocolate flakes for use as a topping.

  • The dark variety described carries a vegan label and mentions Fairtrade Cacao.
  • The same product information says the dark variety may contain milk and lactose. Don’t rely on the label instead of checking allergen information.

Products for snacking and topping

These products suit two different plans for the evening: a portioned nut and dried fruit mix to hand out, or chocolate products to sprinkle over bread and desserts. Decide how you want to serve them first; a topping isn’t a sharing pack of snacks.

J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix, 750 g in 30 sachets

J.ZAO Classic Daily-Nut Mix, 750 g in 30 sachets

For anyone who wants to hand out individual snacks rather than serve chocolate flakes as a topping. This is a nut and dried fruit mix; because it contains nuts, check the allergen information on the packaging before handing out the sachets.

View at Joybuy
Venz chocolate and vanilla sprinkles, 400 g

Venz chocolate and vanilla sprinkles, 400 g

A sweet mix of sprinkles for a bread or dessert table, not a pack to eat straight from. The product information lists milk, soya and wheat; check the label if you’re serving guests with allergies.

View at Joybuy
De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g

De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g

Chocolate pieces for anyone looking for a topping for bread or dessert; this isn’t a variety of chocolate flakes. The product information lists milk and soya and says the product may contain lactose. Read the label on the pack you choose.

View at Joybuy
g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g

g'woon milk chocolate flakes, 300 g

For anyone who wants to serve chocolate flakes with bread or desserts. This is a bread topping, not a pack for snacking straight from. The product information lists milk and wheat; check the packaging if allergens are a concern.

View at Joybuy
De Ruijter Flake Feast, 200 g

De Ruijter Flake Feast, 200 g

A chocolate and vanilla mix for anyone looking for a particular flavour as a topping, rather than a large sharing pack. The product information lists wheat and soya and says the product may contain milk; check the current label.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can you put chocolate flakes out as a sharing snack for a snack night?

Chocolate flakes are best suited as a topping for a bread or dessert table. If guests are expecting something to eat straight from a bowl, choose a product intended to be served that way.

What pack size should you choose for several guests?

Choose the quantity based on how many people will use the flakes as a topping and whether you want to keep any leftovers for later. The supermarket varieties described come in 200 g, 240 g and 300 g packs; the flavour and intended use matter as well as the weight.

Is a dark or vegan-labelled variety automatically dairy-free?

No: the dark flakes from PLUS described here carry a vegan label, while the product information also says they may contain milk and lactose. If you have an allergy, check the allergen information on the exact pack you’re serving.

How should you store chocolate flakes after the evening?

Seal the opened pack securely and store it in a dry place, as advised by the Voedingscentrum. Also follow the storage instructions on the packaging.

How do you compare the nutritional value of chocolate flakes?

Compare the same quantity and the same type of flakes. For milk chocolate flakes, the Voedingscentrum uses 15 g on a slice of bread as a comparison portion, which contains 68 kcal, 1,4 g of saturated fat and 10,5 g of sugars. For another variety or portion, check the nutritional information on the packaging.