Breakfast topping shoppers
If you want chocolate for bread, crispbread or yoghurt, you’ll need a product you can sprinkle. PLUS lists bread and crispbread as ways to enjoy De Ruijter chocolate flakes.
Who is each option for?
Gift buyers and hosts
If you’re looking for something to give as a gift or serve with coffee and tea, a box of chocolates may be more practical. Jumbo describes the merci assortment box as containing individually wrapped pieces to share.
Label-conscious shoppers
If you need to take allergens into account, check the exact variety rather than relying on the flavour name alone. Product information from Jumbo and PLUS shows that milk, soya or wheat may also be a consideration in dark chocolate flakes and other varieties.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide how you’ll serve the chocolate, then compare the pack size and label of the varieties that suit that purpose.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Occasion | Check whether you need a spreadable topping or chocolate to give as a gift or share. | If the chocolate is for bread or yoghurt, I want a pack I can sprinkle from. For around 45% of consumers, breakfast use comes first. |
| Quantity and packaging | Compare the weight in grams and, if you’re sharing, check whether the portions are individually wrapped. | For a small group, I don’t want to buy more than we’ll use; when guests are coming, how easy it is to share matters too. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a suitable pack size. |
| Flavour and label | Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for the exact variety. | If someone needs to avoid certain ingredients, the label matters more than whether I prefer milk or dark chocolate. For around 22% of consumers, flavour or checking the label is the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a box of chocolates when you need a breakfast topping
A box to give as a gift or share serves a different purpose from flakes you can sprinkle on bread or yoghurt.
Before you buy, decide whether the chocolate is for breakfast or to serve alongside it.
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Assuming dark chocolate is always milk-free
Jumbo states that De Ruijter Royaal flakes may contain milk. For Choca Flakes, PLUS lists wheat and soya, and says that milk may also be present.
If you have an allergy, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack before buying or serving it.
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Overlooking portion size
How many flakes you use each time determines how many portions you’ll get from a pack. The nutritional information per 100 g doesn’t, on its own, tell you how much ends up on a slice of bread.
Check the information per portion too, and choose a pack size to suit the number of people and occasions you have in mind.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Chocolate flakes, including milk and dark varieties, for use as a bread topping.
- For the dark variety reviewed, Jumbo lists at least 32% cocoa solids, and at least 40% for Royaal.
- Milk and soya information varies by variety; Jumbo says Royaal may contain milk.
Choca
A 200 g flakes variety in the PLUS range reviewed.
- The 200 g pack makes it easy to see how much you’re getting.
- PLUS lists wheat and soya; milk may also be present.
Kiekeboe
300 g chocolate flakes in milk or dark varieties at ALDI.
- ALDI states that the varieties reviewed use Rainforest Alliance-certified cocoa.
- Check the variety and availability at the ALDI store where you plan to shop.
PLUS
Own-brand range, including the 300 g dark chocolate flakes reviewed.
- PLUS describes this specific variety as vegan and states that it contains Fairtrade Cocoa.
- Check the current pack for ingredients and allergens; these claims apply to this variety and not automatically to other dark chocolate flakes.
Chocolate toppings and sharing packs at Joybuy
These products suit two Sunday breakfast occasions: chocolate to sprinkle on your food, and chocolate to give or share. If you’re specifically looking for flakes, check the product form of De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure separately.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
A good choice if you’re looking for chocolate topping to sprinkle on your breakfast.
If you have allergies, check the current label: wheat and soya are listed for this variety, and milk may also be present.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack 288 g
A chocolate gift to give alongside breakfast or share with others, rather than a topping to sprinkle.
If you have allergies, check the label: milk, almonds, hazelnuts, egg and soya are listed for this pack; peanuts and other nuts may also be present.
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De Ruijter Flakes Milk 200 g
Milk chocolate flakes to sprinkle on bread or into a breakfast bowl.
This variety contains milk; wheat may also be present. If you have allergies, read the current pack label.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure 390 g
A dark chocolate topping to sprinkle on breakfast. Check the product form on the pack if you specifically want flakes rather than chocolate vermicelli.
The ingredients information lists milk fat and soya. So don’t take the word ‘Pure’ to mean that it’s milk-free or soya-free.
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Celebrations Chocolate Assorted 385 g
A chocolate assortment for a gift or a bowl to share.
Check the pack if you want to hand out the chocolates individually. If you have allergies, pay particular attention to the listed milk, peanuts, wheat, soya, barley and egg; other allergens may also be present.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a box of chocolates instead of flakes for breakfast?
You can if you want to give someone chocolate or serve it with coffee and tea, but a box won’t replace a topping you can sprinkle on bread or yoghurt. If you’re sharing, also check whether the chocolates you’ve chosen are individually wrapped; Jumbo, for example, says that its merci assortment box is.
Are dark chocolate flakes automatically milk-free?
No. Jumbo says that De Ruijter Royaal flakes may contain milk, while the ingredients information for the De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure variety at Joybuy lists milk fat. If you have an allergy, always check the label on the exact pack.
How should I store an opened pack of chocolate topping?
Close the pack securely and store it in a dry place, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre for chocolate vermicelli. Also follow the storage instructions on your own pack.
What should I look for on the label if someone has a food allergy?
Check the ingredients and allergen information for the product you’re actually buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that the mandatory allergen declaration covers 14 allergens; don’t rely just on words such as milk, dark or assorted on the front of the pack.