If you want to sprinkle chocolate over fried Dutch dough balls, chocolate flakes are worth considering; don’t automatically buy a box of chocolates. If the chocolate goes into the batter, follow the product format specified in your recipe. Then choose flakes by flavour and check the ingredients and allergens on the exact pack.
You’re looking for something to sprinkle over your dough balls after frying. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe chocolate flakes as a bread topping or something to use with baked goods; that doesn’t automatically make them suitable for mixing into the dough ball batter.
You want to choose between milk chocolate flakes and a mix with white chocolate, and find out how much each pack contains. Compare the specific varieties, rather than just the brand names.
You need to know which ingredients are in the variety you choose. Milk, lactose, soya and wheat declarations vary by product, so check the label on the pack you’re buying.
First, check whether your recipe calls for a topping or chocolate in the batter. Then compare the flakes by ingredients, flavour and pack size.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Product format | Does your recipe call for flakes to sprinkle on after frying, chocolate in the batter or chocolates? | I don’t want to come home with flakes if my recipe calls for a different type of chocolate. For around 40% of consumers, choosing the right product format comes first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I want to know what’s in this variety before using the flakes. For around 30% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Flavour and pack size | Choose between milk chocolate flakes and a milk and white chocolate mix; also compare the weight in grams. | For my topping, I want to know whether I’m buying one chocolate flavour or a mix, and how much is in the pack. Flavour and pack size matter most to around 30% of consumers. |
Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages describe chocolate flakes as a bread topping or something to use with baked goods. This doesn’t mean they’re suitable for mixing into Dutch dough ball batter or adding to frying oil.
Before you buy, check when and in what form your recipe uses the chocolate. If it goes into the batter, choose only the product format specified in the recipe.
The De Ruijter milk flakes examined list milk, lactose and soya; other varieties examined have a different composition. The brand name alone therefore doesn’t tell you enough about the pack you’ve chosen.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information every time you buy, even if you’ve used flakes from the same brand before.
Compare individual varieties of flakes: the ingredients can differ even within the same brand.
Milk chocolate flakes and Vlokkenfeest are different varieties.
Own-brand milk chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
Own-brand flakes in 300 g packs, examined as a milk chocolate variety and as a mix with white chocolate.
Check the allergens on the label of the exact pack. The Albert Heijn milk flakes examined list milk and lactose; the De Ruijter milk variety examined also lists soya. The Jumbo milk and white chocolate mix examined lists milk.
Follow the storage instructions on your pack. For the own-brand milk flakes examined, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dark and dry place. According to the product information, the De Ruijter milk flakes examined should be stored in a cool, dry place, with the pack pressed closed after use.
