Which topping is right for you?

Home bakers comparing sugar levels

You’re looking for a chocolate topping for a cake or tart and want to compare the sugar content per 100 g. If a product claims to contain ‘less sugar’, check which product the manufacturer is comparing it with.

Bakers looking for a flake finish

You’re choosing a topping for the visible, chunky chocolate flakes on a cupcake or cake. Flakes are different from chocolate sprinkles, and their shape alone doesn’t mean they contain less sugar.

Shoppers who check ingredients carefully

You want to check the allergens and sweeteners listed on the packaging before you buy. The toppings reviewed here differ in whether they list milk, lactose, soya and polyols.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether sugar content or the texture of the flakes matters most for your cake or tart. Then compare the nutritional information for your chosen product and check the latest packaging.

What to consider What to check Who is it important to?
Less sugar Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figures per 100 g and check what any sugar-reduction claim refers to. If I want to limit the sugar in my topping, I look for a specific figure and a clear basis for comparison rather than relying on wording on the front of the pack. For around 38% of consumers, comparing sugar content comes first.
Flake texture Check whether the product is chocolate flakes or chocolate sprinkles, and look at the texture shown on the packaging. For a decorative finish on cupcakes or a cake, I want chunky flakes, even if a chocolate sprinkle product lists less sugar. This flake texture matters most to around 23% of consumers.
Ingredients and sweeteners Read the latest ingredients and allergen information, and check the packaging warning if the product contains polyols. If I want to avoid an ingredient or find out whether a topping contains polyols, I check the ingredients first. For around 23% of consumers, this is the main consideration.
Availability Check that your chosen pack is available before settling on the decoration for your baking project. When I’m planning a cake, I want to be able to buy my chosen topping without having to pick a different finish at the last minute. Availability is the deciding factor for around 16% of consumers.

Common mistakes when choosing

  • Treating flakes and chocolate sprinkles as the same topping

    Lower-sugar chocolate sprinkles won’t automatically give a cake or tart the chunky finish of chocolate flakes.

    Decide which texture you want first, then compare the sugar content per 100 g of products that fit your choice.

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means low in sugar

    Albert Heijn lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes. So ‘dark’ is no substitute for checking the nutritional information.

    Check the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, and assess any claim for less sugar separately.

  • Overlooking the warning about polyols

    Albert Heijn lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g for Céréal dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar. The packaging warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.

    Read the ingredients and the warning before deciding how much topping to use on your baked goods.

  • Planning a recipe around a topping that’s unavailable

    The Jumbo and Albert Heijn product pages reported that Jumbo Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar was no longer available online and that Venz Milk Chocolate Sprinkles 30% Less Sugar had been discontinued.

    Check availability before you start baking. If you choose an alternative, compare its sugar content, ingredients and product type again.

    If you only discover this while doing your shopping, you may need to make an extra trip to the shops.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

The AH lower-sugar option is chocolate sprinkles for anyone looking for a chocolate topping, not chunky chocolate flakes.

  • Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, with a claim of 30% less sugar than AH dark chocolate sprinkles.
  • The ingredients information lists milk and lactose. Check the latest packaging if these ingredients matter to your choice.

Céréal

These dark chocolate sprinkles are a different product from chocolate flakes and contain polyols.

  • According to the product information listed by Albert Heijn, Céréal dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar contain 7.7 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The same product information lists 40 g of polyols per 100 g and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

De Ruijter

The chocolate flakes reviewed here are a good choice if you want a visible flake finish.

  • Albert Heijn suggests using De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes on a cupcake. The product page lists 40 g of sugars per 100 g for De Ruijter Special intense dark flakes.
  • The standard dark chocolate flakes list 63 g of sugars per 100 g. Check whether the intense dark version is available before choosing it for a recipe.

Jumbo

Jumbo Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Less Sugar are milk chocolate sprinkles, not chocolate flakes.

  • Jumbo listed 42.6 g of sugars per 100 g and 30% less sugar than Jumbo milk chocolate sprinkles.
  • The product page reported that this version was no longer available online. Check current availability before adding it to your shopping list.

Venz

The version reviewed is milk chocolate sprinkles with a claim for less sugar.

  • Albert Heijn listed 48 g of sugars per 100 g for Venz Milk Chocolate Sprinkles 30% Less Sugar.
  • The Albert Heijn product page stated that this version had been discontinued. Don’t assume it’s available to buy without checking first.

Joybuy products for this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘less sugar’ mean a topping is sugar-free?

No. A sugar-reduction claim doesn’t mean that a product contains no sugars. For example, Albert Heijn lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g for AH dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar, so always check the nutritional information on the specific pack.

What does the claim ‘reduced sugar content’ mean?

According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this claim means the sugar content must be at least 30% lower than that of a similar food. Check the packaging to see what the product is being compared with and how much sugar it contains per 100 g.

Can I use standard chocolate flakes on a cupcake?

Yes, if you want a flake-textured finish. Albert Heijn suggests using De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes on a cupcake and lists 63 g of sugars per 100 g for this version.

What should I look for in chocolate sprinkles containing polyols?

Read the ingredients and the warning on the packaging before using the topping. The product information for Céréal dark chocolate sprinkles with less sugar lists polyols and warns of a possible laxative effect if consumed in excess.

How do I compare the sugar content of different toppings?

Compare the ‘of which sugars’ figure per 100 g, taking the product type into account: chocolate sprinkles and chunky chocolate flakes give different finishes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g so that different portion sizes don’t skew the comparison.