If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for several people
A box with assorted flavours or individually wrapped chocolates can be handy for sharing. Check beforehand which allergens matter to the recipients.
Which option is right for you?
If you’re hosting Christmas breakfast or brunch
Rusks and chocolate sprinkles make a sweet addition to the table. Choose a flavour and quantity to suit your guests, and check the labels on both products.
If you pay attention to ingredients
Read the label on the pack you buy rather than making assumptions based on the type of product. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re giving something as a gift or serving breakfast yourself. Then compare the packaging, ingredients and quantity within your chosen product category.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Allergens and labelling | Check the pack you’re buying to see which ingredients the product contains and which traces it may contain. | If a recipient or guest has an allergy, I don’t want to rely on a general product description. For around 31% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
| Breakfast or brunch | Choose rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately, and match the flavour and quantity to the people who’ll be eating. | When I’m serving Christmas breakfast myself, I’m looking for a base and a topping rather than a wrapped gift. This serving purpose is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Gifting and sharing | Look at the flavour options, the number of pieces and whether they’re individually wrapped. | For a visit or a group, I want something I can give or share without preparing breakfast. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this gifting purpose. |
| Getting the right quantity | Compare the weight and number of pieces within the same product category, and check the storage instructions too. | If I’m buying for several occasions to eat or share, I want to know how much is in the pack. For around 19% of consumers, quantity matters most. |
Common mistakes
-
Treating a chocolate gift box and a breakfast topping as the same product
A gift box is meant to be given or shared; with rusks and chocolate sprinkles, you’re putting together a breakfast component yourself.
Before you buy, decide whether you want to give something as a gift or put it on the table. For breakfast, buy both rusks and chocolate sprinkles.
-
Assuming an assorted box is automatically suitable for everyone
Different chocolate flavours can contain different ingredients too. Albert Heijn’s description of the merci gift box lists milk, hazelnut, almond and soya among its ingredients.
If necessary, ask about allergies and read the label on the pack you’re buying, including any warnings about possible traces.
-
Assuming every bakery product contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. What’s more, information about bread doesn’t tell you the ingredients of a chocolate gift.
Check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt they use if that matters to your choice.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
There are several chocolate sprinkle options to serve with rusks at Christmas breakfast. Jumbo lists varieties including Dark and Milk; Albert Heijn describes Hagelfeest as a mix of chocolate sprinkles and vanilla-flavoured sprinkles.
- The varieties listed give you a choice of individual flavours or a mix.
- According to Albert Heijn, Hagelfeest contains milk, soya and wheat, among other ingredients. It’s a topping, not a ready-made chocolate gift.
Venz
Jumbo lists Venz chocolate sprinkles in dark and milk chocolate varieties, in 400 g packs.
- The separate varieties let you choose a distinctive flavour for breakfast.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety; chocolate sprinkles are not a substitute for a gift box.
merci
For a gift, Albert Heijn describes a 400 g gift box containing 32 individually wrapped chocolates in assorted flavours.
- Individually wrapped chocolates are practical when you want to share them.
- Check the exact box for allergens: the gift box described lists milk, hazelnut, almond and soya, among other ingredients.
Jumbo
Jumbo is a place to shop for both rusks and chocolate sprinkles, as well as chocolate gifts.
- You can explore both types of purchase within the same range.
- Check the current range and the label on the product you choose.
Products for gifting and breakfast
These Joybuy products include chocolate treats to give as gifts and chocolate sprinkles for breakfast or brunch. Buy rusks separately to go with the sprinkles; if you’re sharing chocolates, check the number of pieces on the pack too.
Image unavailable
Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate selection for a small treat or a gift. Check the number of pieces if you want to share them, and read the label if you have allergies; milk, nuts, soya and wheat are listed for this product, among other ingredients.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Flake Feast, 200 g
A chocolate and vanilla mix to serve as a sweet breakfast or brunch topping. Rusks aren’t included in this pack; if you have allergies, check the label for wheat, soya and possible traces of milk, among other things.
Image unavailable
Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
Milk chocolate sprinkles for serving as a single flavour at Christmas breakfast. Buy rusks separately, and check the label if milk or soya could be an issue for a guest.
Image unavailable
Milka Thank You Pralines Milk Cream, 110 g
A box of pralines for a small chocolate gift. Check the pack to see how many pieces it contains if you’re planning to share them, and if you have allergies, look for information about milk, soya and hazelnuts, among other ingredients.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for serving at breakfast or brunch. This is just the topping: buy rusks separately, and if you have allergies, check the label for milk and soya, among other ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a chocolate gift box or rusks with chocolate sprinkles for Christmas?
Choose a chocolate gift box if you’re looking for a present or want to share chocolates; choose rusks with chocolate sprinkles if you’re serving breakfast or brunch yourself. If you’re buying a box for several people, check the flavours, number of pieces and allergens too.
What should I look out for if someone has allergies?
Read the label on the exact chocolate gift box, chocolate sprinkles and rusks you’re buying. Check both the listed allergens and any warnings about possible traces. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of accurate label information for safe use.
Do rusks always contain iodised baker’s salt?
Don’t assume they do without checking the label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers are not required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the rusks or ask the manufacturer which salt is used.
How should I store chocolate and rusks until Christmas?
Follow the storage instructions on both packs and check the use-by date. Jumbo recommends storing its plain rusks in a cool, dry, dark place; keep chocolate away from heat.
Can I order Lidl’s handmade pralines online?
Lidl Netherlands’ product page says the handmade pralines are ‘In-store only’. Check how to get the variety you want shortly before buying.