Buying a gift for a coffee break
You’re looking for a chocolate gift box to take along or share over coffee. If you’re buying for someone else, check the contents, how the chocolates are portioned and the allergens.
Who is this relevant to?
Home baker looking for a topping
You want to top a cake, cupcakes or dessert rather than serve individual chocolates. Compare the shape, pack size and ingredients of the sprinkles you’re considering.
Checking the label carefully
You want to know which allergens and nutritional information apply to the exact product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says checking the current label is particularly important if you have a food allergy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want chocolates to give or serve, or something to sprinkle on top. Then check the contents and label of the pack you’re planning to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gifting and sharing | Check the selection, the number of chocolates and whether they’re individually wrapped. | If I’m taking something along for a coffee break, I want guests to be able to help themselves to a chocolate. For around 42% of consumers, the chance to give and share is the deciding factor. |
| Topping | Check the product’s form, net weight and the stated cocoa percentage of the exact sprinkles variant. | For cake, cupcakes or rusks, I want a topping I can sprinkle, not a box of individual chocolates. For around 33% of consumers, using it as a topping is the main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details on the current packaging. | If I’m buying for someone with a food allergy, I need to know what the chosen pack says before serving it. Checking the label is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking of sprinkles as a ready-made gift
Sprinkles can finish off rusks or baked goods, but they don’t serve the same purpose as a box of chocolates that you can give as a gift or put out on the table straight away.
Decide what you need first: chocolates to share, or a topping to sprinkle over food.
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Serving an assortment without checking the allergens
A chocolate gift box may contain a range of ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says label information is essential if you have a food allergy.
Read the current packaging before buying and again before serving, even if you’ve bought the same box before.
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Judging by the cocoa percentage alone
The stated cocoa solids content distinguishes specific sprinkles variants, but it doesn’t tell you how much sugar or fat a product contains.
Also compare the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g, and consider how much you plan to use.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles for rusks or as a topping.
- Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur 200 g contains at least 52% cocoa solids.
- This information applies to this variant, not all De Ruijter products. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose.
Venz
Worth considering if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles to use regularly.
- Albert Heijn lists Venz Hagelslag Puur in a 400 g pack and states that it contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
- Compare the exact variant and its label; details for Venz Puur don’t automatically apply to other Venz products.
merci
Worth considering if you want to give an assortment or share chocolates over coffee.
- Jumbo describes a 250 g merci assorted box with eight chocolate specialities and twenty individually wrapped bars.
- If you have a food allergy, it’s particularly important to check the allergens and any warnings on the current packaging of an assortment.
Droste
A useful example of an assortment for a chocolate treat.
- Albert Heijn describes the Droste Geschenkdoos assortis as an assortment that includes milk and dark chocolate.
- Check what’s in the box you’ve chosen and whether that particular product is available before relying on it as a gift.
Celebrations
Worth considering if you want to put out a variety of chocolates for an informal coffee break.
- Albert Heijn lists a Celebrations assorted mix in its chocolate gifts category.
- Check the exact contents, ingredients and allergens of the mix you choose; the brand name alone won’t tell you this.
Products for gifting and topping
These products suit two different plans for coffee and cake: a pack of chocolates to give or share, and sprinkles or a chocolate topping to finish off food. Choose the right option for your needs by looking at the product’s form, contents and the label of the exact variant.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack 288 g
A pack of chocolates to give as a gift or share over coffee. Before handing them out, check how they’re portioned; if anyone has an allergy, check the current packaging.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks 390 g
One to consider if you want to use chocolate on baked goods. Before buying, check the exact shape: for cupcakes, it makes a difference whether you want to sprinkle on chunks or fine sprinkles.
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Venz chocolate and vanilla sprinkles 400 g
For anyone who wants to sprinkle breakfast foods or baked goods with a variant containing both chocolate and vanilla. Choose another variant if you’re looking for chocolate sprinkles only; if you have an allergy, check the current label.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smiley faces 600 g
A decorative sprinkles variant to consider for rusks or baked goods. Check the label if cocoa content, the exact ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
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merci Petits Chocolate Collection 125 g
A chocolate collection to consider as a small thank-you or to serve with coffee. Check the pack for the number of chocolates, how they’re wrapped and which allergens may be relevant to the recipient.
Frequently asked questions
What should I give as a gift with coffee and cake: a chocolate gift box or sprinkles?
A chocolate gift box is a better choice if you want to give something that can be shared as chocolates straight away. If you’re buying for someone else, check the number of chocolates, the packaging and the allergens.
When are sprinkles an alternative to a chocolate gift box?
Sprinkles are an alternative if you want to top rusks, cake or cupcakes. If you’re looking for individual chocolates to serve with coffee, sprinkles don’t serve the same purpose.
How do I check the allergens in a chocolate assortment?
Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings on the current packaging of the exact box. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the importance of this label information if you have a food allergy. Don’t rely on the brand name alone or on a previous purchase.
Does the rule on iodine in bakers’ salt also apply to sprinkles and chocolate gift boxes?
No. The rule described doesn’t set a general requirement for sprinkles or chocolate gift boxes to contain iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes a requirement for iodine compounds in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products made with bakers’ salt. If the ingredients matter to your choice, check those of the specific chocolate product.