Festive brunch hosts
You want to serve bread with chocolate sprinkles and care about the crust, crumb and presentation. A rustic sourdough loaf could suit your plans; assess the bread itself and check you can buy it in time.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers looking for wholemeal bread
You want to put chocolate sprinkles on the table, but would prefer a wholemeal bread base. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread contains more fibre, vitamins and minerals than white bread. You can choose how much chocolate sprinkles to add separately.
Label and allergen checkers
You want to know which ingredients and allergens are in both the bread and the topping before you buy. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for unpackaged bread must be available before purchase. If the type of salt used matters to you, ask about that too.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether you want to serve rusk or sourdough bread. If you choose sourdough, select the bread base based on its texture and whether it is wholemeal, then compare the chocolate sprinkles and the labels on both products.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Crust, crumb and presentation | Check the type of bread, and the crust and crumb you want to serve, for the specific loaf. For fresh bread, check availability at the shop. | If I’m sharing a Valentine’s Day brunch, I mainly want the bread to be enjoyable to eat and look inviting. Around 33% of consumers put taste and presentation first. |
| Wholemeal bread base | Look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ and compare the nutritional information for the bread you choose, such as fibre per 100 g. | I want to serve chocolate sprinkles, but choose the bread mainly based on its grain type and fibre content. For around 25% of consumers, the bread base comes first. |
| Chocolate sprinkles and portion size | Compare the type of chocolate sprinkles, the ingredients and the nutritional value per 100 g. Decide for yourself how much to sprinkle on the bread. | If the chocolate is meant to be the star, I want to choose the topping and amount carefully. Around 25% of consumers put the chocolate sprinkles and portion size first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the labels on the bread and chocolate sprinkles. For unpackaged bread, ask about allergens before buying and, if it matters to your choice, find out which salt was used. | I need to be able to check that both products suit my ingredient preferences or allergies before serving them. For around 17% of consumers, this check is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘sourdough’ means ‘wholemeal’
Sourdough does not tell you whether bread is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes sourdough as a way of making bread from the type of grain used.
If you want a wholemeal base, check the name and ingredients of the exact loaf, then compare its nutritional information.
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Assuming baker’s salt is iodised
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes how iodine is added through baker’s salt, but that does not tell you which salt was used in a specific loaf.
Check the ingredients list or ask which salt was used for unpackaged bread. Don’t infer the answer from words such as ‘sourdough’ or ‘rustic’.
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Choosing chocolate sprinkles based only on cocoa percentage
A stated cocoa percentage does not, by itself, tell you how much sugar a product contains or which allergens are present. For a 15 g serving of dark chocolate sprinkles, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists, among other things, 9.1 g of sugars and 1.3 g of saturated fat.
Compare the current nutritional and allergen information for the variety you’re buying, and choose the amount of topping separately.
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Leaving it until serving time to look for fresh bread
You may need to visit a shop to find the rustic loaf you want. Check whether the specific variety is available before planning your Valentine’s Day breakfast around it.
Plan your purchase in advance or choose packaged bread so you can check its label and storage instructions.
Brands to consider for bread and chocolate sprinkles
De Ruijter
Worth considering if you’re looking at dark chocolate sprinkles for your topping. Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids; this information applies to this variety.
- The stated cocoa percentage gives you a specific feature to compare when choosing this variety.
- Also compare the nutritional and allergen information on the current packaging; the cocoa percentage is no substitute for these checks.
Venz
Another option for breakfast chocolate sprinkles. Albert Heijn states that Venz Hagelslag Puur contains at least 32% cocoa solids and comes in a 400 g pack.
- The product variety has a stated cocoa percentage and pack weight you can use for comparison.
- Don’t automatically apply details about Venz Puur to milk chocolate sprinkles or other Venz varieties.
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you want to look at a specific packaged wholemeal sourdough loaf. Albert Heijn describes AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson as having a 56-hour proving process using natural sourdough.
- The product information states that AH OerDesem volkoren Allinson contains 6.3 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the current packaging for the ingredients, nutritional value and allergens of the bread you buy.
Jumbo
A shop to consider if you want to look for rustic sourdough bread for breakfast. Jumbo describes its sourdough breads as having been matured for more than 24 hours with fresh sourdough.
- You can take the crust and type of bread available in store into account when choosing.
- Check the availability and product information for the specific loaf you want to base your breakfast around.
Lidl
A shop to consider for oven-fresh bread. Lidl Netherlands publishes ingredients and allergen information for its oven-fresh range.
- This information can help you choose a variety of bread.
- Check whether the specific bread is sourdough and which ingredients and allergens apply.
ALDI
A shop to consider for fresh, rustic or wholemeal bread. ALDI Netherlands says freshly baked bread is available in stores with an in-store bakery.
- You can assess the bread available in store by type and how you want to serve it.
- Read the label or shelf information if you’re specifically looking for sourdough or wholemeal bread.
Chocolate sprinkles and toppings on Joybuy
These products are toppings for a breakfast with bread; choose rusk or your preferred sourdough separately. When comparing products, consider the type of chocolate, pack size and allergen information.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
A dark chocolate variety if you want the chocolate sprinkles to stand out at breakfast. The pack contains 200 g; choose your bread separately.
According to the product information, this variety contains milk and soya. Check the current label before serving the topping.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
A milk chocolate variety for anyone who wants this type of chocolate sprinkles on their breakfast bread. The pack contains 400 g; this product is not sourdough bread.
According to the product information, this variety contains milk and soya. Check the allergens on the current label.
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Sprinkles Choca Flakes, 200 g
A flake topping to compare if you’re not set on classic chocolate sprinkles. The pack contains 200 g; serve this topping with bread or rusk chosen separately.
The product information lists cereals containing gluten and soya, and says that milk may be present as an allergen. Check the current label.
Frequently asked questions
Is rusk the same as sourdough bread?
No. Rusk and sourdough bread are different bread bases, even if you serve chocolate sprinkles on both. Choose the base you want for your Valentine’s Day breakfast, then check the label for both the base and the topping.
Does sourdough bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t assume that for every sourdough loaf. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how iodine can be present in bread through baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf, or ask which salt was used for unpackaged bread.
Does sourdough itself give bread a different nutritional profile from ordinary bread?
No, don’t assume so based on the method of preparation alone. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the distinction between, for example, white and wholemeal bread is more relevant when comparing fibre and other nutrients. Read the nutritional information for the bread you choose.
How do I check allergens in unpackaged bread?
Ask for allergen information before buying or check where the shop makes it available. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must also be available for unpackaged foods. Check the label on the chocolate sprinkles separately too.
Does the cocoa percentage tell me whether dark chocolate sprinkles suit my preferences?
No, the cocoa percentage is just one product detail. Also compare the ingredients, nutritional value per 100 g and allergens for the exact variety. For 15 g of dark chocolate sprinkles, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists, among other things, 9.1 g of sugars and 1.3 g of saturated fat. The packaging can help you decide how much to serve.