Choose dark chocolate sprinkles or chocolate flakes if you’re looking for a chocolate flavour to enjoy with coffee and cake. Traditional aniseed sprinkles are aniseed coated in sugar, so choose them for their crunchy decoration and aniseed flavour, not as a substitute for dark chocolate. If a particular cocoa content or avoiding allergens matters to you, check the label of the product you choose.
If you’d prefer something other than the aniseed flavour of traditional aniseed sprinkles, compare dark chocolate sprinkles and chocolate flakes. Check the stated cocoa content separately if it’s an important factor in your choice.
Aniseed sprinkles can be a good choice for cakes, cupcakes or biscuits if you’re after their crunchy sugar coating and distinctive aniseed flavour. PLUS also describes crushed aniseed sprinkles as a cake decoration.
If you’re buying sprinkles for several people, check the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for pre-packed products must be shown on the label.
First decide whether you want to taste chocolate or aniseed on your cake. Then compare the shape of the sprinkles and check the label of the product you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate flavour | Check whether it’s dark chocolate sprinkles or chocolate flakes. If you’re looking for a specific cocoa content, check the packaging. | With coffee and cake, I mainly want to taste chocolate, not the aniseed flavour of aniseed sprinkles; this chocolate option is a priority for around 46% of consumers. |
| Aniseed decoration | Choose between whole and crushed aniseed sprinkles, depending on the shape you want. | I want a visible, crunchy topping on my baked goods, and aniseed suits the occasion; this decoration is a priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list, allergen information and any warnings about the possible unintended presence of allergens. | If I’m buying for several people, I need to be able to check what they should avoid first; around 18% of consumers make checking the label their priority. |
According to PLUS, traditional De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles are aniseed coated in sugar. They have a different flavour to dark chocolate sprinkles or flakes.
Search for the type of product you want: aniseed sprinkles for aniseed flavour and decoration, or dark chocolate sprinkles for chocolate.
The term ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you the cocoa content of a specific type of chocolate sprinkles or flakes.
If a particular cocoa content matters to you, compare the stated cocoa solids on the current packaging.
A name such as ‘aniseed sprinkles’ or ‘dark chocolate sprinkles’ doesn’t tell you which allergens the product contains or what warnings it carries.
Before buying, read the label on the exact product you’re considering. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergen information for pre-packed products must be shown on the label.
When comparing products from the same brand, always check the product type and specific variety: aniseed sprinkles, chocolate sprinkles and chocolate flakes are not interchangeable.
A brand with both traditional aniseed sprinkles and dark chocolate sprinkles and flakes in the ranges shown by Jumbo and PLUS.
A supermarket own-brand worth considering if you’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles or dark chocolate flakes.
A brand with a flakes variety to compare if you’re looking for a cake topping.
These are dark chocolate sprinkles to consider as a cake topping. They’re a chocolate option, not traditional aniseed sprinkles; check the cocoa content and allergens for each product.
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An option to consider if you want a chocolate topping for cakes or cupcakes instead of aniseed sprinkles. Check the current label if a particular cocoa content or avoiding allergens is important to you.
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Dark chocolate sprinkles to compare as a topping for baked goods. Check the packaging for cocoa content and allergens before deciding whether this variety meets your needs.
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A dark chocolate topping to consider for cupcakes. Check the cocoa content and allergens on the current packaging if they’ll affect your choice.
No. The De Ruijter aniseed sprinkles described by PLUS are aniseed coated in sugar. If you’re looking for a chocolate flavour with coffee and cake, choose dark chocolate sprinkles or chocolate flakes.
Yes, aniseed sprinkles can be used to decorate baked goods. PLUS mentions crushed aniseed sprinkles for cupcakes and cakes, among other things; bear their sweet aniseed flavour in mind when choosing.
Sprinkles and flakes are different shapes of chocolate topping. Choose the shape you want on your cake, then compare the ingredients and cocoa content of the specific varieties; Jumbo lists both product types in its range overview.
Read the allergen information and any warnings on the label of the product you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that allergen information for pre-packed products must be shown on the label, so check each product separately.
