Home bakers making a cake without an oven
You want to add sprinkles to a chilled cake or use them as decoration just before serving. Albert Heijn Allerhande uses chocolate sprinkles in a no-bake chocolate cake.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone who cares about the size of the sprinkles
You’re looking for a topping for cream, icing or cupcakes and want to know whether the sprinkles are fine or more eye-catching. Jumbo lists products such as Kleintjes Strooibaar, while Albert Heijn also mentions an XXL variety for cupcakes.
Anyone comparing labels and pack sizes
You compare ingredients, allergens and pack sizes before choosing sprinkles for a recipe. These details can vary between varieties, even within the same brand.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the sprinkles are going on crispbread or a finished cake, or whether they need to go in the oven during baking. Then compare their size and shape, the quantity you need and the label of the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| When you’ll use them | Check whether you’ll add the sprinkles after baking; if you want to bake them into a cake, look for instructions for the product you’ve chosen. | I want to add sprinkles to a no-bake cake or scatter them over a finished cake. For around 31% of consumers considering sprinkles for cake, when they’ll be used is the main priority. |
| Size and texture | Compare the variety name and the appearance of the sprinkles; ‘medium sliced’ isn’t a standard size for chocolate sprinkles. | I’d prefer a fine layer on my cake rather than prominent XXL sprinkles, or the other way around. For around 23% of these consumers, the choice of sprinkle size is the main consideration. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack weight with the amount of sprinkles your recipe calls for. | I want enough for several cakes, but I need less for a single, thin layer of decoration. Around 23% of these consumers prioritise the quantity they need. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack of the exact variety; check the nutrition information per 100 g or per serving if needed. | I want to know which ingredients and allergens are in my chosen sprinkles before using them. For around 23% of these consumers, the label is the first priority. |
Common mistakes
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Treating ‘medium sliced’ as a standard size
Retailers sell products under names such as Kleintjes Strooibaar and XXL. These don’t establish a standard size for a medium chocolate sprinkle.
Compare the full variety name and look at the sprinkles on the pack if their appearance will affect the finish of your cake.
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Baking in sprinkles intended for chilled finishes without checking
Albert Heijn Allerhande’s no-bake cake recipe shows how to use sprinkles without baking them in the oven. It doesn’t tell you how a particular variety will behave in cake batter during baking.
For an oven-baked recipe, check for specific baking instructions or ask the manufacturer how that variety is intended to be used.
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Relying on the brand instead of checking the label
Allergens vary between varieties: according to Albert Heijn’s product information, De Ruijter Intens Puur contains milk and soya and may contain lactose. For De Ruijter Puur and Vanille, Jumbo lists milk, soya, wheat and cereals containing gluten, among other allergens.
Before use, read the current packaging for the exact variety you’re buying.
Brands compared
De Ruijter
De Ruijter offers several varieties of chocolate sprinkles, including Kleintjes Strooibaar and Intens Puur.
- Albert Heijn states that Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids.
- Check allergens for each variety; a mention of baked goods isn’t specific guidance on baking the sprinkles into a cake.
Venz
Venz offers standard chocolate sprinkles, as well as varieties labelled XXL.
- Albert Heijn mentions a Venz XXL variety for use on a cupcake.
- Albert Heijn marked the specific XXL Puur variety as ‘discontinued’; check which varieties your chosen retailer stocks.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists own-brand dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
- The stated pack size can be compared with the quantity your recipe calls for.
- Check the ingredients and intended use of your chosen variety separately.
AH
Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack.
- The product information lists ingredients, making it easier to compare this variety with other chocolate sprinkles.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredient and allergen information may change, so read the current label.
Kiekeboe (ALDI)
ALDI lists Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack.
- The stated weight helps you match the pack size to your recipe.
- Check availability and the information on the pack when you buy.
Mister Choc (Lidl)
Lidl lists Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack.
- The pack size is a useful point of comparison for larger recipes.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutrition information on the pack before choosing this variety.
Chocolate sprinkles for chilled finishes at Joybuy
These chocolate sprinkles are suited to crispbread and to finishing a cake or cupcake after baking. The product names don’t specify a medium-sized sprinkle or provide instructions for baking them in the oven.
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g'woon milk chocolate sprinkles with smileys, 600 g
An option if you’re looking specifically for the shapes mentioned in the product name to finish a cake or cupcake.
The pack contains 600 g. Check the shape and ingredients on the pack; the shapes don’t indicate a standard medium sprinkle size.
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De Ruijter Intense dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
A good choice if you want to use dark chocolate sprinkles as a chilled topping for a cupcake or cake.
The pack contains 200 g. For an oven-baked recipe, check the baking instructions for this variety and read the allergens on the current label.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
A milk chocolate variety for use as a chilled topping on a cupcake or finished cake.
The pack contains 400 g. Check the appearance of the sprinkles on the pack if size matters, and read the instructions before baking them into a cake.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
A dark chocolate sprinkle variety for finishing a chilled cake or cupcake.
The pack contains 390 g. Check the size of the sprinkles and allergens on the pack; if you want to bake them in, follow instructions for this specific variety.
Frequently asked questions
Is ‘medium sliced’ a useful size description for chocolate sprinkles on cake?
No. Don’t treat ‘medium sliced’ as a standard size for chocolate sprinkles. Instead, compare the exact variety and look at the sprinkles on the pack. Retail names such as Kleintjes and XXL suggest different sizes, not a standard measurement.
Can I bake standard chocolate sprinkles into a cake in the oven?
Don’t assume they’re suitable for baking into a cake unless there are instructions for the variety you’ve chosen. Albert Heijn Allerhande uses sprinkles in a cake that isn’t baked in the oven; for an oven-baked cake, choose a product with suitable baking instructions or ask the manufacturer.
Which allergens should I check in chocolate sprinkles?
Check the allergens for the exact variety, as they differ from product to product. The product information for De Ruijter Intens Puur lists milk and soya and warns that it may contain lactose; for De Ruijter Puur and Vanille, Jumbo also lists wheat and cereals containing gluten. Always read the current label.
Does baker’s salt mean that chocolate sprinkles automatically contain iodine?
No. Information about baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which ingredients a specific variety of chocolate sprinkles contains. Check the pack of the variety you’ve chosen, and ask the manufacturer for clarification if you need this information to make your decision.