Hosts who want to serve something with coffee straight away
If you’re not serving bread or cake, you can put chocolates or individual chocolate pieces straight on the table. A gift box is another option if you’d like to take something for your host.
Which option is right for you?
Hosts who are also serving brunch or cake
With rolls, yoghurt, porridge or homemade cake, you can serve chocolate sprinkles for guests to scatter over the top. Without something to sprinkle them on, they’re not a standalone treat to serve with coffee.
Hosts who need to cater for guests’ allergies
If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, check the specific packaging carefully. Both chocolate sprinkles and assorted chocolates may contain allergens, and ingredients vary from product to product.
What should you consider when choosing?
A box of chocolates or individual chocolates
Choose this if: you want to serve individual pieces with coffee without any preparation, or take a small gift with you.
Bear in mind: the ingredients may vary between the different types of chocolate in an assorted box.
Chocolate sprinkles
Choose this if: you’re serving coffee with bread, yoghurt or cake that guests can sprinkle them over.
Bear in mind: you’ll need something to serve the sprinkles on, and they don’t come in individual portions.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving straight away | Decide whether guests can help themselves to individual chocolates, or whether you’re also serving bread, yoghurt or cake. | If there’s only coffee on the table, I want to serve something guests can help themselves to straight away. For around 36% of consumers, being ready to serve is the top priority. |
| Quantity and preparation | Check the pack weight and what else you’ll need to serve everyone. | For brunch, I want enough for the rolls or cake, without having to prepare a separate treat for everyone. For around 29% of consumers, the quantity needed matters most. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose. If anyone needs to avoid certain ingredients, check with your guests beforehand. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in the treat. For around 21% of consumers, checking this is their main concern. |
| Flavour | Choose between dark, milk or assorted chocolate, and check the ingredients of filled chocolates. | Once I know how I’m going to serve the chocolate, I want to choose a flavour that suits my guests. For around 14% of consumers, flavour is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
-
Treating chocolate sprinkles like individual chocolates
Chocolate sprinkles are made to be sprinkled. Without bread, yoghurt or cake, they’re less convenient for guests to help themselves to.
First, decide what you’ll serve alongside the coffee: choose individual chocolates for a treat that can be served on its own, or chocolate sprinkles if you have something to put them on.
Preparing bread or baked goods also takes time.
-
Assuming an assorted box is suitable for every guest
The different chocolates in one pack may contain a range of ingredients and allergens. You should also check the ingredients of each type of chocolate sprinkles.
If necessary, ask your guests beforehand what they need to avoid, and read the information on the packaging you’re actually serving.
-
Relying only on an online product description
If a guest has a food allergy, the ingredients in the pack you’ve chosen are what matter.
Check the label on that pack before serving, even if you’ve already looked at the product online.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Chocolate sprinkles for bread and other toppings at breakfast, brunch or a coffee break with cake.
- Jumbo lists dark and milk chocolate options, as well as chocolate sprinkles from the Specials range.
- Serve with bread, yoghurt or cake if you’d like guests to enjoy the sprinkles with their coffee.
Venz
Chocolate sprinkles in a range of chocolate flavours, best served with something to sprinkle them over.
- Jumbo lists dark, milk, white and assorted varieties.
- The Venz dark chocolate variety listed by Albert Heijn contains milk and soya. Check the allergen information on the pack you choose.
Mister Choc
Lidl lists Mister Choc Dark Chocolate Sprinkles for anyone who wants to serve dark chocolate sprinkles with bread or baked goods.
- The listed pack contains 600 g.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose.
Choceur
ALDI lists Choceur praline chocolates as an alternative to chocolate sprinkles when you want to serve individual chocolates.
- The listed pack of pralines contains 200 g.
- Check the pack for the ingredients and serving format of the specific variety.
Moser Roth
An ALDI chocolate brand with a range of options for anyone looking to serve chocolate with coffee.
- ALDI lists chocolates and truffles among its products.
- Check the packaging of each product you choose for its flavours, ingredients and allergens.
Products for both ways of serving
This selection of Joybuy products includes chocolates to serve with coffee and chocolate sprinkles for coffee with bread, yoghurt or cake. Decide how you want to serve them first, then compare the packs within that category.
Image unavailable
Tony's Chocolonely chocolate gift pack, 288 g
A chocolate gift pack for anyone looking to take a present along or serve chocolate with coffee. If your guests have allergies, check the ingredients on the pack.
Image unavailable
Merci Petits chocolate collection, 125 g
A selection of chocolates for anyone looking to serve them with coffee or find a small thank-you gift. If you need to cater for allergies, check the ingredients on the pack you choose.
Image unavailable
Milka Thank You pralines with milk cream
Pralines for anyone looking to serve individual chocolates with coffee or give a small gift. Check the ingredients and allergens if you’re serving them to guests.
Image unavailable
g'woon dark chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for a coffee break with bread, yoghurt or cake. Make sure there’s something to sprinkle them on, and check the label if your guests have allergies.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone serving bread, yoghurt or cake alongside coffee. They’re not a standalone chocolate treat; check the allergen information on the pack before serving.
Frequently asked questions
What should I serve with coffee if I’m not serving bread or cake?
You can serve chocolates or a box of chocolates on their own. Chocolate sprinkles are a better fit if guests can scatter them over bread, yoghurt or cake.
How should I store chocolate for serving with coffee?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. For Venz milk and vanilla chocolate sprinkles, Joybuy recommends a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. For other products, check their own labels.
Should I check chocolate for allergens when I have guests over?
Yes. Check the packaging of the chocolate sprinkles or chocolate you’re going to serve, especially if a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens that must be declared on labels. If you’re serving an assorted box, don’t assume all the chocolates have the same ingredients.
Is dark chocolate enough to tell me what to choose?
No. The term ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you whether the flavour and ingredients will suit your guests. Choose a type of chocolate based on their preferences, and check the nutrition information and allergens for the specific product.