Who are chocolate sprinkles useful for?

Parents decorating cupcakes with their children

Sprinkles are ready to use as a topping. That means children don’t have to wait for an adult to chop or grate a chocolate bar.

Bakers who need to check for allergens

If a child or guest has a food allergy, the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ statements on the pack you choose will determine whether it’s suitable.

Families who want to decorate with shaped sprinkles

Mixes and shaped sprinkles look different from standard chocolate sprinkles. If you’re baking with young children, check whether the pack carries an age warning.

What should you look for when choosing?

Choose sprinkles that suit the decoration you have in mind. If anyone taking part has an allergy, checking the label should come before choosing by flavour or appearance.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Ready-to-use decoration Check whether the sprinkles are intended as a topping or decoration for bakes. Jumbo lists cupcakes as a suggested use for its milk chocolate sprinkles. I want children to decorate a cupcake without having to chop a bar first. An estimated 40% of consumers prioritise ready-to-use decoration.
Allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. If a child or guest has an allergy, I want to be able to assess whether the sprinkles I’ve chosen are suitable. For around 30% of consumers, checking for allergens is a priority.
Flavour and appearance Compare milk, dark and mixed sprinkles; for shaped sprinkles, check the age warning too. For our baking session, I’m looking for a particular chocolate flavour or decorations in shapes the children will like. An estimated 20% of consumers choose mainly by flavour and appearance.
Quantity and storage Compare the net weight and read the storage instructions on the pack. After one afternoon of baking, I don’t want to be left with more sprinkles than I need. For around 10% of consumers, pack size and storage are the main considerations.

Common baking mistakes

  • Assuming a vegan label means a product is suitable for a milk allergy

    PLUS labels its dark chocolate sprinkles as vegan, but also states that the product may contain milk and lactose.

    If you have a milk allergy, read all the allergen information on the pack. Don’t rely on the vegan label alone.

  • Choosing shaped sprinkles without checking the age guidance

    According to Jumbo’s product information, the shapes in Venz Rimboe Kroko are not suitable for children under 3 because of their size.

    Check the warning on the pack and don’t choose a version with these shapes for a child under that age.

  • Letting children taste raw batter

    The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against tasting raw dough or batter, especially for young children. Raw eggs and flour can contain harmful bacteria.

    Let children eat the bake only once it’s thoroughly cooked, and make sure they wash their hands after handling raw batter.

  • Looking for a plain bar when you need sprinkles

    A chocolate bar needs to be broken or grated before it can be used as a decoration; sprinkles can be scattered straight from the pack.

    Choose a pack of sprinkles if the children want to decorate the bakes themselves. Only look for a separate bar if that’s the product format you actually want.

Brands with relevant sprinkles

De Ruijter

Chocolate sprinkles in milk, dark and white varieties, among others, for anyone looking for a classic chocolate topping.

  • Albert Heijn lists cupcakes as a suggested use for the milk chocolate variety.
  • The milk chocolate variety contains milk, lactose and soya. Check the current label, as product information can change.

Venz

Rimboe sprinkles combine chocolate and vanilla flavours with shaped decorations for a more varied look.

  • The Kroko variety includes decorative shapes as well as sprinkles.
  • According to Jumbo’s product information, this variety contains milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. The shapes are not suitable for children under 3 because of their size.

Choca

Sprinkles and mixed sprinkles in 200 g packs for anyone looking for toppings without a separate shaped variety.

  • Jumbo describes the mixed variety as a combination of cocoa-flavoured fantasy sprinkles and vanilla-flavoured sprinkles.
  • The standard variety contains wheat and soya and may contain milk; the mixed variety also contains milk. If you have an allergy, check the label on the variety you choose.

Jumbo

Own-brand milk chocolate sprinkles in a 300 g pack.

  • Jumbo suggests using these sprinkles to decorate a cupcake.
  • The milk chocolate variety described contains milk. Check the pack if allergens are a consideration for your baking session.

PLUS

Own-brand dark chocolate sprinkles in a 300 g pack, with a vegan label on the variety described.

  • PLUS states that this variety contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
  • The sprinkles may contain milk and lactose. The vegan label is no substitute for checking allergens.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate sprinkles the same as individually wrapped chocolate bars?

No. Sprinkles are a topping, not individually wrapped bars. You can use them straight from the pack; to get the same effect with a bar, you’ll need to break or grate it first.

Can children taste raw batter while baking?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against tasting raw dough or batter, especially for young children. Raw eggs and flour can contain harmful bacteria, so wait until the bake is thoroughly cooked before letting children eat it.

How should I store sprinkles after decorating?

Store the sprinkles according to the instructions on the pack and seal it carefully after use. Check the best-before date too before using them at your next baking session.

How do I check chocolate sprinkles for allergens?

Read the ingredients and allergen information on the label of the pack you plan to use, even if the product has a vegan label. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergens must be clearly listed on the labels of prepacked foods. Check for any ‘may contain’ information too.