If you want to serve something straight away
Want to put out or bring along a treat for guests to help themselves to with their coffee? A box of individual chocolates is better suited to that than a topping.
Which option is right for you?
If you’re serving brunch or dessert
Will you also have bread, yoghurt, porridge or cake on the table? Chocolate sprinkles can then be an accompaniment, rather than a sweet to enjoy on its own.
If you need to consider allergies
If a guest has a food allergy or intolerance, compare the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging of the exact product. The name or picture alone isn’t enough.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether guests should be able to help themselves straight away or whether you’re looking for a topping for bread or dessert. Then check the packaging with your guests in mind.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to serve | Check whether the box contains individual chocolates and whether they’re individually wrapped. | If I’m only serving coffee, I want everyone to be able to help themselves straight away. Around 42% of consumers give priority to being able to share them easily. |
| Topping for brunch or dessert | Decide whether you’re also serving bread, yoghurt, porridge or cake. | For brunch or dessert, I’m looking for something to sprinkle over food, not an individual chocolate. For around 25% of consumers, this topping function comes first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current packaging of the exact product. | If a guest has a known allergy, I want to be able to check the label against their requirements. Checking allergens is the main concern for around 33% of consumers when making this choice. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking of chocolate sprinkles as a sweet to serve with coffee
Chocolate sprinkles are intended as a topping for bread or other foods. Without bread, yoghurt or cake, guests can’t enjoy them in the same way as they would individual chocolates.
If you’re only serving coffee, choose something that’s ready to serve. Choose chocolate sprinkles when you’re also serving something to sprinkle them on.
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Assuming a chocolate selection is suitable for every guest
Different chocolates in one box may contain different ingredients and allergens. An individual wrapper doesn’t automatically make a chocolate suitable for someone with an allergy.
Ask about your guest’s requirements and read the allergen information on the exact packaging before buying and serving.
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Relying on a range you’ve seen before
A shop’s range can change. ALDI, for example, says that special-buy items can sell out quickly when demand is high.
Check what’s currently available shortly before serving coffee and decide which alternative treat would work in the same way.
Brands and shops to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter Hagelfeest is a chocolate sprinkles mix for bread and other foods you can sprinkle it over.
- Albert Heijn lists bread, yoghurt, porridge and baked goods among the suggested uses for Hagelfeest.
- These chocolate sprinkles aren’t a substitute for a chocolate you can serve without any further preparation. If anyone has an allergy, check the label of the product you choose.
Venz
The Venz product reviewed is a 400 g dark chocolate sprinkles variant.
- Jumbo describes it as suitable for bread and as a topping for yoghurt, porridge and baked goods, among other things.
- This product also needs something to be served on alongside coffee. If anyone has an allergy, check the current packaging.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s chocolate gifts category features different types of boxes and assortments.
- You can compare individual products by size and the way the chocolate is packaged.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you actually buy.
Jumbo
Jumbo provides product information for both chocolate sprinkles and chocolate gifts and pralines.
- For individual products, you can check details such as the weight and listed allergens.
- Check the current packaging before serving; category information may not describe the exact product.
ALDI: Moser Roth en Choceur
At ALDI, Moser Roth chocolate assortments and Choceur pralines and mini assortments are among the options to consider for a coffee-time treat.
- ALDI describes Moser Roth Belgian chocolates as a 400 g assortment with different fillings.
- Special-buy items can sell out quickly, so check what’s currently available and read the label on the box you choose.
Products for your coffee table
The first three products are chocolate assortments to serve with coffee. The last two are chocolate sprinkles for a coffee table where you’re also serving bread or another suitable base.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack, 288 g
A gift box of chocolates to share with coffee. If you want guests to be able to help themselves to a portion, check whether the bars are individually wrapped. If anyone has an allergy, read the label.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate selection for serving a variety of flavours with coffee. Check the packaging to see whether the chocolates are individually wrapped and, if anyone has an allergy, check the ingredients.
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Milka Chocolate Assortment Party Pack, 143 g
A chocolate assortment that’s ready to serve with coffee. If you want to portion it out in advance, check how many pieces there are and whether they’re individually wrapped. If anyone has an allergy, read the label.
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De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, 390 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for enjoying with coffee alongside bread or another suitable base, rather than as an individual chocolate to hand out. If anyone has an allergy, check the label of this product.
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g'woon Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, 400 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles to consider if you’re also serving bread. They’re a topping, not a chocolate to share on its own. If anyone has an allergy, check the current packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Should I choose a box of chocolates or chocolate sprinkles for coffee with friends?
Choose a box of chocolates if you want something ready to share or to take along as a gift. Chocolate sprinkles are a good choice when you’re also serving bread, yoghurt or cake for guests to sprinkle them over.
Which allergens should I check?
Check the ingredients and allergens on the exact packaging against your guest’s allergy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists 14 allergens that must be declared on the label. Also look out for relevant warnings about possible cross-contamination.
How should I store chocolate and chocolate sprinkles until coffee time?
Follow the storage instructions and use-by or best-before date on the packaging. The Merci box reviewed advises protecting it from heat; the chocolate sprinkles products reviewed say to store them in a cool, dry place.
Is online product information enough if a guest has an allergy?
Use online information to compare products in advance, but read the label on the product you’ve bought before serving it. Albert Heijn warns in its product information that ingredients and allergy information can change.