Holiday gift buyers
If you want to give or share chocolate, start by looking at chocolates or an assortment. Check the packaging, fillings and allergens before choosing something for someone else.
Who is each product type for?
Holiday breakfast planners
Chocolate sprinkles are the right product type for rusks, bread or yoghurt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises sealing an opened pack properly and storing it in a dry place.
Shoppers who need to check ingredients
If you have an allergy or intolerance, the information on the exact pack is what matters. The chocolate sprinkle varieties and chocolate products described list different allergens, so don’t assume what they contain based only on whether they’re labelled milk or dark.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you’re looking for a gift or a breakfast topping. Then consider the conditions during your holiday and the packaging of the product you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Check whether the pack contains chocolates or an assortment, or whether it contains sprinkles for rusks and bread. | If I want to give something, I look for chocolate that’s intended as a gift, not a pack of breakfast topping. For around 29% of consumers, product type would be their main concern. |
| Storage and taking it with you | Read the storage advice and check whether an opened pack can be sealed securely again. | When I’m travelling, I want to keep chocolate away from heat and store chocolate sprinkles somewhere dry. For around 29% of consumers, storage and transport would come first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety, especially if you’re buying a gift for someone else. | If I need to take the recipient’s preferences or allergies into account, I want to know what each variety contains. For around 21% of consumers, checking this would be the main priority. |
| Type and quantity | Compare the net weight and stated details within the same product type, such as whether it’s milk or dark chocolate and, where stated, the cocoa content. | If I’m taking enough chocolate sprinkles for several holiday breakfasts, I don’t want to choose an awkward pack. Around 21% of consumers would give the most weight to type and quantity. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a pack of chocolate sprinkles as a chocolate gift
Chocolate sprinkles are intended as a topping or decoration, while chocolates and assortments are a different product type. A pack of sprinkles won’t necessarily have the presentation you’re looking for in a gift.
Before comparing products, decide whether the chocolate is intended as a gift, for sharing or to sprinkle on rusks.
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Assuming dark chocolate is free from milk or other allergens
The dark chocolate sprinkle varieties reviewed have different allergen information. And with an assortment, the ingredients may vary between chocolates.
If you have an allergy or intolerance, read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack; don’t rely on the name or cocoa content alone.
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Forgetting about storage conditions while on holiday
Heat and moisture can affect the condition of chocolate while you’re travelling and during your stay. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing chocolate sprinkles in a dry place and sealing the pack properly.
Follow the storage advice on the label and choose an amount you can store suitably during your journey.
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Applying advice about baker’s salt to chocolate
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodine-enriched baker’s salt in relation to bread. It’s not a feature you can use to distinguish between chocolate sprinkles and a box of chocolates.
If you have a question about the salt used in bread, check the ingredients list on the bread or ask the baker.
Brands to compare for chocolate sprinkles
De Ruijter
The milk chocolate sprinkles described are intended as a topping or decoration, not as a box of chocolates.
- The 390 g milk variety described by Albert Heijn lists a minimum of 20% cocoa solids.
- Check the chosen variety for milk, lactose and soya information.
Venz
The dark chocolate sprinkles described are a topping for breakfast or baking.
- The 400 g dark variety described by Albert Heijn lists a minimum of 32% cocoa solids.
- Read the allergen information for the exact variety; the dark sprinkles described list milk, soya and possible traces of lactose.
Jumbo
The milk chocolate sprinkles described come in a 600 g pack for use as a topping.
- Jumbo lists a minimum of 20% cocoa solids for this milk variety.
- Milk is listed as an allergen for this variety; check the pack if the ingredients are important to your choice.
Fairtrade Original
The dark chocolate sprinkles described come in a 380 g pack.
- Jumbo lists a minimum of 32% cocoa solids for this variety.
- The product information states that this variety may contain milk; check the label if you have an allergy.
Mister Choc
The dark sprinkles described by Lidl Netherlands come in a 600 g pack.
- The stated pack size makes it possible to compare the pack with other chocolate sprinkles.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack if they affect your choice.
Chocolate gifts and chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy
For a gift, you can browse a chocolate assortment or pralines here. For breakfast on rusks, there are milk and dark chocolate sprinkles to choose from. Decide which product type you want before comparing the packs.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection – 125 g
A chocolate assortment to give or share; the pack contains 125 g. Check the fillings and allergens on the label for the recipient.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles – 400 g
Milk chocolate sprinkles for breakfast with rusks or bread; the pack contains 400 g. Check the allergens and storage advice on the pack.
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Milka Thank You Pralines Milk Cream – 110 g
Pralines for anyone looking to give filled chocolates rather than a breakfast topping; the pack contains 110 g. Read the ingredients and allergens before choosing them for someone else.
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g'woon dark chocolate sprinkles – 400 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone looking for a topping for rusks or bread; the pack contains 400 g. Check the ingredients and allergens for this variety on the label.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure – 390 g
Dark chocolate sprinkles for a holiday breakfast with rusks or bread; the pack contains 390 g. Check the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the pack you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate sprinkles an alternative to a box of chocolates as a holiday gift?
Not if you’re mainly looking to present a gift or share chocolate. Chocolate sprinkles are a topping or decoration for rusks and bread, among other things; for a chocolate gift, look at the packaging and ingredients of chocolates or an assortment.
How should I store chocolate sprinkles and chocolates during my holiday?
Store chocolate sprinkles in a dry place and seal the pack securely after opening, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. For chocolates, follow the instructions on the packaging and keep heat and direct sunlight in mind while travelling.
Which allergens should I check when giving chocolate as a gift?
Read the allergen information on the exact pack before choosing chocolate for someone else. The products described include information about milk, soya and nuts, among other allergens; the ingredients may vary between types in an assortment.
Does iodine-enriched baker’s salt matter when choosing chocolate sprinkles?
No. Don’t use baker’s salt as a criterion when choosing chocolate sprinkles or a box of chocolates. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodine-enriched baker’s salt in relation to bread; if you want to know what’s in the bread you’re having with your topping, read the ingredients list or ask the baker.