Organisers of a large buffet
If lots of guests will be having chocolate sprinkles, you’ll want to know how many portions you need and which pack sizes will suit. Remember to allow for topping up during the buffet, too.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Organisers responsible for allergen information
For a self-service buffet or a separate toppings station, guests need to know which allergens are present in the products you’ve chosen. That means checking the label for each individual type.
Organisers who care about flavour and presentation
For a brunch table, a familiar chocolate flavour might be the main attraction. At a dessert or cupcake station, the look of the topping may be what guides your choice.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the chocolate sprinkles will mainly be used on bread or as a decorative topping. Then estimate how many portions you’ll need and check the ingredients and allergens for the types you plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Estimate the number of portions and compare it with the net weight in grams. | If lots of guests will be having bread with chocolate sprinkles, I don’t want to run out halfway through or open far more packs than necessary. For around 33% of consumers, working out the right quantity comes first. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen list for each type you choose, and make that information available at the buffet. | For a self-service buffet, I want to be able to tell guests what’s in each topping before they help themselves. Around 25% of consumers give clear allergen information top priority. |
| Flavour and presentation | Choose between milk, dark and a decorative mix depending on whether you’re serving them on bread or as a topping. | For a dessert table on display, I’m looking for a topping that suits the presentation, while for bread I’d rather offer a familiar flavour. Flavour or appearance is the most important factor for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare the ingredients and, if it’s relevant to your buffet, the sugars per 100 g and per portion shown on the label. | If I want to take a particular ingredient preference into account, I need the nutritional information for the exact product. For around 17% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all chocolate sprinkles contain the same allergens
Product information varies between types: Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose for its milk chocolate sprinkles, while the Venz milk and vanilla type we checked lists milk, soya and wheat.
Use the packaging of the products you’ll actually serve to provide allergen information at the buffet. Update it if you change to a different type.
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Offering a decorative mix as the only option
An eye-catching topping might suit a dessert table, but its ingredients and allergens may differ from those of a standard milk or dark chocolate type.
Consider offering a decorative mix as a separately labelled option, and check the label for every type you serve.
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Choosing a supermarket product without checking availability
Lidl describes its 600 g pack of Mister Choc Dark as available in store only. If you need several packs for a buffet, that’s an important practical consideration when shopping.
Before you shop, check availability at the store you plan to visit and look at the label for the type you’ve chosen.
Brands compared
Jumbo
Own-label milk and dark chocolate sprinkles available in various pack sizes.
- Jumbo’s category listing includes 600 g packs of milk and dark chocolate sprinkles.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and availability of the exact type you choose.
De Ruijter
A brand to consider if familiar chocolate sprinkles would suit your buffet.
- Jumbo lists De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Sprinkles in a 390 g pack.
- Treat milk and dark as separate types; don’t assume the allergen information on one pack applies to the other.
Venz
A brand offering both chocolate sprinkles and a milk and vanilla type for a toppings station on display.
- The milk and vanilla type offers a different option for bread or decoration from standard chocolate sprinkles.
- The Venz milk and vanilla type we checked, in a 380 g pack, lists milk, soya and wheat. Check the label on the product you buy.
Albert Heijn
Own-label milk chocolate sprinkles in a 250 g pack.
- Albert Heijn’s product information gives a 20 g portion size and at least 20% cocoa solids for this type.
- The milk type we checked lists milk and lactose.
ALDI / Kiekeboe
Dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack, for anyone wanting to offer a dark chocolate flavour too.
- ALDI lists Kiekeboe Dark in a 600 g pack.
- Check local availability and the allergens on the packaging.
Lidl / Mister Choc
Dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
- The pack size listed by Lidl makes it easier to plan how much you’ll need for the buffet.
- Lidl lists this type as available in store only.
Chocolate sprinkles and toppings at Joybuy
These Joybuy products include milk chocolate sprinkles, dark chocolate sprinkles, a vanilla mix and chocolate chunks for bread or a toppings station. Choose a type to suit how it’ll be used at the buffet, and check the allergens on the pack you select.
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g'woon Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Smileys, 600 g
A 600 g pack for anyone wanting to serve chocolate sprinkles on bread or as a topping on display. Check the label before preparing allergen information for your guests.
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Venz Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, 400 g
A 400 g milk chocolate option for a buffet where you want to serve a familiar type of chocolate sprinkles. Use the label on this pack for allergen information.
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Venz Chocolate Sprinkles and Vanilla-Flavoured Sprinkles, 400 g
A 400 g mix to consider for a separate toppings station. Check the ingredients and allergens for this mix separately from those for standard chocolate sprinkles.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g
390 g of chocolate chunks for anyone looking for a different topping texture from standard chocolate sprinkles. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you choose.
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De Ruijter Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, 390 g
A 390 g dark chocolate option if you’d like to offer a different flavour alongside milk chocolate. Don’t assume you know the allergens from the word ‘dark’; check the label.
Frequently asked questions
How should I provide allergen information for loose chocolate sprinkles at the buffet?
Make the allergens present clear where guests serve themselves the unpackaged chocolate sprinkles. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that customers must be given this information for unpackaged food. Base it on the labels of the products actually on the table.
Can I offer milk chocolate sprinkles to someone with a milk allergy?
Don’t describe a product as suitable without checking the label on that exact pack. Albert Heijn lists milk and lactose in the milk chocolate sprinkles we checked. Always check the ingredients and allergens for other brands and types, too.
How do I work out how much chocolate sprinkles I’ll need for the buffet?
Estimate how many guests might have chocolate sprinkles and what portion size suits your buffet. Then compare the total with the net weight of the packs you’ve chosen, and allow for topping up.
How should I store opened chocolate sprinkles before the buffet?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the type you’ve chosen. Seal any opened pack as directed and check that the product is still suitable to serve before putting it out.