Parents handing out treats to a whole class
If every child needs to receive their own piece quickly, individually wrapped chocolate saves you preparation time. Loose chocolate sprinkles need a base and portions that you prepare yourself in advance.
Who is this choice for?
Parents taking school rules and allergies into account
Before you buy, ask what the school or after-school club allows and which ingredients children need to avoid. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises taking allergies and other dietary preferences into account when choosing treats for children.
Parents looking to give a small treat
If you want to keep portions small or hand out something other than chocolate, you could also consider fruit, raisins or plain popcorn. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping treat portions small.
What should you consider when choosing?
First, check the rules for your group. Then decide whether to prepare portions at home, hand out treats straight away or choose a chocolate-free alternative.
Chocolate sprinkles on a homemade treat
A good fit if: you’re preparing individual portions at home and using chocolate sprinkles to decorate a treat that’s allowed.
Consider: you’ll need a base and will have to prepare the portions yourself.
Individually wrapped chocolate
A good fit if: you want to be able to give each child their own piece quickly; for example, Albert Heijn lists individually wrapped chocolates in a Merci gift box.
Consider: individual wrappers don’t tell you whether the ingredients are suitable for every child.
A chocolate-free alternative
A good fit if: the party policy or the group’s preferences call for something different; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre suggests treats such as fruit, raisins and plain popcorn.
Consider: even with an edible alternative, check that it meets the group’s rules and dietary preferences.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| School rules and inclusion | Ask whether edible treats are allowed and find out about allergies and other dietary preferences. | If not every child can accept the treat, I want to know before I buy. Around 36% of consumers put school rules and inclusion first. |
| Ease of handing out | Check whether the pieces are individually wrapped and count how many you need; you’ll need to prepare chocolate sprinkles yourself. | For a large group, I want to be able to give each child their own portion quickly. Ease of handing out matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Portion size and nutritional choice | Check the portion you plan to give and compare nutritional information on the same basis, such as sugars per 100 g. | I want to keep the treat small or give something other than chocolate. Around 21% of consumers give this nutritional choice top priority. |
| Quantity and availability | Match the quantity to the number of recipients and check that the exact variety is available. | Once I’ve chosen something suitable for all the children, I want to be able to buy enough. For around 14% of consumers, having the required quantity available comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming loose chocolate sprinkles are ready to hand out
According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, chocolate sprinkles are mainly used as a bread topping or a decoration. To put them in treat bags, you’ll need to make individual portions yourself or add them to another treat.
Choose chocolate sprinkles to decorate portions you’ve prepared in advance, or choose a product with individual pieces you can count.
Putting treats together yourself also takes time and requires a suitable base.
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Assuming individual wrappers take care of allergy concerns
A chocolate assortment may contain ingredients that aren’t suitable for every child. Albert Heijn lists milk, peanuts, wheat, soya and egg among the allergens in its Celebrations mix.
Ask about allergies and check the allergen information on the exact packaging before handing out an assortment.
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Confusing a reduced-sugar claim with a small portion
A comparison with another variety of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much sugar is in the portion you’re handing out. Albert Heijn compares its hagelslag melk minder suiker with its own AH Melk hagelslag.
Check the nutritional information as well as the amount you plan to give each child. Consider another treat if chocolate isn’t essential.
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Waiting until after you’ve bought the treats to check the group’s rules
A school or after-school club may have its own policy on treats or celebrations. This means an edible treat might not be suitable for the event you’ve chosen.
Check the policy and the group’s dietary preferences first. Then choose the type of product and the quantity you need.
Brands and product ranges compared
De Ruijter
Chocolate sprinkles to use as an ingredient in a homemade treat.
- Albert Heijn also describes the milk variety as a topping for things such as yoghurt and baked goods.
- The milk variety reviewed lists milk, lactose and soya as allergens; check the label of the variety you choose.
Venz
Milk chocolate sprinkles for anyone preparing treat portions themselves.
- The Venz milk variety reviewed is sold as chocolate sprinkles, so you can decide how to use it on individual treats.
- Jumbo lists milk, soya and lactose as allergens in the milk variety reviewed. Loose chocolate sprinkles aren’t individually wrapped treats.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket own brand with a milk chocolate sprinkles variety that has been compared with its standard own-brand variety.
- Albert Heijn claims AH Hagelslag melk minder suiker contains 30% less sugar than AH Melk hagelslag; this comparison applies only to these varieties.
- Check the current nutritional and allergen information on the packaging you choose; the claim doesn’t determine the size of the portion you hand out.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-brand option that includes milk chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack.
- Jumbo lists 30 portions and 68 g of sugars per 100 g for this variety; use the information on the exact packaging when planning portions.
- Jumbo lists milk as an allergen for the 600 g variety reviewed. For a children’s treat, you’ll need to use the sprinkles on individual portions yourself.
Kiekeboe (ALDI)
Dark chocolate sprinkles for anyone putting together treats with sprinkles themselves.
- ALDI Netherlands describes the dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed as a 600 g pack.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging before choosing this variety for a group.
Mister Choc (Lidl)
Dark chocolate sprinkles to use as an ingredient in a homemade treat.
- Lidl lists the variety reviewed in a 600 g pack.
- Lidl says this variety is only available in store; check the label there for ingredients and allergens, too.
Products for this party treat
These Joybuy products show two ways to put together a chocolate treat: hand out individual chocolates or use chocolate sprinkles on portions prepared in advance. Whichever you choose, check the group’s rules, how many portions you need and the packaging.
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KitKat Mini Milk Chocolate Sharing Bag 284 g
For anyone looking to hand out chocolate minis to each child. Check how many individual pieces are in the bag, whether they’re individually wrapped and which allergens are listed on the current packaging.
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Venz Sprinkles Beer Milk Vanilla 380 g
For anyone looking to use chocolate sprinkles on homemade treats prepared in individual portions. You’ll need a base; check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for this exact variety.
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KitKat Strawberry Flavor 10pcs 113 g
For anyone looking to put one chocolate item in each treat bag. Before deciding how many you need, check the number of pieces, individual wrappers and allergens on the exact packaging.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection 125 g
For anyone considering a chocolate assortment as a treat. Check how many pieces are in the pack, whether they’re individually wrapped and which allergens apply to the contents you’ve chosen.
Frequently asked questions
Can I always hand out chocolate sprinkles or chocolate at school?
No. Check the school or after-school club’s rules before you buy. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also describes celebration policies where a birthday is marked without handing out treats, so local rules determine what’s suitable.
Can I put loose chocolate sprinkles straight into a treat bag?
Chocolate sprinkles are more practical as an ingredient than as a treat to hand out on their own. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo describes them as a bread topping or decoration; to put them in a treat bag, you’ll need to make a suitable individual portion yourself or use them on another treat.
Is a mixed box of chocolates suitable for every child?
You can’t tell from the individual wrappers alone. Albert Heijn lists milk, peanuts, wheat, soya and egg among the allergens in its Celebrations mix. Ask about allergies and check the allergen information on the exact box you’re planning to hand out.
Where can I find allergen information for packaged chocolate?
Check the label on the exact pack. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on the label of prepacked foods. Check it before buying anything for a group.
How should I store chocolate sprinkles or chocolate until the party?
Follow the storage instructions and use-by or best-before date on the packaging you buy. This takes the requirements of the variety you’ve chosen into account, rather than applying one storage recommendation to all chocolate sprinkles and chocolate.