Choose crushed aniseed sprinkles if you want an aniseed flavour and a crunchy decoration. Choose a separate cocoa or chocolate product if Fairtrade cocoa is also a requirement. Product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo describes De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as sugared aniseed without cocoa, and with wheat starch. Check the current certification mark, associated claim and allergens on the packaging of the cocoa or chocolate product.
You want to choose a product for the cocoa or chocolate in your recipe whose Fairtrade certification mark and associated claim on the packaging match what you’re looking for. A topping of crushed aniseed sprinkles serves a different purpose.
You’re looking for a crunchy decoration for cupcakes, cake or a dessert. Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as crushed, sugared aniseed; you’ll need a separate ingredient for a chocolate flavour.
Check every part of the baked goods, including the decoration. Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g; Fairtrade Original states that Hagelslag Puur 380 g may contain milk.
First decide whether you’re looking for an aniseed decoration, cocoa in your recipe or a sprinkle-on chocolate finish. Then check the certification mark and label of every ingredient you actually use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade claim for cocoa | Check the certification mark and exact claim on the cocoa or chocolate product. Read the traceability information too: Fairtrade allows mass balance for cocoa. | If I want to use Fairtrade cocoa in my Christmas baking, I want to know which ingredient the certification mark applies to. This check is the top priority for an estimated 45% of consumers. |
| Aniseed flavour and decoration | Choose crushed aniseed sprinkles for an aniseed topping, cocoa powder for cocoa in a recipe, or chocolate sprinkles for a sprinkle-on chocolate finish. | For my cake or cupcakes, I want the flavour and crunchy texture of crushed aniseed sprinkles, not a substitute for cocoa. This decoration comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current label for every ingredient. The De Ruijter sprinkles described contain wheat starch; Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur 380 g may contain milk. | When I’m making baked goods for someone with an allergy, the topping needs to be suitable too. Around 22% of consumers give this check the highest priority. |
According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes are sugared aniseed, not chocolate sprinkles. So they don’t replace cocoa or chocolate in a recipe.
If you want both flavours, use the sprinkles as a decoration and choose the cocoa or chocolate ingredient separately.
Lidl Netherlands and ALDI Netherlands describe their cocoa and certification policies, but a statement about a product range won’t tell you which certification mark is on an individual pack. ALDI also mentions several certification schemes, including Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and EU organic.
Check the certification mark and associated claim on the specific product you want to use.
Fairtrade allows mass balance for cocoa. So a Fairtrade claim doesn’t automatically mean that the cocoa in a pack has been physically kept separate from non-certified cocoa.
If physical traceability is essential to you, read what the packaging says about it before choosing a product.
Toppings can also affect who can eat your baked goods: the De Ruijter sprinkles described contain wheat starch, and Fairtrade Original Hagelslag Puur 380 g may contain milk.
Before serving, check the current labels for the main recipe, filling and all decorations.
These names can help you distinguish between the roles of aniseed sprinkles, cocoa and chocolate. Always check the certification mark and ingredients for each individual product.
According to product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo, De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g are an aniseed decoration that can also be used on baked goods.
Fairtrade Original describes cocoa powder for recipes containing cocoa and dark chocolate sprinkles as a product to sprinkle over food.
Lidl Netherlands describes the certification of cocoa in its own-brand products and mentions Fairtrade Sourcing Program requirements for own-brand seasonal chocolate around occasions such as Christmas.
ALDI Netherlands says that cocoa in its products is certified under Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance or EU organic schemes.
This cocoa powder suits you if you want to use cocoa as a separate baking ingredient. If you also want the aniseed flavour of crushed aniseed sprinkles, choose those separately as a decoration and check the Fairtrade claim on the cocoa powder packaging.
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An option if you’re looking for cocoa powder as a separate ingredient for Christmas baking, rather than an aniseed topping.
Pack size: 125 g. Before using it in a recipe, check the current label for the Fairtrade certification mark, associated claim and allergens.
No. The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g described aren’t chocolate: product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists sugared aniseed and doesn’t include cocoa as an ingredient. If you want to use Fairtrade cocoa, choose a separate cocoa or chocolate product and check the certification mark and claim on the packaging.
No, not necessarily: Fairtrade allows mass balance for cocoa. If physically segregated cocoa is important to your choice, read the information provided with the certification mark.
Use crushed aniseed sprinkles when you want an aniseed flavour and a crunchy decoration; use cocoa powder when cocoa needs to be an ingredient in the recipe. For a sprinkle-on chocolate finish, you can choose chocolate sprinkles separately, checking the label and any allergens.
At the very least, check the current labels of every ingredient used in your baked goods. Jumbo lists wheat starch in De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g; Fairtrade Original states that Hagelslag Puur 380 g may contain milk. Check the other ingredients in your recipe too.
No, you don’t have to buy everything from one retailer. Lidl Netherlands and ALDI Netherlands publish information about cocoa and certification, but check which certification mark and claim actually appear on the packaging of each individual product.
