Fans of dark chocolate with a high cocoa content
You want to be able to read the cocoa content on the chocolate bar and see the crushed aniseed sprinkles mainly as a decoration for the pepernoten.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Home bakers who want to use sprinkles as a finishing touch
You want to keep the distinctive finish provided by the sprinkles, while choosing your dark chocolate separately.
Home bakers who read labels carefully
You want to check the ingredients and allergens in both the chocolate and the sprinkles before combining them in one treat.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide what cocoa content you want in the chocolate coating. Then consider how you’ll use the sprinkles and check the labels on both products.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Check the percentage on the exact bar. Albert Heijn lists Delicata bars with at least 70% or 85% cocoa; Lidl lists a 90% bar that’s only available in store. | If I’m looking for a high cocoa content, I choose the chocolate first, not the sprinkles. This cocoa content is the most important factor for around 50% of consumers. |
| Sprinkles as decoration | Check which crushed aniseed sprinkles you’re buying and how you want to apply them. Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes in a 270 g pack. | I want the sprinkles to be visible on the pepernoten, without assuming they’ll provide the dark chocolate flavour. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this finishing touch. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current labels on both products. Albert Heijn lists soya and possible traces of other allergens for the Delicata bars mentioned. | When I combine several ingredients, I want to know what’s in each product in advance. For around 25% of consumers, checking the labels is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking crushed aniseed sprinkles for dark chocolate
Albert Heijn’s listing for De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes doesn’t state the product’s cocoa content. The cocoa percentage on a separate chocolate bar tells you nothing about the sprinkles.
Choose your chocolate based on the percentage shown on the exact bar, and use the sprinkles as decoration if you like.
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Looking only at the cocoa percentage
For the Delicata bars mentioned, Albert Heijn lists soya and warnings about possible traces of other allergens. The sprinkles are also a separate ingredient that you need to check.
Before using them, read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging of both products.
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Dipping the pepernoten into chocolate while they’re still warm
In Allerhande’s method for chocolate pepernoten, the pepernoten are left to cool completely before being dipped in chocolate.
Allow time for the pepernoten to cool after baking and before adding the chocolate coating.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
Albert Heijn lists De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes, 270 g, as a possible option for the sprinkles.
- A specific product to compare if you’re looking for crushed aniseed sprinkles.
- Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens; don’t assume there’s a dark chocolate version.
Albert Heijn / Delicata
Albert Heijn lists Delicata bars with at least 70% and 85% cocoa as separate dark chocolate options.
- The cocoa content is stated for both bars mentioned.
- Both product listings mention soya and possible traces of other allergens; check the exact packaging.
Moser Roth
ALDI Netherlands lists a 125 g Moser Roth bar with 85% cocoa.
- The stated cocoa content makes it easy to compare with other bars.
- Check current availability and the label information before choosing this bar for baking.
Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists a 125 g dark chocolate bar with 90% cocoa.
- The product listing gives a specific cocoa content.
- Lidl says this bar is only available in store; check the label there for ingredients and allergens too.
Dark chocolate bars at Joybuy
These bars offer a separate chocolate component if you’re considering dark chocolate pepernoten decorated with crushed aniseed sprinkles. Before buying, check that your chosen bar suits the way you plan to finish the pepernoten.
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Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
An option if you’re looking for an 85% cocoa bar for the chocolate component and want to use crushed aniseed sprinkles separately.
This is a chocolate bar, not a product containing crushed aniseed sprinkles. Check the current label for allergens and make sure the bar is suitable for the way you plan to use it.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark, 100 g
An option if you’re specifically looking for a 90% cocoa bar as a separate chocolate component.
The bar doesn’t contain crushed aniseed sprinkles. Read the current allergen information and check that this bar is suitable for the chocolate coating you have planned.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao, 100 g
An option if you’d like to consider a 78% cocoa chocolate bar alongside the 85% and 90% bars mentioned.
This isn’t a product containing crushed aniseed sprinkles either. Check the current allergen information and make sure the bar is suitable for the finish you have in mind.
Frequently asked questions
Are crushed aniseed sprinkles themselves a type of dark chocolate?
Don’t assume so: Albert Heijn’s listing for De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes doesn’t give a cocoa content to confirm this. For a stated cocoa percentage, choose a separate chocolate bar and check the current packaging of the sprinkles.
Which cocoa percentages can I compare for the chocolate coating?
Albert Heijn lists Delicata bars with at least 70% and 85% cocoa; Lidl lists a 90% cocoa bar that’s only available in store. Choose based on the percentage shown on the exact bar, and check that it’s suitable for the way you plan to use it.
When should I dip homemade pepernoten in chocolate?
Leave the baked pepernoten to cool completely before dipping them in chocolate. This is the order given in Allerhande’s method for chocolate pepernoten.
Which allergens should I check?
Check the allergen information on the exact packaging of both the chocolate and the sprinkles. For the Delicata bars mentioned, Albert Heijn lists soya and possible traces of other allergens; this information doesn’t replace the label on a different bar.
How should I store leftover dark chocolate?
For the Delicata bars mentioned, Albert Heijn recommends storing them in a cool, dark and dry place. For another bar, follow the storage advice and date on its own packaging.