Festival organisers setting up a topping station
For anyone looking to finish rusks, cupcakes or other treats with a dry aniseed topping, and who needs to be able to give visitors information about the ingredients.
Who is this for?
Anyone looking to use up a pack
For anyone after a sprinkle-on topping for several uses, rather than an individually wrapped snack. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can keep opened crushed aniseed sprinkles in a kitchen cupboard for up to a year, provided the pack is sealed properly and stored in a dry place.
Anyone who needs to check allergens
For anyone who needs to check the ingredients before serving: the crushed aniseed sprinkles and aniseed sprinkles reviewed list wheat and cereals containing gluten. The packaging for the specific batch you choose is the one to check.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want the coarser texture of crushed aniseed sprinkles or a finer aniseed topping. Then check that you can serve it dry and have the ingredient information to hand.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Using it as a topping | Choose the product form you want and check that you have a base product and a dry place to serve it. Check the event’s rules on bringing in or serving unwrapped food. | If I want to finish rusks or baked goods on the spot, I need a sprinkle-on topping rather than a snack on its own. For around 42% of consumers, practical use comes first. |
| Packaging and using leftovers | Compare the pack size with the amount you expect to use, and check how to keep an opened pack dry and tightly sealed. | I don’t want to throw away an opened pack unnecessarily after the event. For around 33% of consumers, making use of the remaining product is the top priority. |
| Allergen information | Read the label on the current packaging and make allergen information readily available when offering individual portions. | When I offer visitors an unwrapped treat, I need to be able to tell them which allergens it contains. Around 25% of consumers put this check ahead of the other considerations. |
Common mistakes
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Treating crushed aniseed sprinkles as a chilled or frozen product
The product information reviewed recommends storing them in a dry place. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also advises sealing an opened pack well and keeping it dry; according to the storage guide, the freezer is less suitable.
Transport the pack sealed and dry, then close it tightly again after use.
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Assuming a larger pack contains the same type of topping
The crushed aniseed sprinkles reviewed come in a 270 g pack; the aniseed sprinkles come in a 300 g pack, but have a finer texture and different ingredients. So the pack weight doesn’t tell you what texture you’ll be serving.
Choose the topping you want first, then match the pack size to your plans.
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Overlooking wheat when offering individual portions
The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes reviewed list wheat and cereals containing gluten. When a treat is offered unwrapped, visitors won’t automatically be able to see the label.
Check the current ingredients list and make information about any allergens available to visitors before they choose or buy.
Brands and retailers to consider
De Ruijter
The brand behind the 270 g Gestampte Muisjes and 300 g Anijsstrooisels reviewed here. The product texture matters when choosing a topping for rusks, yoghurt or baked goods.
- Gestampte Muisjes are described as crushed, sugared aniseed; Anijsstrooisels are a finer alternative.
- The products reviewed list wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the label on the pack you buy.
Albert Heijn
A retailer with product information for the 270 g De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes reviewed here.
- The product page lists details including ingredients, allergens, nutrition information and storage advice.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information may change, so check the packaging too.
Jumbo
A retailer with product information for the 270 g De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes reviewed here.
- The product page lists the ingredients, allergens and dry storage advice.
- Before serving, check the details on the pack you actually bought.
Aniseed sprinkles on Joybuy
This product is a good fit if you’re looking for a finer aniseed topping for bread, yoghurt or baked goods. It doesn’t have the same texture as crushed aniseed sprinkles.
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De Ruijter Aniseed Sprinkles 300 g
A finer aniseed topping for anyone who doesn’t need the texture of crushed aniseed, for example as a topping for bread, yoghurt or baked goods.
300 g pack. The product information reviewed lists wheat and cereals containing gluten, and 91 g of sugars per 100 g. Check the current packaging if you’re serving it to visitors, and store it in a dry place.
Frequently asked questions
What are crushed aniseed sprinkles, and how do you use them?
The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes reviewed are crushed, sugared aniseed. According to the product information, you can use them on bread or rusks, stir them into yoghurt, or decorate cupcakes and baked goods with them. At a festival, they work as a topping for a treat made with a base product, rather than as an individually wrapped snack.
How should you store an opened pack of crushed aniseed sprinkles?
Seal the pack tightly and store it in a dry kitchen cupboard. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says opened crushed aniseed sprinkles can be kept for up to a year under these conditions. For an unopened pack, follow the best-before date and storage advice on the packaging.
Are De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g gluten-free?
No. The De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g reviewed list wheat and cereals containing gluten. Read the label on the current packaging before buying or serving.
What should you do about allergen information when offering unwrapped festival treats?
When offering unwrapped food, make sure visitors can get information about any allergens it contains before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority outlines different ways to provide this information. Check which approach is right for the way you’re offering the food, and refer to the ingredients on the packs you use.