Event organisers looking for a cocoa topping
You want to finish a festival treat with chocolate and don’t mind choosing a different type of product from crushed muisjes.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anise fans and lovers of muisjes decoration
You want to keep the anise flavour and distinctive look of muisjes, even when the sprinkles don’t contain chocolate.
Food stalls preparing allergen information
You’re putting together treats with several ingredients and need to be able to tell visitors about any allergens present before they buy. So check every type of sprinkle you choose, as well as the other ingredients in the recipe.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether anise or chocolate should be the dominant flavour. Then compare the product shapes and check the current ingredients and allergen information for your finished recipe.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa profile | Check whether you’re buying chocolate sprinkles or flakes, and the minimum cocoa solids stated on the packaging you choose. Albert Heijn states at least 52% for De Ruijter Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur; Jumbo states at least 32% for De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur. | If I want chocolate to define the flavour of my festival treat, I don’t want to choose anise sprinkles as a substitute. Around 50% of consumers prioritise this cocoa profile. |
| Anise and presentation | Choose crushed muisjes if you want to decorate your treat with anise seeds. Any chocolate in the same treat will need to come from a separate ingredient. | For a treat with the distinctive look of muisjes, I care more about the anise flavour and appearance than cocoa. For around 30% of consumers, this is their first consideration. |
| Allergen information | Read the packaging of the products you buy and include every recipe ingredient in the information you provide to visitors. Jumbo lists wheat for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes and soya for De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur; the flakes may also contain milk. | When I serve unpackaged treats, I want to be able to tell visitors about any allergens present before they buy. This is the most important purchasing need for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ is a type of crushed muisjes
Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as crushed, sugar-coated anise seeds. Sprinkling them over a chocolate treat doesn’t make the muisjes themselves a chocolate product.
Choose muisjes for their anise flavour and decorative appearance. Choose dark chocolate sprinkles or flakes separately if chocolate is the main topping; combine them only if both flavours work in your recipe.
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Assuming ‘dark’ means dairy-free
According to Jumbo, De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur contains soya and may contain milk. Albert Heijn lists milk and soya for De Ruijter Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur.
Base allergen information on the current packaging of the product you’ve bought. Don’t assume a product is ‘dairy-free’ just because its name includes ‘dark’.
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Checking only the sprinkles in a multi-ingredient treat
The biscuit or chocolate beneath the topping is part of the treat too. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about any allergens present in unpackaged food must be available before purchase.
Record the ingredients you use for each recipe and make sure visitors can get the relevant allergen information before they buy.
Relevant brands and product ranges
A brand name doesn’t tell you whether a product contains anise or chocolate, so compare individual products and their labels.
De Ruijter
This brand offers crushed muisjes as well as separate chocolate sprinkles and flakes.
- Jumbo describes the 270 g pack of Gestampte Muisjes as a product containing sugar and anise seeds. Jumbo states that Chocoladevlokken Puur contains at least 32% cocoa solids; Albert Heijn states at least 40% for Royaal Chocoladevlokken Extra Puur and at least 52% for Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur.
- The chocolate products are not crushed muisjes. Check the allergens and packaging information for each product.
Jumbo
Jumbo is worth considering when comparing chocolate flakes with De Ruijter products.
- Jumbo lists its own 300 g pack of Chocolade Vlokken Puur and De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur in a 200 g pack.
- Compare the ingredients, cocoa content and allergens on the packaging of the flakes you choose. The different pack sizes don’t make the products equivalent in terms of their contents.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn provides product information to help you assess crushed muisjes and a separate dark chocolate sprinkle.
- Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids.
- For these chocolate sprinkles, Albert Heijn lists milk and soya. Check the current packaging when choosing a topping for visitors.
Chocolate sprinkles on Joybuy
These products are suitable if you’re choosing chocolate sprinkles for festival treats. They are not crushed muisjes. If you’re considering the vanilla-flavoured option, also check that it’s right for the treat you have in mind.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks, 390 g
An option if you’re looking for chocolate pieces for your festival treat instead of the anise flavour of muisjes. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for your chosen recipe.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure Chocolate Sprinkles, 200 g
A choice for anyone who wants to use chocolate sprinkles as a topping instead of crushed muisjes. Compare the cocoa content and allergens on this variant’s packaging before finalising the ingredients for your festival treat.
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De Ruijter Hail Chocolate Pure, 390 g
These dark chocolate sprinkles are a good fit if you want a chocolate rather than anise topping. If cocoa content will influence your choice, compare the information on the current packaging with that of the other sprinkles.
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Venz chocolate and vanilla sprinkles, 400 g
This combination is intended for treats that work with both chocolate and vanilla flavours; don’t treat it as dark chocolate sprinkles alone. Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging you choose.
Frequently asked questions
Are De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes a dark chocolate topping?
No. Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as crushed, sugar-coated anise seeds; the ingredients list includes sugar and anise seeds. Choose a separate chocolate product if you want a chocolate topping.
What cocoa content is stated for the dark sprinkles reviewed?
Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Specials Hagelslag Intens Puur contains at least 52% cocoa solids, and Royaal Chocoladevlokken Extra Puur at least 40%. Jumbo states at least 32% for De Ruijter Chocoladevlokken Puur. Don’t choose on that figure alone: chocolate sprinkles and flakes also differ in shape.
When must visitors be given allergen information about unpackaged treats?
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, information about any allergens present in unpackaged food must be available before purchase. For a festival treat made with several ingredients, include both the sprinkles and the other ingredients.
How should I store sprinkles during a festival?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for each product you choose. Keep the packaging clearly identifiable so you can check the relevant ingredients and allergen information while serving.