When choosing dark chocolate sprinkles for Christmas bakes, start with the flavour you’re looking for and the ingredients. Albert Heijn lists at least 52% cocoa solids for De Ruijter Intens Puur, compared with 43% for Royaal Extra Puur and 32% for the regular Puur. Also compare sugars per 100 g, and if you have allergies, check the label on the exact pack. If you want to add sprinkles before baking, check that the pack says they’re suitable for this use: the cocoa percentage doesn’t tell you whether they’re oven-safe.
If you’re making Christmas cupcakes or desserts for adults, the stated cocoa content can be a useful starting point. Albert Heijn’s product information lists at least 32%, 43% and 52% cocoa solids for three De Ruijter varieties.
If the ingredients in your topping matter, compare sugars per 100 g and check the ingredients and allergen information for your chosen variety. The word ‘dark’ doesn’t replace these checks.
If you’re decorating several Christmas bakes, think about how many sprinkles you’ll actually use and where you can buy them. ALDI Netherlands and Lidl Netherlands each list a 600 g dark variety; Lidl also says its variety is available in store only.
First decide which flavour and ingredients will work best for your Christmas bakes. Then choose a pack size to suit what you want to decorate.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Compare the stated minimum percentage of cocoa solids for the exact variety. It doesn’t automatically tell you whether you’ll like the flavour or whether it’s suitable for baking. | If I’m looking for a rich dark chocolate flavour for Christmas cupcakes, I use the cocoa content as a starting point. Around 45% of consumers put this flavour choice first. |
| Sugars and ingredients | Compare sugars per 100 g and check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack. | If I’m baking for people with specific dietary requirements, I want to know what the topping contains. For around 33% of consumers, checking this is the top priority. |
| Quantity and availability | Check the pack weight and find out how the product is available before you buy. | When making several Christmas bakes, I want enough sprinkles without choosing an unnecessarily large pack. For around 22% of consumers, planning ahead is the top priority. |
The De Ruijter dark varieties reviewed contain milk and soya. The Jumbo variety contains milk and may contain gluten and wheat. So the flavour description doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for someone with an allergy or for a vegan diet.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack before using the sprinkles.
A suggestion to use them on cupcakes or in bakes isn’t an instruction to mix the sprinkles into batter or scatter them over a bake before it goes in the oven.
If you want to bake the sprinkles into your recipe, check the pack instructions or ask the manufacturer whether they’re suitable for this use.
The pack sizes mentioned range from 200 g to 600 g. A larger pack isn’t automatically more practical for a single decorating session.
Decide how many bakes you want to decorate and check how your chosen variety is available.
An unfinished pack will still take up space after your Christmas baking is done.
A good option if you want to compare different cocoa claims from the same brand. Albert Heijn lists at least 32% for Puur, 43% for Royaal Extra Puur and 52% for Specials Intens Puur.
The 200 g pack of Jumbo Chocolade Hagelslag Puur is an option to compare using the nutritional information. Jumbo lists at least 50% cocoa solids and 43.1 g of sugars per 100 g.
Jumbo lists Venz Puur Chocolade Hagelslag in a 400 g pack.
ALDI Netherlands lists Kiekeboe Puur as a 600 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles.
Lidl Netherlands lists Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur as a 600 g pack that’s available in store only.
These two De Ruijter varieties are suitable for decorating Christmas cupcakes and desserts. Choose between the stated cocoa contents and pack sizes. If you want to add the sprinkles before baking, check the pack separately.
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For decorating cupcakes or desserts with dark chocolate sprinkles, in a 200 g pack.
This variety lists at least 52% cocoa solids and 43 g of sugars per 100 g.
The ingredients information lists milk and soya; check the current pack if you have allergies. Read the pack instructions before using the sprinkles in baking.
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For decorating several Christmas cupcakes or desserts when a 390 g pack better suits your plans.
For this regular Puur variety, Albert Heijn lists at least 32% cocoa solids and 64 g of sugars per 100 g.
The ingredients information lists milk and soya; check the current pack if you have allergies. Check the pack for instructions if you want to add the sprinkles before baking.
Not necessarily. The stated cocoa content helps you compare the flavour profiles of different varieties, but it doesn’t tell you what you’ll enjoy most or whether a product is suitable for the oven. Albert Heijn lists at least 32%, 43% and 52% cocoa solids for three De Ruijter varieties.
No. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the exact variety. Jumbo lists 43.1 g of sugars per 100 g for its 200 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles. Albert Heijn lists 43 g for De Ruijter Intens Puur, 54 g for Royaal Extra Puur and 64 g per 100 g for the regular Puur.
Don’t rely on the word ‘dark’: check the current allergen information on the pack. The De Ruijter varieties mentioned contain milk and soya; the Jumbo variety contains milk and states that it may contain gluten and wheat.
Decide how many cupcakes or desserts you want to decorate, then compare the pack sizes. As well as the 200 g and 390 g packs mentioned, ALDI Netherlands and Lidl Netherlands list dark varieties in 600 g packs. Check how your chosen variety is available before buying.
