Who is this choice relevant to?

Fans of a pronounced dark chocolate flavour

You want sprinkles with a distinct cocoa flavour on your rusks, so you compare the stated minimum percentage of cocoa solids. In that case, a smaller pack may better suit how you use them.

Shoppers keeping an eye on sugar

You want to keep using dark chocolate sprinkles, but check the sugars per 100 g. If you see a claim such as ‘less sugar’, you also look at which product it is being compared with.

Regular users

You buy sprinkles for several snack occasions or to share. You weigh up the contents of a larger pack against the nutritional information and whether you can store it properly.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start with what matters most for your rusks: cocoa, sugars or how many sprinkles you use. Then check the allergens and storage advice for the exact variant.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important to?
Cocoa content Compare the minimum percentage of cocoa solids and also check the sugars per 100 g. A higher percentage doesn’t predict how you’ll experience the flavour. For my late-night rusk, I’m mainly looking for a distinctly dark chocolate option. Around 42% of consumers give this cocoa preference top priority.
Sugars Check the sugars per 100 g and, for ‘less sugar’ claims, look at the stated reference product; the claim doesn’t mean ‘low in sugars’. When I sprinkle them on, I mainly want to compare the amount of sugars listed for each option. For around 33% of consumers, this is the most important factor when choosing.
Pack size Compare the pack size with how quickly you use the sprinkles, and follow the storage advice on the packaging. If you use sprinkles more often or share a pack, you’ll want the contents to suit your needs. Around 25% of consumers prioritise pack size.

Common pitfalls

  • Assuming ‘dark’ means a particular cocoa content

    The stated minimum varies by variant. For example, product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists at least 52% for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur and at least 32% for Jumbo Chocoladehagelslag Puur; the stated sugars per 100 g also differ.

    Check both figures on the packaging of the variant you’re considering, rather than relying on the word ‘dark’ alone.

  • Reading ‘less sugar’ as ‘low in sugars’

    According to Albert Heijn, AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker contains 30% less sugar than AH Chocolade Hagel Puur and has 43 g of sugars per 100 g. The relative claim doesn’t, in itself, mean that the sprinkles are low in sugars.

    Check both the reference product for the claim and the nutritional information, then decide how much you want to sprinkle on your rusks.

  • Buying a large pack without considering how quickly you’ll use it

    Jumbo Chocoladehagelslag Puur contains 600 g, compared with 200 g for De Ruijter Specials Intens Puur. A larger pack needs more storage space and should be stored according to the advice on the packaging after opening.

    Choose the pack size based on how often you use or share the sprinkles, and seal the packaging properly after use.

  • Assuming all rusks contain iodine

    A reference to baker’s salt in a product category doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in a specific pack of rusks. The RIVM explains that the use of iodised salt in bakery products is encouraged through an agreement.

    Check the ingredients of the rusks if the presence of iodised salt is important to your choice.

Brands compared

De Ruijter

A useful comparison if you’re weighing up the 200 g Specials Intens Puur against the regular 390 g dark chocolate variant.

  • Albert Heijn lists at least 52% cocoa solids and 43 g of sugars per 100 g for Specials Intens Puur.
  • The regular Puur variant lists 64 g of sugars per 100 g and contains milk and soya. Don’t compare the two variants as if their nutritional information were the same.

Venz

A regular dark chocolate sprinkles option in a 400 g pack.

  • Jumbo lists at least 32% cocoa solids for this variant.
  • The variant lists 65 g of sugars per 100 g, contains milk and soya, and may contain lactose and milk protein.

Albert Heijn

A useful option if you’re comparing a dark chocolate sprinkles variant with a relative sugar-reduction claim.

  • AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker lists at least 50% cocoa solids and 43 g of sugars per 100 g.
  • The claim of 30% less sugar applies in comparison with AH Chocolade Hagel Puur, not every other type of sprinkles. The variant contains milk and lactose.

Jumbo

A useful option if a 600 g pack suits regular use or sharing.

  • Jumbo lists at least 32% cocoa solids for its Chocoladehagelslag Puur, with 30 portions of 20 g per pack.
  • The stated amount of sugars is 65,8 g per 100 g; according to Jumbo, the product may contain milk.

Fairtrade Original

A 380 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles to compare with other regular options.

  • Jumbo lists at least 32% cocoa solids for the variant reviewed.
  • The nutritional information lists 65,8 g of sugars per 100 g; according to the product information, the product may contain milk.

Kiekeboe (ALDI)

A 600 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles for shoppers who place a lot of importance on pack size.

  • ALDI lists a 600 g pack of Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur, made with Rainforest Alliance cocoa.
  • Check the pack label to compare sugars, ingredients and allergens.

Dark chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy

These two De Ruijter variants are options for dark chocolate sprinkles on rusks: a smaller pack positioned as intensely dark, and a larger regular dark chocolate option. Compare the values per 100 g before choosing.

De Ruijter Intens Puur dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g

De Ruijter Intens Puur dark chocolate sprinkles 200 g

An option if you’re specifically looking for a dark chocolate variant for your rusks: the product information for this 200 g variant lists at least 52% cocoa solids and 43 g of sugars per 100 g.

Contains milk and soya; check the product packaging for allergen information.

View at Joybuy
De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g

De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles 390 g

A regular dark chocolate option if you want a 390 g pack for yourself or to share. The stated amount of sugars is 64 g per 100 g; check the label if the cocoa percentage will influence your choice.

Contains milk and soya; check the product packaging for allergen information.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

What does ‘dark’ tell you about sprinkles on rusks?

The word alone doesn’t tell you the cocoa content or nutritional values of a particular variant. For the variants discussed here, product information from Albert Heijn and Jumbo lists minimum cocoa solids percentages of 32%, 50% and 52%. Check the exact packaging if this difference matters to your choice.

Does ‘less sugar’ mean that the sprinkles are low in sugars?

No, a relative claim doesn’t automatically mean ‘low in sugars’. According to Albert Heijn, AH Hagelslag Puur Minder Suiker contains 30% less sugar than AH Chocolade Hagel Puur, and the variant lists 43 g of sugars per 100 g. Read the reference product and nutritional information together.

How should I store an opened pack of sprinkles?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging for your variant and seal the pack properly after use. For the sprinkles discussed here, Albert Heijn’s product information advises storing them in a cool, dark and dry place.

Do rusks always contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume this is the case for a specific pack of rusks. The RIVM explains that the addition of iodised salt to bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products is encouraged through the Gebruik Bakkerszout agreement. Check the ingredients list on the rusks if this is important to your choice.

Which allergens should I check in dark chocolate sprinkles?

Always check the allergen information for the exact variant. The De Ruijter and Venz variants discussed here contain milk and soya, while Jumbo and Fairtrade Original state that their variants may contain milk.