Aniseed fans
You’re looking for the flavour of Gestampte Muisjes, not dark chocolate. Albert Heijn describes Gestampte Muisjes as crushed sugared aniseed; check the ingredients and allergen information on your chosen pack too.
Who might this choice be relevant to?
Chocolate fans looking for more cocoa
You want a more pronounced cocoa flavour for a snack after school or work. When comparing dark chocolate sprinkles, check the stated cocoa content and sugars per 100 g, as the varieties reviewed have different ingredients.
Parents looking to portion sweet toppings
You want a little something after school, without making sprinkles or Muisjes the whole snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread among its snack options.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want aniseed or chocolate. Then check the ingredients, how much you’ll use and the label on your chosen variety.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Aniseed or cocoa | Check the product type and, for dark chocolate sprinkles, the stated minimum cocoa solids content. Gestampte Muisjes are aniseed with sugar. | If I mainly want a dark chocolate taste after school, the name Muisjes doesn’t help me. Around 36% of consumers prioritise cocoa when making this choice. |
| Its place in the snack | Decide whether you’ll use the topping as a small extra or are looking for a snack in its own right. If you’re choosing a topping, check the nutrition information per serving too. | I don’t want sweet toppings to make up my child’s entire snack. Around 29% of consumers prioritise what the snack consists of. |
| Pack size and use | Compare the pack size in grams with how often you use the topping, and follow the storage instructions on the pack. | If we only use toppings occasionally, I want to choose a pack size that suits how we use them. Around 21% of consumers prioritise pack size and usage. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, stated allergens and any warnings about traces on the label for your chosen variety. | When I’m buying for someone with a relevant food allergy, I need to be able to rely on the label for that exact variety. For around 14% of consumers, this check comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark Gestampte Muisjes’ is a type of chocolate
Albert Heijn describes Gestampte Muisjes as sugared aniseed. That puts them in a different flavour category from dark chocolate.
If you’re looking for cocoa, choose dark chocolate sprinkles and check the cocoa content of the specific variety.
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Assuming ‘dark’ means low in sugar or dairy-free
The word ‘dark’ doesn’t tell you how much sugar a product contains per 100 g, nor does it guarantee that it’s free from milk or other allergens.
Read the nutrition information, ingredients and allergen details on the pack you’re buying.
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Making sweet toppings a daily snack in their own right
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate sprinkles contain sugar and saturated fat. It also lists vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread among snack options for children.
If you like, use Muisjes or chocolate sprinkles as a small topping, and choose the snack itself separately.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter offers both Gestampte Muisjes for an aniseed flavour and dark chocolate sprinkles. Jumbo states that its regular Hagelslag Puur contains at least 32% cocoa solids, while its Specials Intens Puur contains at least 52%.
- The product names make it clear which option is aniseed topping and which is chocolate sprinkles.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each variety, as they aren’t the same across the whole range.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag Puur in a 600 g pack, with at least 32% cocoa solids.
- Pack size and minimum cocoa solids content give you useful points of comparison.
- If you’re looking for a higher cocoa content, compare this percentage with that of the other variety you’re considering.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists a 600 g pack of dark chocolate sprinkles and a 200 g dark variety with at least 50% cocoa solids.
- The two stated pack sizes make it worth considering how much you expect to use.
- According to the product information, the 200 g variety contains milk and may contain gluten or wheat. Check the current label if this is relevant to you.
Kiekeboe / ALDI
ALDI Netherlands lists Kiekeboe Hagelslag Puur as 600 g of dark chocolate sprinkles.
- The product type and pack size are clearly stated.
- Before comparing this variety with others, check the pack for ingredients, allergens and nutrition information.
Mister CHOC / Lidl
Lidl Netherlands lists Mister CHOC Hagelslag Puur as an option in the dark chocolate sprinkles category.
- The product name makes it clear that this is chocolate sprinkles, not Gestampte Muisjes.
- Compare the ingredients and nutrition information on your chosen pack with those of other varieties.
Products on Joybuy
These products illustrate different options within this category: dark chocolate sprinkles, dark chocolate flakes and aniseed Muisjes. The Pink Muisjes below aren’t the same variety as Gestampte Muisjes.
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De Ruijter Intense dark chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
A chocolate option if you’re looking for dark chocolate sprinkles rather than aniseed topping.
200 g pack. Check the nutrition information and allergens on the pack you choose.
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De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles, 390 g
For anyone who prefers dark chocolate sprinkles to the aniseed flavour of Muisjes for a snack.
390 g pack. Check the label for allergen information for this variety.
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g'woon Flakes dark chocolate flakes, 300 g
A dark chocolate topping to consider if you’d prefer flakes to chocolate sprinkles or aniseed topping.
300 g pack. Chocolate flakes are a different product format from chocolate sprinkles.
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De Ruijter Pink Muisjes, 330 g
An aniseed option if you’re not looking for a chocolate flavour; Pink Muisjes aren’t the specific Gestampte Muisjes variety.
330 g pack. Check the ingredients and allergens on the label.
Frequently asked questions
Are Gestampte Muisjes the same as dark chocolate sprinkles?
No. Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as crushed sugared aniseed. For a chocolate flavour, look for dark chocolate sprinkles. Check the exact product name if you’re looking for a specific Muisjes variety.
Are dark chocolate sprinkles an everyday snack for children?
Don’t make dark chocolate sprinkles the main part of an everyday snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the sugar and saturated fat in chocolate sprinkles and lists vegetables, fruit and wholemeal bread among snack options.
Can I rely on the word ‘dark’ if I have a food allergy?
No, check the current label for the variety you’ve chosen. The Gestampte Muisjes reviewed contain wheat; for the dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed, milk, soya or warnings about wheat may be relevant, depending on the product.
How should I store Muisjes or chocolate sprinkles once opened?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and seal it well after use. The Gestampte Muisjes reviewed are labelled as needing to be stored in a dry place; the exact storage instructions vary between the dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed.