Who is each option suitable for?

Organisers looking for a chocolate flavour

If you want to serve something chocolatey, check the ingredients and the stated cocoa or chocolate content. A black colour or the name muisjes doesn’t tell you anything about this on its own.

Organisers looking for a familiar treat

Traditional muisjes are a good fit on rusks or as a decoration. The De Ruijter Feest Muisjes we looked at contain aniseed, not cocoa.

Organisers buying for a mixed group

Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack you’ll actually be serving. Keep the packaging available in case colleagues want to check the nutritional information.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you mean chocolate, black aniseed sweets or traditional muisjes for rusks. Their colour and shape don’t make these products interchangeable.

Traditional muisjes

Suitable for: a familiar treat on rusks or as a topping.

Bear in mind: De Ruijter Feest Muisjes are sugar-coated aniseed and contain wheat; they don’t have a chocolate flavour.

Black aniseed muisjes

Suitable for: when you want a black colour and an aniseed flavour.

Bear in mind: According to Albert Heijn, Joris Zwarte Muisjes are aniseed sweets containing gelatine, not plain chocolate.

Chocolate mouse-shaped sweets

Suitable for: anyone who prefers chocolate to a traditional aniseed treat.

Bear in mind: a chocolate coating doesn’t tell you how much of the whole sweet is made up of chocolate.

What to consider What to check before buying Who is it most important for?
Chocolate flavour Read the ingredients and compare the stated cocoa or chocolate content for the exact variety. I want to serve chocolate at the meeting, not accidentally choose aniseed sweets or something that’s mostly fondant. For around 50% of consumers, chocolate flavour comes first.
Presentation Choose between muisjes as a topping for rusks or cakes, and sweets to serve on their own. For me, what matters most is a familiar treat that suits the way I plan to serve it. Around 33% of consumers give presentation top priority.
Ingredients and allergens Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any warnings about cross-contamination. If colleagues will be sharing the sweets, I want to be able to answer their questions about the ingredients. This check matters most to around 17% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming black means high in cocoa

    Albert Heijn describes Joris Zwarte Muisjes as aniseed sweets. De Ruijter Feest Muisjes are also made with aniseed, so neither the colour nor the product name confirms that they contain chocolate.

    If you’re looking for chocolate, check that it appears in the ingredients list for your chosen variety and look at any stated cocoa or chocolate content.

  • Assuming a chocolate coating makes it a chocolate sweet

    Jumbo describes its Kikkers & Muizen as fondant covered in dark chocolate. For this variety, Jumbo states that it contains 12.4% dark chocolate and 87.6% fondant. The coating doesn’t tell you what the whole sweet is made of.

    Compare the chocolate content with the other ingredients before choosing based on the flavour you expect.

  • Going by the front of the pack alone

    The De Ruijter Feest Muisjes we looked at contain wheat, Jumbo Kikkers & Muizen contain soya and may contain peanuts, and Joris Zwarte Muisjes contain gelatine. These differences matter if colleagues need to avoid certain ingredients.

    Check the label on the variety you’ve bought just before serving, and keep the packaging with the treats. According to the Voedingscentrum, label information is important for people with a food allergy.

  • Assuming a product listing means it’s in stock

    Availability of a particular variety can differ between shops and sales channels. A product page alone doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to pick it up for your meeting.

    Check current availability with the shop you plan to buy from, and decide in advance which alternative would suit your preferred flavour and serving style.

Brands and products to consider

De Ruijter

Feest Muisjes are traditional muisjes, often served on rusks or used as a topping.

  • The variety described by Jumbo is made from sugar-coated aniseed.
  • This variety contains wheat and won’t suit anyone looking for a chocolate flavour.

Joris

According to Albert Heijn, Zwarte Muisjes are black aniseed sweets for anyone mainly looking for that colour and flavour.

  • Their black colour gives them a different look from traditional celebration muisjes.
  • The variety described contains gelatine and isn’t a chocolate product.

Jumbo

Kikkers & Muizen are mouse-shaped fondant sweets coated in dark chocolate. They’re a different type of product from traditional muisjes.

  • For this variety, Jumbo specifically states a dark chocolate content of 12.4%.
  • Jumbo also states that it contains 87.6% fondant; the variety contains soya and may contain peanuts.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do De Ruijter Feest Muisjes contain cocoa?

The ingredients list Jumbo gives for De Ruijter Feest Muisjes includes sugar, aniseed and wheat starch, among other ingredients, but no cocoa or chocolate. Check the packaging if you buy a different variety.

Are black muisjes the same as dark chocolate?

No. A black colour doesn’t mean that a product contains chocolate. Albert Heijn describes Joris Zwarte Muisjes as aniseed sweets; check the ingredients list for other black varieties.

Does ‘dark chocolate’ guarantee a high cocoa content in the whole sweet?

No. Sweets with a dark chocolate coating may contain a large proportion of other ingredients. So check the chocolate content of the product, as well as any stated cocoa content, if that matters to your choice.

What should I check before sharing muisjes with colleagues?

Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging for the exact variety, including any warnings about cross-contamination. Keep the packaging handy so colleagues can read the information for themselves.

How should I store mouse-shaped sweets with dark chocolate until the meeting?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging for the variety you’ve bought. Jumbo recommends storing Kikkers & Muizen in a cool, dry place; instructions may differ for other products.