If you’re putting together a festive Easter table
After the Easter egg hunt, you might want to serve rusks with a choice of flavours or an eye-catching topping. A mix or flakes are worth considering alongside plain chocolate sprinkles.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you need to consider allergens
You’re serving rusks to guests with different dietary requirements, so you’ll want to check both the topping and the rusk base for relevant ingredients and allergens.
If you’re choosing your base and portion carefully
You want to serve chocolate sprinkles as part of a festive breakfast, while also keeping an eye on how much you use and the nutritional information for the rusk.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide which rusks you’d like to serve, then choose the topping. Before you buy, check the labels for both products together, not just the chocolate sprinkles.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance and flavour | Decide whether you’d prefer one flavour, a mix or flakes, and compare pack sizes. | For an Easter brunch, I want to put a range of flavours on the table from one pack. For around 40% of consumers, appearance and variety of flavour matter most. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information for both the chocolate sprinkles and the rusks. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in both products. For around 30% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
| Base and portion | Compare the nutritional information for the chocolate sprinkles per serving and for the chosen rusks per 100 g. | I want to decide for myself how much sweet topping to sprinkle on and which rusks to serve with it. This matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Using a festive product name as a measure of quality
A name such as Specials or Royaal doesn’t tell you how much cocoa or sugar a particular chocolate sprinkle product contains.
Compare varieties by their ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g or per serving. Check the cocoa content if it’s listed on the pack.
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Checking only the topping for allergens
Rusks and chocolate sprinkles may contain different allergens, so choosing a suitable topping doesn’t tell you whether the combination is suitable.
Check both packs before serving, and keep products clearly separate for guests with different dietary requirements.
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Confusing the nutritional value of rusks with that of the topping
A higher-fibre rusk doesn’t change the amount of sugar or fat in the chocolate sprinkles you put on it.
Check the nutritional information for each product separately, and decide for yourself how much topping to use on each rusk.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
For anyone looking for a mix or another chocolate variety for the Easter table, as well as plain chocolate sprinkles.
- Jumbo describes a mix of dark chocolate sprinkles and vanilla-flavoured sprinkles. The chocolate sprinkles in the mix contain at least 32% cocoa solids.
- According to Jumbo, the same mix contains milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat. Check the label for the specific variety you choose.
Venz
For anyone comparing milk chocolate sprinkles with white chocolate or differently shaped varieties.
- The range shown by Jumbo includes XXL and Rimboe varieties, among others.
- The product information for Venz Melk Chocolade Sprinkles 400 g lists milk, lactose and soya. Don’t assume this allergen information applies to other varieties without checking their labels.
Bolletje
For anyone who takes the rusk base into account, rather than choosing the chocolate sprinkles alone.
- According to the product information from Albert Heijn, Bolletje Vezelrijk boeren beschuit volkoren contains 10 g of fibre per 100 g.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists wheat, oats, barley and sesame among the allergens.
Rusk toppings for Easter breakfast
These products are toppings for rusks at Easter breakfast. The selection includes mixed varieties and individual chocolate toppings. Choose your rusks separately and check their label too.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast 200 g
For anyone who wants to serve flakes as a topping at Easter brunch. The pack contains 200 g. Choose your rusks separately and check the ingredients of both products.
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Venz Sprinkles Beer Milk Vanilla 380 g
For anyone who wants to serve a milk and vanilla variety with rusks. The pack contains 380 g. Check the ingredients of both the topping and your chosen rusks.
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Venz Melk Chocolade Sprinkles 400 g
For anyone who wants to serve a single milk chocolate variety. The pack contains 400 g. The product information lists milk, lactose and soya. To compare servings, check the nutritional information on the pack.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks 390 g
For anyone who prefers chocolate pieces as a topping to mixed chocolate sprinkles. The pack contains 390 g. Rusks are a separate choice.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure Chocolate Sprinkles 200 g
For anyone who wants to serve dark chocolate sprinkles on rusks. The pack contains 200 g. Check the label for the nutritional information and allergens for this variety.
Frequently asked questions
Does every rusk contain iodine because of baker’s salt?
You can’t assume that every rusk does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority sets out the conditions under which iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt; this doesn’t tell you which salt was used in an individual product. Check the ingredients list for the rusks you’ve chosen.
Does a premium product name tell you anything about the nutritional value of chocolate sprinkles?
No. A product name isn’t a nutritional value. Compare the nutritional information and serving size on the packs of the varieties you’re considering. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that chocolate sprinkles contain sugars and saturated fat.
Which allergens should I check in rusks with chocolate sprinkles?
Always check both products and make sure their labels are suitable for the guests you’re serving. Jumbo lists milk, cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat for De Ruijter Hagelslag Mix Puur en Vanille; Albert Heijn lists wheat, oats, barley and sesame, among other allergens, for Bolletje Vezelrijk boeren beschuit volkoren. Other varieties may have different ingredients.
When should I put the chocolate sprinkles on the rusks?
For the crunchiest base, sprinkle the chocolate sprinkles onto the rusks just before serving. Until then, store the products according to the instructions on their packs.