Gifts for a home baker
If you’re looking for something the recipient can open and share without any preparation, a chocolate selection is a good choice. For a mixed box, check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging you choose.
Which option is right for whom?
Home bakers who want to use chocolate in recipes
If you want to melt chocolate or use it in a recipe, look for a product intended for baking or melting. Verkade, for example, offers Kookchocolade 71%; a box of ready-to-eat chocolates serves a different purpose.
Home bakers who want to put together a quick dessert
An egg cake can be served as it is or used as part of a dessert. Albert Heijn suggests serving AH Eierkoeken with yoghurt and jam, among other options. For a chocolate gift, choose a different type of product.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether you want to give a gift, use chocolate in a recipe or put together a quick dessert. That will help you decide which type of product to consider.
Chocolate box
Ideal for: a gift that’s ready to give, with a selection of chocolates for the recipient to try.
Bear in mind: with a mixed selection, you’ll need to check the ingredients and allergens for the specific box you choose.
Cooking chocolate
Ideal for: someone who wants to melt chocolate or use it as an ingredient in a baking recipe.
Bear in mind: this is a baking ingredient, not a ready-to-eat chocolate selection.
Egg cakes
Ideal for: a snack you can serve straight away or a simple base for a dessert.
Bear in mind: egg cakes aren’t a substitute for a chocolate box or chocolate to melt.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A gift that’s ready to give | Check the contents of the box, the packaging and the label on the selection you choose. | I want something I can hand over to be opened and shared straight away, without the recipient needing to bake first. For around 46% of consumers, this gift-and-sharing purpose comes first. |
| Chocolate for a baking recipe | Check whether the product is intended for baking or melting, and read the preparation instructions. | If I want to use chocolate in a recipe, I need an ingredient rather than a box of ready-to-eat chocolates. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this baking use. |
| A quick dessert base | Check whether egg cakes suit the dessert you have planned, and look at the ingredients and use-by date. | If I want to put together a quick dessert, I mainly need something I can use straight away. This is the most important consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a chocolate box for someone who wants to bake with it
A selection of ready-to-eat chocolates is designed for eating or sharing. If you want to melt chocolate or use it in a recipe, you’re better off choosing a product clearly intended for baking, such as cooking chocolate.
Before choosing between a gift selection and a baking ingredient, ask what the recipient wants to use the chocolate for.
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Assuming every egg cake is suitable for every recipient
The egg cake products from Bolletje and Albert Heijn that we looked at contain allergens. Bolletje Brosse Eierkoek, for example, lists egg, milk, cereals containing gluten and soya, as well as warnings about possible traces of other allergens.
Read the label on the exact variant you’re buying. Don’t choose it if the listed ingredients or trace warnings aren’t suitable for the recipient.
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Assuming an online ingredients list will always be up to date
The ingredients in a food product can change. Albert Heijn notes in its product information that ingredients and allergen details may differ following product changes.
Use the product page to help you narrow down your options, then check the current packaging when you buy, including the ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
Brands and retailers to consider
Bolletje
Bolletje is worth considering for Brosse Eierkoek: an egg cake to serve straight away, rather than a chocolate gift or baking ingredient.
- The product information for Brosse Eierkoek lists egg, cereals containing gluten, milk, wheat and soya, among other ingredients.
- Check the trace warning on the packaging you choose too; this product may contain traces of nuts and sesame, among other things.
Verkade
Verkade is a good option for baking, with Kookchocolade 71%, and also offers chocolate that’s ready to eat.
- Kookchocolade 71% is a dedicated product for anyone who wants to use chocolate in a recipe.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each product. Information about Kookchocolade doesn’t automatically apply to other Verkade chocolate products.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers both AH Eierkoeken, which can be used in desserts, and chocolate gifts, including the Merci Geschenkdoos.
- According to the product information, the Merci Geschenkdoos we looked at contains 32 individually wrapped chocolates.
- A mixed selection may contain several allergens. Albert Heijn recommends checking the current packaging, as product information can change.
Joybuy products for gifting, sharing and baking
This selection includes ready-to-eat chocolate assortments for gifting or sharing, as well as cocoa powder for recipes that call for it. Cocoa powder isn’t cooking chocolate, so check which ingredient your recipe requires.
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Celebrations Chocolate Assorted, 385 g
A chocolate selection for anyone looking for a ready-to-give or ready-to-share treat.
385 g pack. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before choosing.
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Tony's Chocolonely Chocolate Gift Pack, 288 g
A chocolate gift for someone who enjoys trying or sharing a range of flavours.
288 g pack. If allergies are a concern, check the information on the current packaging.
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Merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate selection for a small thank-you, with a variety of treats to choose from.
125 g pack. Check the ingredients and allergens for this collection on the label.
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Milka Chocolate Assortment Party Pack, 143 g
A ready-to-share chocolate selection for enjoying together.
143 g pack. If you need chocolate for a baking recipe, check separately which type of product the recipe calls for.
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Basak Cocoa Powder, 100 g
Cocoa powder for recipes that call for it, such as brownies or desserts.
100 g pack. Don’t swap melted chocolate for cocoa powder without checking first. Follow your recipe’s ingredients and quantities, and check the label for allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Are egg cakes an alternative to a chocolate box as a gift?
Not if you’re looking for a chocolate selection that’s ready to give. Egg cakes are a good choice if you want to give someone a snack or serve them as part of a dessert. Choose a chocolate box when the chocolate itself and the gift presentation are the main focus.
What should I buy for someone who wants to bake with chocolate at home?
Choose chocolate that’s suitable for the recipe, such as cooking chocolate if it needs to be melted. Verkade offers Kookchocolade 71%; also check the preparation instructions and the quantity required. If the recipe calls for cocoa powder, that’s a different ingredient.
Where can I find allergen information for egg cakes or a chocolate box?
Check the label on the packaging you choose. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must be shown on the label of pre-packed foods. Also read any warnings about possible cross-contamination.
Is the ingredients list on a product page enough?
Use the product page to help you make an initial choice, then check the current packaging. Albert Heijn says that ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change when a product is updated.