The baker looking to use Fairtrade cocoa
You want to decorate biscuits with aniseed sprinkles and are looking for a clear Fairtrade label on the chocolate or cocoa. Check the product containing cocoa itself: the sprinkles are a separate choice.
Who is this choice relevant to?
The maker of birth announcement biscuits
You’re looking for an easy way to attach aniseed sprinkles to biscuits. Albert Heijn Allerhande uses icing as a base, while a Jumbo recipe dips sponge fingers in melted chocolate first.
The baker who needs to consider allergens
Check the decoration and any chocolate you use together. The De Ruijter sprinkles reviewed contain wheat starch. Always check the current ingredients and allergen information for the products you actually buy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether your biscuits or their decoration will contain chocolate or cocoa. Then choose your aniseed sprinkles and a suitable base to help them stick; check the labels of all your chosen ingredients before use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade cocoa | Look for the FAIRTRADE mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the chocolate or cocoa packaging. Fairtrade International advises checking the back of products with a mark and arrow for information about ingredients and sourcing. | I want the cocoa in my biscuits to be clearly labelled as Fairtrade, even if I’m using aniseed sprinkles as decoration. Around 36% of consumers put this choice of cocoa first. |
| Decoration and how it sticks | Choose icing or melted chocolate as a base, and leave the finish to set before stacking or packaging your biscuits. | For birth announcement biscuits, I care about how the sprinkles look and want them to stay in place. Around 29% of consumers make this decoration their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current labels on both the aniseed sprinkles and the chocolate, including any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If I’m baking for someone with an allergy, I need to be able to check each ingredient separately. This is the top priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Preparation and storage | Decide whether you’re baking biscuits from scratch or decorating ready-made ones. If you want to prepare ahead, consider freezing the biscuits without decoration. | I want to keep preparation to a minimum or spread the baking over several sessions. Around 14% of consumers give this approach top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking aniseed sprinkles for Fairtrade chocolate
The ingredients list for De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles at Albert Heijn does not mention cocoa. Using this decoration alone doesn’t establish the Fairtrade status of any chocolate you might add.
Choose aniseed sprinkles for decoration, and check the packaging of any chocolate or cocoa separately.
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Checking only the chocolate label
The decoration has its own ingredients list too. The De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles reviewed contain wheat starch; the 70% chocolate described by PLUS lists soya and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.
If you’re baking for someone with an allergy, check the current packaging of both products.
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Not choosing a base to help the sprinkles stick
The recipes from Albert Heijn Allerhande and Jumbo use icing and melted chocolate respectively to attach the sprinkles. So your choice of finish determines how you decorate the biscuits.
Add the sprinkles to your chosen base and leave the finish to set before packaging or stacking the biscuits.
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Freezing fully decorated biscuits
Laura’s Bakery warns that moisture released during defrosting can spoil the look of the chocolate and aniseed sprinkle decoration.
If you like, freeze the biscuits without decoration and add the chocolate and sprinkles after defrosting.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
A brand to consider if you want to use aniseed sprinkles to decorate biscuits.
- Albert Heijn also suggests its pink and white aniseed sprinkles as a cake decoration.
- This variety contains wheat starch and does not list cocoa. So check for Fairtrade cocoa on a separate product containing cocoa.
PLUS
A supermarket own brand to consider if you’re looking for chocolate with an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim.
- PLUS product information for its 70% Cocoa Fairtrade Bar mentions both the Fairtrade Cocoa claim and 70% cocoa solids.
- This is chocolate, not aniseed sprinkle decoration. Check the allergen information on the current packaging before use too.
Johnny Doodle
A chocolate brand featured in a biscuit recipe from Fairtrade Nederland.
- Fairtrade Nederland describes the chocolate in that recipe as made with Fairtrade cocoa.
- The recipe reference doesn’t confirm the ingredients of every variety. Check the packaging of the chocolate you choose.
Products for decoration and cocoa
These products have different uses when making biscuits with aniseed sprinkles: loose aniseed decoration, cocoa powder for a baking recipe, or a bar of chocolate. Choose the ingredients that suit your recipe, and check the current packaging of the product containing cocoa for any Fairtrade claim you’re looking for.
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De Ruijter Blue & White Aniseed Sprinkles 330 g
Loose aniseed sprinkles for decorating biscuits. The product information for this variety lists sugared aniseed and wheat starch; choose a base to help them stick and check the current label. These sprinkles are not a substitute for chocolate or cocoa labelled as Fairtrade.
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Fairtrade Cocoa Powder 125 g
For recipes that use cocoa powder. This isn’t aniseed sprinkle decoration or a chocolate layer to help the sprinkles stick. Check the Fairtrade claim and nutritional information on the current packaging.
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Tony's Chocolonely Pure 70% Dark Chocolate 180 g
A bar of chocolate to consider as a separate chocolate ingredient for your biscuits; choose your aniseed sprinkles separately. Before using the bar in your recipe, check the current packaging for the Fairtrade claim, cocoa percentage and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Are aniseed sprinkles themselves chocolate made with Fairtrade cocoa?
Not the De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles whose ingredients are listed by Albert Heijn: the list includes sugar, aniseed and wheat starch, but no cocoa. If you add chocolate or cocoa, check the Fairtrade claim on that product separately.
How can I spot the Fairtrade label on chocolate?
Look for the FAIRTRADE mark or an explicit Fairtrade cocoa claim on the current packaging. Fairtrade International advises checking the back of products with a mark and arrow for information about the ingredients involved and the sourcing method.
How do I make sure aniseed sprinkles stay on biscuits?
Add them to a base such as icing or melted chocolate. Albert Heijn Allerhande uses icing on birth announcement biscuits, while Jumbo dips sponge fingers in chocolate before adding the sprinkles. Leave the finish to set before stacking or packaging the biscuits.
Which labels should I check if allergens are a concern?
Check the current labels of every ingredient you use, including the aniseed sprinkles. The De Ruijter pink and white aniseed sprinkles reviewed contain wheat starch. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that any allergens that must be declared need to be clearly identified on the label of prepacked food.
Can I freeze biscuits with chocolate and aniseed sprinkles in advance?
For this type of finish, it’s better to freeze the biscuits without chocolate and aniseed sprinkles, then decorate them after defrosting. Laura’s Bakery warns that moisture released during defrosting can spoil the look of the chocolate and sprinkle decoration.