If you’re looking specifically for chocolate flakes with a Fairtrade cocoa label for your pepernoten, PLUS offers a choice of dark or milk chocolate. PLUS describes its dark chocolate flakes as vegan; the milk chocolate version contains milk and lactose. Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles or a Lidl Way To Go bar chopped into pieces offer a different form of chocolate, but don’t assume they’ll give the same result in or on pepernoten as chocolate flakes.
You want to add chocolate flakes to or sprinkle them over pepernoten, and you’re looking for a Fairtrade cocoa label on the product. PLUS lists this label on its dark and milk chocolate flakes, both sold in 300 g packs.
You want to use dark chocolate flakes and check whether they contain animal-derived ingredients. PLUS describes its dark Fairtrade chocolate flakes as vegan. Check the current label when you buy them too, especially if allergens are a concern.
You could also use chocolate sprinkles or finely chop a chocolate bar yourself. Fairtrade Original uses its dark chocolate sprinkles as an ingredient in a cake recipe; according to Lidl, its Way To Go chocolate bars are Fairtrade certified. Choose the form that suits how you want to use the chocolate in or on your pepernoten.
First decide whether flakes are important for your pepernoten. Then check the Fairtrade label, ingredients and any allergen information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Fairtrade label | Look for the Fairtrade label on the pack of the chocolate you’ve chosen. If there’s a logo with an arrow, read the explanation on the back too. | If I’m buying flakes for my pepernoten, I want to see that the cocoa carries the Fairtrade label. For around 50% of consumers, that confirmation would be the main priority. |
| Flavour and dietary needs | Compare dark and milk chocolate, and read the ingredients and allergen information. PLUS lists milk and lactose in its milk chocolate flakes; Fairtrade Original warns that its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk. | If milk doesn’t suit my diet, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘dark’ alone. An estimated 30% of consumers would put flavour and dietary requirements first. |
| Form and use | Choose between flakes, chocolate sprinkles and a bar you chop yourself, depending on how you plan to use the chocolate: mixed into the dough, as a topping or in separate pieces. | For a topping, I might want something I can sprinkle, whereas for separate pieces I’m happy to chop up a bar. For around 20% of consumers, the preferred product form would come first. |
ALDI Netherlands lists Rainforest Alliance on its Kiekeboe chocolate flakes. On its own, this label doesn’t confirm that the flakes also carry a Fairtrade label.
If Fairtrade is a must for you, check the label on the product you’re actually buying.
Albert Heijn lists Fairtrade Original Dark Chocolate Flakes as ‘no longer stocked’. So, finding a product page doesn’t necessarily mean you can still order the product.
Check the current range before basing your baking plans on one particular pack. Otherwise, consider another type of flake or, if you’re happy to use a different form, chocolate sprinkles.
These products come in different forms. PLUS milk chocolate flakes also contain milk and lactose, while Fairtrade Original says its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk.
First decide how you want to use the chocolate. Then check the label of the product you’ve chosen, especially if you need to take allergens into account.
Fairtrade allows cocoa to be processed using mass balance. So a Fairtrade label doesn’t automatically mean that the cocoa in an individual product has remained physically separate throughout the supply chain.
If the type of traceability is a deciding factor for you, read the information for the specific product. According to Lidl, the cocoa in its Way To Go bars is fully traceable.
These product ranges can help you distinguish between flakes and other forms of chocolate. The brand information below doesn’t describe a shop’s entire range.
PLUS describes its 300 g dark and milk chocolate flakes as carrying the Fairtrade Cocoa label.
Fairtrade Original dark chocolate sprinkles are an easy-to-scatter alternative if you don’t need flakes specifically.
Way To Go offers chocolate bars for anyone who wants to make their own chocolate pieces.
Kiekeboe is a chocolate flake range where it’s worth checking the certification separately if Fairtrade is a condition of your purchase.
Yes, PLUS lists Fairtrade Cocoa on its 300 g dark and milk chocolate flakes. Check the current pack for ingredients and allergen information; the milk chocolate version contains milk and lactose.
No, you can’t draw that conclusion from the Fairtrade label alone. Fairtrade allows cocoa to be processed using mass balance, which means Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may be mixed during processing. Read the explanation on the packaging if the type of traceability matters to you.
Yes, if you’re happy with a different, finer form that’s easy to sprinkle. Fairtrade Original uses its dark chocolate sprinkles as an ingredient in a cake recipe, but that doesn’t mean they’ll give the same result in pepernoten as flakes. So first decide whether you want to mix the chocolate into the dough or add it on top.
Yes, always check the label on the pack you’ve chosen. Fairtrade Original, for example, says its dark chocolate sprinkles may contain milk. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that allergens must be clearly listed on food labels.
PLUS recommends storing its dark and milk chocolate flakes in a cool, dry, dark place. Also follow the best-before date and any additional instructions on your pack.
