If you want to finish a sweet dish
You’re looking for something to sprinkle over yoghurt or cake after your fish dinner, not a gift box. Albert Heijn suggests using De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes on yoghurt and cupcakes.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you want to share chocolate or give it as a gift
You’d like to offer your guests something separate after the meal. The 250 g merci assortment box described by Jumbo contains twenty individually wrapped chocolate bars, so it serves a different purpose from a topping.
If you need to consider allergens
You want to check which products are suitable for your guests before serving them. Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the crushed anise sprinkles reviewed. For chocolate, check the ingredients of the exact variety too.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you want to finish a sweet dish or offer your guests something separate after the fish dinner. Then check the allergens and how much you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose at dinner | Choose sprinkles for a separate sweet dish, or chocolate to offer on its own. | If I want to finish yoghurt or cake after the fish course, I’m looking for a topping, not a gift box. This is the most important consideration for around 45% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety before serving it. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what I can offer them. Around 33% of consumers put suitability for their guests first. |
| Quantity and sharing | Compare the pack weight and, for chocolate, check whether the portions are individually wrapped. | If I want to offer something to several guests, the amount I need and how easy it is to share matter. For around 22% of consumers, ease of sharing is the deciding factor. |
Common mistakes
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Thinking sprinkles can replace a box of chocolates
Crushed anise sprinkles add something to a sweet dish, while a box of chocolates can be a separate treat or thoughtful gift. If you don’t distinguish between the two, you could buy something that doesn’t suit the occasion you have in mind.
Before you buy, decide whether you want to finish a dessert or offer your guests something on its own.
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Assuming which allergens are present based on the product type
Even sweet sprinkles can contain an allergen: Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes. Ingredients vary between chocolate varieties.
Read the label on the pack you’ve bought just before serving, and only offer an alternative if you’ve checked its ingredients too.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
The 270 g pack of Gestampte muisjes reviewed is a sugared anise topping for bread and sweet dishes, among other things; it isn’t a box of chocolates.
- Albert Heijn suggests using it on yoghurt and cupcakes when you want to finish a sweet dish.
- According to Jumbo’s product information, this variety contains wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the pack you buy.
merci
The 250 g assortment box described by Jumbo contains eight chocolate specialities and twenty individually wrapped bars.
- The individual wrappers make it easy to offer the bars one at a time.
- Check the ingredients and storage instructions on the exact box before offering it to guests.
Elvee
Joybuy describes a 300 g box of Elvee cream chocolates with assorted fillings, suited to a separate sharing or gifting occasion.
- A box of assorted chocolates is a good choice if you want to offer chocolate after the meal.
- Before buying, check the ingredients and the latest product information for the variety you want.
Chocolate products at Joybuy
These products are options for a separate chocolate treat at dinner. The selection includes both a chocolate collection and bars; a bar isn’t a box of chocolates or a substitute for crushed anise sprinkles as a dessert topping.
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Nestle Kitkat Itoen Matcha & Chocolate, 9 pieces, 104,4 g
A chocolate option to offer separately from the meal; the pack contains nine pieces.
Check the allergens and best-before date on the packaging.
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Toblerone Milk Almond Nougat chocolate bar, 100 g
For anyone who’d like to share a chocolate bar after dinner rather than offer a box of individual chocolates.
Check the allergens on the packaging before serving the bar.
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merci Petits Chocolate Collection, 125 g
A chocolate collection to consider as a separate treat at dinner.
Before buying, check what’s in the pack if you need a particular number of pieces or individually wrapped chocolates. Check the label for allergens if you’re serving it to guests.
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Lindt Creation Crème Brûlée chocolate bar, 150 g
A chocolate bar to share after the meal, rather than a box of individually wrapped chocolates.
Check the allergens on the exact packaging before serving.
Frequently asked questions
Are crushed anise sprinkles and a box of chocolates alternatives for a fish dinner?
Not if you want to use them for the same purpose. Albert Heijn suggests using crushed anise sprinkles on yoghurt and cupcakes, among other things; the merci box described by Jumbo contains chocolates to offer separately. So choose between finishing a sweet dish and offering a separate treat to share or give as a gift.
Which allergens should I check for my guests?
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of every product you plan to serve. Jumbo lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for the De Ruijter Gestampte muisjes reviewed; for chocolate, it depends on the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that allergens in prepacked foods must be clearly indicated in the ingredients information.
How should I store the products until dinner?
Follow the storage instructions and check the best-before date on the packaging of each product you buy. Check them separately for the sprinkles and chocolate, so you don’t apply the advice for one product to the other.