Who is this choice relevant to?

Home bakers keeping an eye on sugar

You decorate homemade kruidnoten and want to compare the sugar content of different toppings, rather than relying only on the wording on the front of the pack.

Bakers who need to check ingredients

Milk, soya, sweeteners or other ingredients matter to you. So you check the exact product variant against its current label.

Bakers looking to decorate kruidnoten

You’re looking for a topping that stands out and want to know when to add the chocolate sprinkles so they stick to the baked kruidnoten.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what matters most to you when decorating: the sugar content of the chocolate sprinkles, the ingredients or the finish. Then compare the specific products that suit your needs.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sugar in the topping Compare ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g across the products, and consider how much chocolate sprinkles you plan to use. I want to know how much sugar the topping adds when I decorate kruidnoten. For around 42% of consumers, this sugar content is the main consideration when choosing.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients list and highlighted allergens on the current packaging; check for sweeteners if they’re relevant to you. If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check before buying whether the exact product variant is suitable. For around 33% of consumers, the ingredients are the most important factor.
Decorative finish Decide which chocolate sprinkles you want to use as a topping, and allow for a sticky coating after baking. I want the sprinkles to stand out and stay on my cooled kruidnoten. For around 25% of consumers, the finish is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Relying only on ‘less sugar’

    That label doesn’t mean the chocolate sprinkles are sugar-free. The front of the pack also doesn’t tell you how much sugar the product contains per 100 g.

    Compare ‘of which sugars’ and the ingredients lists on the packs you’re considering.

  • Overlooking the coating

    The topping is only one part of decorated kruidnoten. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe also uses sugar in the dough and chocolate glaze for decoration.

    If the sugar content of the whole batch matters to you, take into account the amounts of dough, coating and chocolate sprinkles you actually use.

  • Sprinkling chocolate sprinkles onto dry kruidnoten

    The decoration is less likely to stick to a dry surface. In Albert Heijn Allerhande’s method, the baked kruidnoten are left to cool before being glazed and decorated.

    Add the chocolate sprinkles to the coating after applying it, rather than sprinkling them over the dry kruidnoten.

  • Skipping the label when choosing ‘less sugar’

    The label alone tells you nothing about allergens or the other ingredients in a specific product variant.

    Before using it, check the current ingredients list and highlighted allergens on the packaging.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists AH Hagelslag puur minder suiker and a milk version labelled ‘less sugar’.

  • You can consider both a dark and a milk version carrying this label from this own-brand range.
  • Check the current packaging for ingredients, nutritional values and allergens; product information can change.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Hagelslag Melk Minder Suiker in 200 g and 380 g packs.

  • The milk version mentioned is available in two pack sizes.
  • The chocolate sprinkles range also includes other products. Check the label and ingredients on the pack you choose.

Céréal

Albert Heijn features Céréal chocolate sprinkles labelled ‘less sugars’ in its sugar-conscious selection.

  • A branded option to compare with the own-brand products mentioned, using the label information.
  • For each specific product variant, check the sugars per 100 g, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.

De Ruijter

Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Kleintjes as sprinkling chocolate sprinkles that can also be used in baking.

  • Worth considering if you’re mainly looking for a decorative topping.
  • Don’t take the mention of baking as a sign of lower sugar content; check the label of the product variant you choose.

Joybuy products

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are chocolate sprinkles labelled ‘less sugar’ sugar-free?

No, ‘less sugar’ doesn’t mean the chocolate sprinkles contain no sugar. For the exact product variant, check ‘of which sugars’ per 100 g to see how much sugar the topping contains.

When should I add chocolate sprinkles to homemade kruidnoten?

For a decoration that stands out, add the chocolate sprinkles to a sticky coating after baking. Albert Heijn Allerhande’s recipe leaves the kruidnoten to cool first, then uses chocolate glaze as the base for the decoration.

Does only the sugar in the chocolate sprinkles count?

No, the ingredients in the dough and coating count too when you’re decorating kruidnoten. For example, Albert Heijn Allerhande’s kruidnoten recipe includes brown sugar in the dough; you can’t work out the sugar content of the whole batch from the nutritional information for the chocolate sprinkles alone.

Where can I check for allergens and sweeteners?

Read the ingredients list and clearly highlighted allergens on the current packaging for the exact chocolate sprinkles variant. If you also want to check for sweeteners, see whether they’re listed among the ingredients; according to Voedingscentrum, sweeteners can replace some or all of the sugar.