Fans of dark cocoa
If cocoa content matters more to you than the name Muisjes, look at chocolate sprinkles as a separate product category. Albert Heijn and Jumbo list dark chocolate products alongside their Muisjes range.
Who is this for?
Hosts planning a celebratory dinner
If you’d like to make the familiar Muisjes tradition part of your dinner, serve them as a separate sweet treat. PLUS’s product page lists bread, crispbread and yoghurt among the ways to enjoy crushed Muisjes, but not fish.
Anyone who needs to check for allergens
Before buying and serving, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact variety you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want the Muisjes tradition or a chocolate topping with a stated cocoa content. Either way, you can serve the sweet treat separately from the fish course.
Traditional Muisjes
When to choose them: opt for these if you want a familiar, sweet aniseed treat to serve with dinner.
Consider: Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s Muisjes listings don’t show a dark variety with a stated cocoa content.
Dark chocolate sprinkles
When to choose them: opt for this category if a chocolate hit matters more to you than the Muisjes tradition.
Consider: chocolate sprinkles and flakes aren’t Muisjes. Compare the label for each variety rather than relying on the word ‘dark’.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa content | Check the product category and the stated minimum cocoa solids. Albert Heijn lists at least 43% for De Ruijter Royaal extra dark chocolate sprinkles; Jumbo lists at least 32% for De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes. | After the fish course, I mainly want a chocolate hit, so I’m looking for a product with clearly stated cocoa content. For around 44% of consumers, cocoa content is the top priority. |
| The Muisjes tradition | Check that you’re choosing Muisjes, and plan to serve the sweet treat separately from the fish course. | For the celebratory moment, I want to serve familiar Muisjes without presenting them as an accompaniment to the fish. For around 33% of consumers, this tradition is the main consideration. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warnings on the current packaging of the variety you’ve chosen. | If I’m serving food to someone with an allergy, I need to know exactly what’s in that product before choosing it for its taste. For around 23% of consumers, checking this comes first. |
Common mistakes
-
Confusing Muisjes with dark chocolate sprinkles
If you buy chocolate sprinkles for the Muisjes tradition, you’re choosing a different product category. Likewise, the name Muisjes doesn’t tell you whether a product has a high cocoa content.
Decide which product category you want first. If you choose chocolate, check the stated cocoa content.
-
Assuming a sweet topping belongs with fish
PLUS’s product information suggests serving crushed Muisjes with bread, crispbread and yoghurt. It doesn’t mention pairing them with fish.
Serve Muisjes or chocolate sprinkles as a separate sweet treat, perhaps with dessert, unless you’re deliberately trying a different flavour combination.
-
Assuming ‘dark’ means allergen-free
The word ‘dark’ doesn’t mean that a product is free from milk or soya. De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes, as listed by Jumbo, contain soya and may contain milk.
If any of your guests have an allergy, always read the label on the packaging you buy, including warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
Brands and retailers to consider
De Ruijter
De Ruijter sells both Muisjes and separate dark chocolate sprinkles. The product names make it easier to tell these categories apart.
- Jumbo lists Muisjes, dark chocolate sprinkles and dark chocolate flakes as separate products.
- Dark chocolate sprinkles aren’t the same product as Muisjes.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has a Muisjes category and a separate product page for De Ruijter Royaal extra dark chocolate sprinkles.
- The product page states that these extra dark chocolate sprinkles contain at least 43% cocoa solids.
- Check the packaging of the variety you choose for the latest ingredients and allergen information.
Jumbo
Jumbo has a dedicated Muisjes category, alongside other De Ruijter products such as chocolate sprinkles and flakes.
- The separate product names make it clear which products are Muisjes and which are chocolate sprinkles.
- The Muisjes listings shown don’t include dark Muisjes with a cocoa percentage.
PLUS
PLUS describes De Ruijter crushed Muisjes as a sweet product to enjoy with bread, crispbread and yoghurt, among other things.
- These suggested pairings can help you plan a separate sweet treat to enjoy with dinner.
- The product description doesn’t mention serving it with fish or a dark cocoa profile.
Chocolate toppings at Joybuy
These chocolate sprinkles and chunks are suited to a separate sweet treat with a fish dinner. They aren’t Muisjes, nor are they toppings specifically intended to go with fish.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Intense Dark chocolate sprinkles 200 g
A separate sweet topping for when you want chocolate sprinkles rather than Muisjes.
Size: 200 g. If cocoa content or allergens matter to your choice, check the information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks 390 g
For anyone who wants to use chocolate chunks as a separate sweet topping, rather than as Muisjes or an accompaniment to the fish course.
Size: 390 g. If ‘dark’ or a particular cocoa content is essential to your choice, check the packaging of this variety.
Image unavailable
De Ruijter Dark chocolate sprinkles 390 g
For a separate sweet treat when you want dark chocolate sprinkles rather than traditional Muisjes.
Size: 390 g. If cocoa content matters to your choice, compare the information on the packaging. If you have allergies, check the ingredients too.
Frequently asked questions
Can you find dark Muisjes with a stated high cocoa content?
Not in the online Muisjes listings shown by Albert Heijn and Jumbo, which feature festive, coloured and crushed varieties. Dark chocolate sprinkles are listed separately; this doesn’t tell you what may be available in other or temporary ranges.
Can you serve Muisjes with a fish dinner?
Yes, as a separate sweet treat with dinner, for example after the fish course. PLUS suggests serving crushed Muisjes with foods such as bread, crispbread and yoghurt; serving them with fish isn’t listed as a product use.
How do you compare dark chocolate sprinkles and flakes by cocoa content?
Compare the stated minimum percentages for the exact varieties you’re considering. Albert Heijn lists at least 43% cocoa solids for De Ruijter Royaal extra dark chocolate sprinkles; Jumbo lists at least 32% for De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes. These figures can be compared as label information, but they don’t tell you which one you’ll prefer the taste of.
Should you still check for milk and soya in dark chocolate sprinkles?
Yes. ‘Dark’ doesn’t mean a product is free from milk or soya. Jumbo says De Ruijter dark chocolate flakes contain soya and may contain milk. If you have an allergy, check the current packaging of the variety you’re serving.