Who is this choice relevant to?

Home bakers who want to keep the muisjes tradition

For a new-baby celebration cake, crisp rusk or cupcakes, you may be looking for the familiar shape and aniseed flavour of muisjes. Chocolate sprinkles change both the flavour and the appearance.

Bakers who want to use Fairtrade chocolate

If chocolate needs to be part of your bake or decoration, look for a cocoa product with an explicit Fairtrade claim. Muisjes and chocolate sprinkles are different types of product and can’t be used interchangeably.

Bakers who need to check ingredients and allergens

If you’re baking for someone with a food allergy, read the current packaging for the product you choose. The De Ruijter muisjes described contain wheat starch; the pure chocolate sprinkles described by Fairtrade Original and PLUS may contain milk.

What should you consider when choosing?

Traditional muisjes

Choose these when: you want to keep the aniseed flavour and use pink-and-white or blue-and-white muisjes as decoration.

The trade-off: the sugar-coated aniseed seeds described are not a chocolate product, so they won’t give you a Fairtrade cocoa option.

Fairtrade chocolate sprinkles

Choose these when: you want chocolate for flavour or as a topping, and the product carries an explicit Fairtrade claim.

The trade-off: chocolate sprinkles don’t have the aniseed flavour or shape of muisjes. Fairtrade Netherlands also allows mass balance for cocoa, so a Fairtrade claim doesn’t automatically mean the cocoa has been kept physically separate.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Aniseed flavour and appearance Check that you’re buying sugar-coated aniseed seeds and choose the colour you want. For a new-baby celebration cake, I want to keep the familiar aniseed flavour and shape of muisjes; around 45% of consumers put that tradition first.
Fairtrade chocolate Look for an explicit Fairtrade claim on a cocoa product and check which form your recipe calls for. For chocolate-flavoured cupcakes, I want to use cocoa that is explicitly labelled Fairtrade; around 36% of consumers prioritise this need.
Ingredients and allergens Read the current ingredients list and allergen warnings on the packaging. If I’m baking for someone with a food allergy, I need to be able to assess the decoration I choose by checking the label; around 19% of consumers consider this check the most important factor.

Common mistakes

  • Treating muisjes as chocolate sprinkles

    The De Ruijter muisjes described by Albert Heijn and PLUS are sugar-coated aniseed seeds. They don’t play the same role in a bake as chocolate does.

    Before buying, decide whether you want traditional aniseed decoration or a chocolate ingredient with an explicit Fairtrade claim.

  • Assuming Fairtrade cocoa is physically kept separate

    Fairtrade Netherlands allows mass balance for cocoa. Fairtrade and non-Fairtrade cocoa may therefore be mixed in the supply chain.

    If physical traceability is essential to you, read the specific information about the certification on the packaging before choosing a product.

  • Assuming ‘vegan’ or ‘dark’ means ‘dairy-free’

    PLUS describes its dark chocolate sprinkles as vegan, but also says they may contain milk and lactose. Fairtrade Original’s dark sprinkles may also contain milk.

    If you have a food allergy, always check the latest allergen information on the packaging of the product you’re going to use.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

The pink-and-white and blue-and-white muisjes described are sugar-coated aniseed seeds for anyone looking for traditional muisjes as decoration.

  • The aniseed flavour and familiar shape make them a good fit for crisp rusk and celebration bakes.
  • The ingredients described include wheat starch and don’t mention cocoa; don’t consider these muisjes to be Fairtrade chocolate.

Fairtrade Original

The Hagelslag Puur described is chocolate sprinkles with a Fairtrade claim, not aniseed muisjes.

  • Fairtrade Original states that these sprinkles contain at least 32% cocoa solids and suggests using them on cake.
  • The product may contain milk. Read the information on the packaging if the way the cocoa is traced matters to you.

PLUS

The dark chocolate sprinkles described by PLUS are labelled Fairtrade Cacao on the product page.

  • The product page states that they contain at least 32% cocoa solids and describes the product as vegan.
  • Chocolate sprinkles won’t replace the aniseed flavour and shape of muisjes; according to the product page, they may contain milk and lactose.

Cocoa product for home baking at Joybuy

This cocoa powder is suited to recipes where you want to add cocoa. If you’re looking for ready-to-use muisjes or chocolate sprinkles for decoration, choose a different type of product.

Fairtrade Cocoa Powder, 125 g pack

Fairtrade Cocoa Powder 125 g

For baking recipes that call for cocoa powder; it isn’t ready-to-use muisjes or chocolate sprinkles for decoration.

125 g pack. Read the information on the packaging about Fairtrade and traceability if these are important to your choice.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are ordinary muisjes Fairtrade chocolate?

The De Ruijter muisjes described aren’t chocolate: according to the product information from Albert Heijn and PLUS, they’re sugar-coated aniseed seeds. If you want Fairtrade chocolate for your bake, choose a separate cocoa product with an explicit Fairtrade claim.

How can I identify Fairtrade chocolate for a bake?

Look for the Fairtrade mark or an explicit claim such as Fairtrade Cacao on the packaging or product page. Also check that the product comes in the form you need: sprinkles for topping are different from cocoa powder for a recipe.

Are Fairtrade cocoa beans always kept physically separate?

No, not always: according to Fairtrade Netherlands, mass balance is allowed for cocoa, which means cocoa from different supply streams may be mixed during production. Check the information for the specific product if physical separation is a requirement for you.

Which allergens should I check in muisjes and chocolate sprinkles?

Read the current packaging for the product you choose. The De Ruijter muisjes described contain wheat starch, while the Fairtrade Original and PLUS dark chocolate sprinkles described may contain milk.