If you want to taste anise on your oliebol
Crushed aniseed sprinkles add a sweet anise note, not a chocolate flavour. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes as sugar-coated aniseed.
Which option is right for you?
If by ‘dark’ you mean chocolate
If chocolate matters more to you than anise, look for a different type of product. Albert Heijn states that De Ruijter Royaal chocolate sprinkles extra dark contain at least 43% cocoa solids; this isn’t a variety of crushed aniseed sprinkles.
If you need to check ingredients and allergens
Check the pack before choosing sprinkles for your oliebollen. The crushed aniseed sprinkles examined list wheat; the extra-dark chocolate sprinkles examined list milk and soya. Labels may differ for other products.
What should you consider when choosing?
First decide whether you want anise or chocolate. Then compare the ingredients within that product category, check the stated cocoa content where relevant, and read the allergen information on the current pack.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Anise or chocolate | Check the product type and ingredients. The ingredients listed by Albert Heijn for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes include aniseed, but no cocoa. | If you want the distinctive anise flavour of crushed aniseed sprinkles on your oliebol, chocolate sprinkles aren’t the same choice. For around 33% of consumers, that anise pairing would be the main reason for choosing them. |
| A chocolate note | For chocolate sprinkles, check the minimum cocoa solids stated on the pack, rather than relying on words such as ‘dark’. Albert Heijn states at least 43% for De Ruijter Royaal extra dark and at least 32% for AH Hagelslag puur. | If you’re mainly looking for a chocolate note on your oliebollen, that matters more than choosing aniseed sprinkles. For around 45% of consumers, this would be their main preference. |
| Allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information. The aniseed sprinkles examined list wheat; De Ruijter Royaal chocolate sprinkles extra dark list milk and soya. | If you need to rule out a type of sprinkles because of allergens, checking the label comes before choosing a flavour. For roughly 22% of consumers, this would be their first consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means a type of crushed aniseed sprinkles
The crushed aniseed sprinkles examined are sugar-coated aniseed. Dark chocolate sprinkles have a different flavour and belong to a different product category, even if you use both as a topping.
First choose between anise and chocolate. If you want chocolate, check the pack to see which product you’re buying and what minimum cocoa content it states.
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Skipping the allergen check because you’re only using a small amount
The anise and chocolate products examined list different allergens. The product name alone won’t tell you which ingredients and warnings are on your pack.
Read the ingredients, allergens and any warnings on the current pack before using the sprinkles.
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Assuming mixing them into the batter is the same as sprinkling them on top
A PLUS recipe uses crushed aniseed sprinkles both in the batter and after baking, mixed with orange zest as a topping. These are two different ways to use them in the same recipe.
Before baking, decide whether you want to add the sprinkles to the batter, use them as a topping or do both. If you’re trying a variation, test it with a small amount first.
Brands and retailers to consider
De Ruijter
The product range examined includes Gestampte Muisjes 270 g for anise flavour and Royaal chocolate sprinkles extra dark 390 g as a separate chocolate option.
- The crushed aniseed sprinkles are described as sugar-coated aniseed. Albert Heijn states that the Royaal chocolate sprinkles contain at least 43% cocoa solids.
- The chocolate sprinkles aren’t a variety of crushed aniseed sprinkles. Check the wheat information for the aniseed sprinkles and the milk and soya information for the chocolate sprinkles examined.
Albert Heijn
AH Hagelslag puur is a chocolate alternative in a 600 g pack, not an anise product.
- Albert Heijn states that these chocolate sprinkles contain at least 32% cocoa solids.
- The ingredients list whole milk powder. Check the packaging for the latest ingredients.
Jumbo
Jumbo is included here as a retailer to consider: the product listing examined is for De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g, not a Jumbo own-brand product.
- Jumbo describes this product as crushed, sugar-coated aniseed.
- If you’re looking for a chocolate note, choose a different type of product rather than treating these sprinkles as dark chocolate.
Chocolate sprinkles on Joybuy
These products are options to try if you want chocolate rather than anise on your oliebollen. They aren’t crushed aniseed sprinkles, so compare the product form and check the current packaging before using them.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure Chocolate Sprinkles 200 g
Chocolate sprinkles to consider if you want chocolate rather than anise on your oliebol.
Pack size: 200 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack.
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De Ruijter Chocolate Chunks 390 g
An option to try if you’d like chocolate pieces as an alternative to the fine aniseed sprinkles in crushed aniseed sprinkles.
Pack size: 390 g. Bear in mind that this is a different product form, and read the latest allergen information.
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g'woon Pure Chocolate Sprinkles 400 g
Chocolate sprinkles for anyone who prefers chocolate to the anise flavour of crushed aniseed sprinkles.
Pack size: 400 g. Check the ingredients and any allergen warnings on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Are De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g a ‘dark’ chocolate variety?
No. Albert Heijn and Jumbo describe De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes 270 g as sugar-coated aniseed; the listed ingredients don’t include cocoa. For a chocolate note, look for a chocolate product and check the name and ingredients on the pack.
Can you use crushed aniseed sprinkles in oliebollen batter?
Yes. A PLUS oliebollen recipe uses two tablespoons of crushed aniseed sprinkles instead of sugar in the batter. After baking, the same recipe mixes a further three tablespoons of sprinkles with orange zest to scatter over the oliebollen; these quantities are for that particular recipe.
Are the crushed aniseed sprinkles examined gluten-free?
No. For the De Ruijter Gestampte Muisjes examined, Albert Heijn lists wheat starch in the ingredients and wheat as an allergen. Always check the current packaging of the product you’re buying.
Where can you check allergens in sprinkles for oliebollen?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the sprinkles you want to use. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that 14 allergens must be declared on labels. Don’t rely on the product name or the ingredients of a different type of sprinkles.