Anyone looking for a single bar
You want to take or eat chocolate as a separate snack, rather than open a pack of sprinkles that you’ll then need to store.
Who is this distinction important for?
Anyone looking for a bread topping
You want to sprinkle chocolate over bread, yoghurt or another dish, and can keep a pack at home.
Anyone keeping their rijsttafel shopping list focused
You want to buy only products for the planned meal. The Netherlands Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage describes a rijsttafel as rice or bami noodles with many dishes.
What should you consider when choosing?
Chocolate sprinkles
Choose these: if you want a topping for bread or something to use later.
Bear in mind: a pack of sprinkles isn’t a single chocolate bar and needs to be stored once opened.
A chocolate bar
Choose this: if having a bar matters more to you than choosing from the sprinkles category.
Bear in mind: a single bar isn’t necessarily a small or individually wrapped portion.
No sweet addition
Choose this: if your list is only for the rijsttafel meal.
Bear in mind: plan any separate snack, breakfast or dessert for another time, outside this shop.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual snack | Check whether it’s a bar or a pack of sprinkles, and look at the net weight. | If I want to eat one bar, sprinkles that I have to sprinkle and store at home aren’t much use to me. For around 50% of consumers, having an individual snack would be the main priority. |
| Bread topping | Choose a flavour and pack size only if you want to use sprinkles. | For bread or yoghurt, I’m specifically looking for sprinkles that I can use again later. For around 33% of consumers, this would be the main use. |
| Place in the meal | Decide whether the product is for the rijsttafel itself or for a separate eating occasion. | If I’m only planning the meal, I don’t want to buy something sweet without a clear purpose. For around 17% of consumers, keeping the shopping list focused would be their first concern. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking sprinkles for an individual bar
The sprinkles in the ranges at Jumbo and ALDI, and on Joybuy’s product page, come in packs as a topping, not as individual chocolate bars.
Check the product format and net weight. If you want a bar to take with you, look for a chocolate bar.
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Automatically adding sprinkles to your rijsttafel shopping list
A pack of chocolate sprinkles doesn’t automatically have a place in the rijsttafel described by the Netherlands Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Plan the meal first; only add sprinkles if you also want a bread topping or something to use at another time.
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Relying solely on an online ingredients list
If you have an allergy, the information on the packaging of the product you buy is what matters. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information must appear on the label of pre-packed food.
Read the current label, and don’t rely on the flavour name to rule out allergens.
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Opening a pack without a plan for using the rest
If you only want something for one snack, you may be left with an opened pack of sprinkles.
Choose a pack if you want to use the sprinkles again later; seal it well after opening and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises storing similar chocolate bread toppings in a dry place.
Chocolate sprinkle brands compared
De Ruijter
Chocolate sprinkles in milk, dark and white varieties, among others, listed in Dutch supermarket ranges.
- Jumbo and Albert Heijn list a range of varieties and pack sizes.
- These are sprinkles, not individual bars; check the ingredients for your chosen variety on the current label.
Venz
Jumbo lists chocolate- and vanilla-flavoured sprinkle varieties, among others.
- You can compare the listed flavours if you’re looking for a bread topping.
- Check the ingredients and allergens on your chosen pack; a range overview is no substitute for the label.
Choca
Jumbo lists Choca Vlokken and Choca Vlokken mix, both in 200 g packs.
- The listed mix gives you an alternative to the standard sprinkles.
- Compare the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging before choosing a variety.
PLUS
PLUS lists milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in 300 g packs.
- The product page for the dark variety displays a Fairtrade Cacao label and describes it as vegan and vegetarian.
- The same page says that the dark variety may contain milk and lactose. If you have an allergy, check the current label; a vegan label doesn’t rule out cross-contact.
Kiekeboe
ALDI lists Kiekeboe milk and dark chocolate sprinkles in 300 g packs.
- The ALDI product page presents both flavours as bread toppings.
- A 300 g pack isn’t an individual bar. Check your chosen flavour and the information on the packaging when you buy.
Chocolate bars for a separate snack
These Joybuy products are 100 g chocolate bars for anyone who would rather choose a bar than sprinkles. They’re not a topping for bread, and the description of a rijsttafel doesn’t make them part of the meal. Check the packaging if you’re looking for a smaller, individually wrapped portion.
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Lindt Excellence 90% Cocoa Supreme Dark, 100 g
For a separate snack when you’re looking for a bar rather than chocolate sprinkles.
The product name specifies 90% cocoa and a 100 g bar. Check the packaging if you need a smaller portion or allergen information.
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Lindt Excellence 78% Cacao, 100 g
For a separate occasion when you want a chocolate bar rather than a topping.
The product name specifies 78% cocoa and a 100 g bar. Check the packaging if portion size or allergen information is important to your choice.
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Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate, 100 g
A bar for anyone who wants to enjoy chocolate separately from the rijsttafel meal.
The product name specifies 70% cocoa and a 100 g bar. If you have an allergy, read the current label; don’t infer allergens from the variety name.
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Lindt Excellence Dark Orange Chocolate, 100 g
For a separate snack when you’re looking for an orange-flavoured bar rather than sprinkles.
The product name specifies a 100 g bar. Check the ingredients, allergens and portion size on the packaging.
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Lindt Excellence Caramel Hazelnut, 100 g
For a separate snack when you’re looking for a bar with caramel and hazelnut.
The product name specifies a 100 g bar. If you have an allergy, check the current allergen information on the packaging and make sure the portion size suits how you plan to enjoy it.
Frequently asked questions
Are chocolate sprinkles the same as an individual chocolate bar?
No. The sprinkles listed here by Jumbo, ALDI and Joybuy are toppings or bread spreads sold in 200 g or 300 g packs. If you want that bar format, look for a chocolate bar, and check the packaging if you need a smaller portion.
Are chocolate sprinkles part of an Indonesian rijsttafel?
Chocolate sprinkles aren’t a standard part of a rijsttafel. The Netherlands Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage describes a rijsttafel as rice or bami noodles with many dishes. Only buy sprinkles if you want them for a separate breakfast, dessert or topping occasion.
How can I check allergens in chocolate sprinkles?
Read the current label on the pack you’ve chosen. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must appear on pre-packed food. For example, the PLUS product page says that the dark sprinkles may contain milk and lactose, even though the variety is described as vegan.
How should I store an opened pack of chocolate sprinkles?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the pack well after use. For similar chocolate bread toppings, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing them in a dry place.