Hosts catering for different tastes
With separate plain and wholemeal rusks, plus milk and dark chocolate sprinkles, your guests don’t all have to choose the same combination. You’ll need to buy and set out each item separately, though.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers who care about the type of rusk
If you’re looking for wholemeal rusks or a particular amount of fibre, compare the nutritional information for the different products. Also check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Shoppers comparing chocolate sprinkles labels
When choosing chocolate sprinkles, you may want to consider the flavour, cocoa content, sugars and allergens. The dark varieties from De Ruijter and Venz reviewed here show why the word ‘dark’ alone doesn’t tell you whether a product contains milk or soya.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how much choice you want to offer in rusks and chocolate sprinkles as a sweet treat at your barbecue. Then compare the labels on the products you actually plan to serve.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Choice of combinations | Check whether you can buy both plain and wholemeal rusks, along with your preferred flavours of chocolate sprinkles. Buying separate items means more packs than choosing a single combined product. | If my guests don’t all want the same base or flavour, I’d rather serve the items separately. An estimated 40% of consumers prioritise having a choice when making this barbecue selection. |
| Plain or wholemeal rusks | Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g for the exact rusk products. Check the allergen information too. | If you want to offer wholemeal rusks, choosing the base matters more than offering lots of chocolate sprinkle flavours. An estimated 30% of consumers put this choice first. |
| What’s in the chocolate sprinkles | Check the sugars per 100 g, any information given per portion and the allergen information. Consider a claim such as ‘less sugar’ alongside the nutrition table. | If I need to take account of my guests’ dietary requirements or allergies, I want to be able to check the exact pack. For an estimated 30% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means ‘free from milk or soya’
According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the De Ruijter and Venz dark chocolate sprinkles reviewed here contain milk and soya. The flavour name doesn’t tell you whether a product is suitable for a guest with an allergy.
Check the allergen information on the exact pack and keep the packaging to hand when serving.
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Assuming ‘less sugar’ means ‘sugar-free’
The comparison Jumbo describes for a lower-sugar variety relates to a different chocolate sprinkle product. The claim alone doesn’t tell you how much sugar is in the sprinkles you’ve chosen.
Compare the sugars per 100 g on current packaging and, if the information is provided, check the portion size too.
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Choosing wholemeal without reading the full label
‘Wholemeal’ describes the grain used, but doesn’t give you the full picture of the other ingredients or allergens. Ingredients vary between rusk products.
Check the exact pack, especially if your guests need to avoid certain ingredients, and consider offering another type of rusk as well.
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Focusing on dry toppings at the expense of chilled barbecue food
Chilled products and preventing cross-contamination need different handling from dry rusks and chocolate sprinkles. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Store rusks and chocolate sprinkles according to the instructions on the packaging. Also plan how you’ll keep other barbecue foods chilled and use separate serving tongs.
Brands to consider
De Ruijter
A chocolate sprinkles brand that includes the reviewed Specials Intens Puur variety.
- Albert Heijn states that this variety contains at least 52% cocoa solids.
- According to Albert Heijn, this same variety contains milk and soya and may contain lactose; ‘dark’ doesn’t indicate allergens.
Venz
A chocolate sprinkles brand with a range of flavours; the reviewed dark variety comes in a 400 g pack.
- Albert Heijn states that this dark variety contains at least 32% cocoa solids.
- The ingredients for this variety include milk and soya. Check the packaging if allergens affect your choice.
Albert Heijn
A supermarket with separate product categories for rusks and chocolate sprinkles.
- The range overview can help you compare separate bases and toppings.
- Check the information for the products you choose; a category overview doesn’t tell you about the allergens in an individual pack.
Jumbo
A supermarket with product pages for items including chocolate sprinkles and wholemeal rusks.
- Individual product listings let you compare types of rusks and chocolate sprinkles.
- Jumbo says the wholemeal rusks reviewed here are temporarily unavailable. Check current availability before relying on this variety.
ALDI
A supermarket whose range overview lists both plain and wholemeal rusks.
- ALDI also lists Sprinkles chocolate sprinkles in milk and dark varieties.
- Check the packaging you choose for ingredient and allergen information.
Lidl
A supermarket listing De Ruijter milk chocolate sprinkles, 390 g, as an in-store product.
- This listing is a useful starting point if you’re looking for this milk chocolate variety.
- The product page says it’s sold in store; check whether it’s available at your chosen branch.
Separate rusks and chocolate sprinkles at Joybuy
These products are sold separately so you can put together rusks with chocolate sprinkles: three types of sprinkles and two types of wholemeal rusks. Choose your preferred base and topping separately; none of these packs is a complete combination on its own.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure chocolate sprinkles, 200 g
A separate chocolate sprinkle variety for anyone who wants to offer a dark flavour alongside other toppings.
200 g pack; rusks are sold separately. Check the allergens on the exact pack.
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Venz milk chocolate sprinkles, 400 g
A milk chocolate flavour to serve as a separate topping with rusks.
400 g pack; rusks aren’t included. Read the label if ingredients or allergens are important for your guests.
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Venz chocolate and vanilla-flavoured sprinkles, 400 g
For anyone who wants to offer chocolate and vanilla flavours with a rusk base of their choice.
400 g pack. Rusks are sold separately; check the ingredients on the label for this variety.
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Bolletje wholemeal rusks, 13 pieces
A wholemeal base for guests who want to choose their own chocolate sprinkles.
Pack of 13; chocolate sprinkles are sold separately. Compare the ingredients and allergens on the exact pack with your guests’ needs.
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Bolletje dark wholemeal rusks, 10 pieces
An alternative wholemeal rusk for serving with separate toppings.
Pack of 10; chocolate sprinkles aren’t included. Read the ingredients and allergens for this variety before serving it to your guests.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose separate rusks and chocolate sprinkles instead of a ready-made combination?
Choose separate items if you want guests to pick their own type of rusk and flavour of chocolate sprinkles. A pre-made variety fixes both choices for you; check current availability if that’s what you want to buy.
Are dark chocolate sprinkles always free from milk and soya?
No. According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the De Ruijter and Venz dark varieties reviewed here contain milk and soya. If this matters to a guest, check the allergen information on the exact pack.
What does ‘less sugar’ mean on chocolate sprinkles?
‘Less sugar’ means the product is being compared with a reference product; it doesn’t mean ‘sugar-free’. Before choosing, also check the sugars per 100 g on the packaging of the variety you plan to buy.
Do rusks with chocolate sprinkles need to be kept in the fridge at a barbecue?
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and keep dry products well sealed. Handle chilled barbecue foods separately: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Do the Dutch rules on baker’s salt mean that every pack of rusks contains iodine?
No. Those rules don’t mean that every individual pack of rusks contains iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread, bread substitutes and other bakery products when baker’s salt is added. If you want to know what’s in a particular rusk product, check the label or ask the manufacturer.