Who is this choice relevant to?

If you want to serve an eye-catching St Nicholas’ snack

You want larger chocolate sprinkles on your rusks, without mistaking XL or XXL for a thicker rusk base. Venz and Albert Heijn use these terms to describe their chocolate sprinkles.

If you’re looking for rusks with different ingredients

You might compare rusks with spelt, seeds or kernels with plain rusks. Jumbo describes these kinds of ingredients in its Robuust Spelt Rusks, but the product name doesn’t specify a thickness.

If you need to take allergens into account

Check both the rusks and the chocolate sprinkles for your guests. Among the Jumbo and Venz varieties we looked at, rusks contain ingredients such as wheat and egg, while chocolate sprinkles contain milk and soya; ingredients vary by product.

What should you look for in rusks with chocolate sprinkles?

First decide whether you mainly want to compare the rusk base, how the topping looks, availability or nutritional information. XL or XXL chocolate sprinkles change the size of the sprinkles, not the stated thickness of the rusks.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sturdiness of the base Check whether the rusks have a specific thickness measurement or guidance on the type of topping they’re intended for. Don’t assume they’re sturdy based on the word ‘robust’. If I want to add a generous topping, I want to know whether the rusk base is up to the job. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers.
Appearance of the chocolate sprinkles Check whether XL or XXL refers to the chocolate sprinkles and which variety you’re choosing. For an eye-catching treat, I’m mainly looking for larger sprinkles, without needing to choose different rusks. Around 25% of consumers give presentation the highest priority.
Availability Check the current range and whether the rusks and chocolate sprinkles are available separately. If I’m putting the treat together just before St Nicholas’ Eve, I want to be able to buy both items. Availability matters most to around 19% of consumers.
Ingredients and nutritional information Check both labels for allergens; compare nutritional values per 100 g or per serving on the same basis. Check the label if the use of baker’s salt matters to your choice. If guests need to watch what they eat, I don’t want to check just the chocolate sprinkles label. Ingredients, allergens or nutritional information come first for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking XXL chocolate sprinkles for thicker rusks

    For the Venz and Albert Heijn products we looked at, XXL or XL refers to the chocolate sprinkles. Larger sprinkles don’t mean the rusks are thicker or can hold more topping.

    If the base is important to you, look for information about the rusks themselves, such as a thickness measurement or an explicit description of their intended use.

  • Checking only one pack for allergens

    Rusks and chocolate sprinkles each have their own ingredients list. The varieties we looked at include ingredients such as wheat and egg in rusks, and milk and soya in chocolate sprinkles.

    Before buying, check the latest allergen information for both products, including any ‘may contain’ warnings.

  • Assuming rusks contain iodine based on their name

    The product name doesn’t tell you whether iodised baker’s salt was used in baking. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory.

    If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the packaging or ask the manufacturer.

Brands and shops to consider

These examples can help you compare rusks and chocolate sprinkles sold separately; a brand or shop name on its own tells you nothing about the thickness of the rusks.

De Ruijter

A chocolate sprinkles brand to compare with rusks chosen separately. Lidl lists a 390 g pack of milk chocolate sprinkles.

  • The pack description makes the milk variety easy to identify.
  • The product information for these chocolate sprinkles says nothing about the thickness of a rusk base.

Venz

If you’re looking for larger sprinkles, Venz XXL Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, 380 g, are described as an XL version of the topping.

  • The size of the sprinkles is what sets this variety apart.
  • XXL refers to the sprinkles, not the rusks; check the allergen information for this milk variety, too.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn describes its 380 g XL Dark Chocolate Sprinkles, with information about ingredients and serving sizes.

  • The product information gives you useful points of comparison for this variety of chocolate sprinkles.
  • ‘Dark’ doesn’t automatically mean dairy- or lactose-free; check the label for this variety.

Jumbo

Jumbo describes both plain rusks and Robuust Spelt Rusks with kernels and seeds.

  • The ingredients make it possible to compare the rusk varieties we looked at.
  • ‘Robust’ doesn’t give a thickness measurement or prove that the rusks can hold a generous topping.

Lidl

Lidl lists De Ruijter Milk Chocolate Sprinkles, 390 g, as a shop product.

  • The stated pack size helps you identify the right product.
  • Check availability in store; the listing doesn’t provide evidence about the rusks’ features.

ALDI

ALDI describes Sprinkles chocolate sprinkles in 300 g milk and dark varieties, and also lists rusks as a separate product category.

  • You can choose your preferred chocolate sprinkles and rusks separately.
  • This product information doesn’t give a thickness measurement for the rusks.

Rusks and chocolate sprinkles on Joybuy

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Are XXL chocolate sprinkles the same as thick rusks?

No. For the Venz and Albert Heijn varieties described here, XXL or XL refers to the chocolate sprinkles, not the thickness of the rusks. If the base is what matters most to you, check the product specifications for the rusks.

Which allergens should I check in rusks with chocolate sprinkles?

Read the labels on both products. For the plain rusks we looked at, Jumbo lists ingredients including wheat and egg; the Venz XXL Milk Chocolate Sprinkles we looked at include ingredients such as milk and soya. Other varieties may have different ingredients.

Do rusks always contain iodised baker’s salt?

You can’t tell from the name ‘rusks’. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt isn’t compulsory in bread; check the packaging for the product in question or ask the manufacturer.

Can I buy ready-made rusks with chocolate sprinkles?

Check the current range before counting on a ready-made combination. Jumbo lists its Milk Chocolate Sprinkles with Rusks product as no longer available in its online range. Choosing rusks and chocolate sprinkles separately also lets you check both labels individually.

How should I store rusks for St Nicholas’ Eve?

Follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. For the plain rusks we looked at, Jumbo recommends keeping them in a sealed tin after opening; store the chocolate sprinkles according to their own label.