Choose individual sachets of sprinkles or flakes if you want to serve each guest their own portion alongside plain rusks at Christmas dinner. A standard shaker pack is a better choice if you’re topping lots of rusks yourself and don’t need one sachet per guest. If you buy a mixed box, check the ingredients of each variety, especially if any guests need to avoid particular ingredients.
If you want each guest to finish their own rusk with a topping, you can place a sachet on each plate beforehand. Albert Heijn lists eight portions for AH Strooi mini's; according to the product information on Albert Heijn’s website, De Ruijter Kleintjes also contains eight sachets.
For a buffet with a choice of toppings, the mixed mini assortments from AH and De Ruijter offer different types of chocolate sprinkles and flakes. Before setting them out, check which varieties are actually included in the box you’ve chosen.
If any guests need to avoid particular ingredients, the contents of the individual sachets matter more than the brand name on the box. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods, so keep the packaging to hand.
First decide whether each guest will have their own sachet or whether you’ll top the rusks yourself. Then check the ingredients of your preferred topping and work out how many portions you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Individual portions | Check how many individual sachets there are and how much each contains. A small box isn’t necessarily divided into portions. | If you want to put a measured topping on each plate without using a shaker tub, individual sachets are practical. For around 42% of consumers, serving individual portions is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label on the box you buy and, for a mix, check the different varieties. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, you’ll want to be able to check which sachet is suitable for them. Checking ingredients is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Quantity and choice | Count the portions you’ll need for your guests and check which types of sprinkles or flakes are in the pack. | For a buffet with several toppings, you’ll want enough portions to put out without being limited to just one variety. Around 25% of consumers pay most attention to this balance. |
The mini packs from AH and De Ruijter contain sprinkles, not topped rusks. Jumbo lists its Beschuit met Hagelslag Melk as no longer available in its online range.
Buy the rusks separately and decide whether guests will top them themselves or whether you’ll do it just before serving.
Chocolate sprinkles, flakes and other types of sprinkles in one box can contain different ingredients. De Ruijter Kleintjes lists milk, lactose and soya among the ingredients in some varieties.
Check the description of each sachet against the packaging you bought, and keep the packaging available for guests who want to check the ingredients.
A box with eight portions gives you eight individual sachets, but that may not be enough for every serving you have planned.
Count how many plates you want to serve with their own sachet, then work out how many boxes you’ll need.
The Dutch agreement on baker’s salt, published in the Government Gazette in 2008, encourages the use of iodised salt in bread and bread substitutes. It doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in a particular rusk.
If the type of salt used matters to your choice, read the ingredients list on the rusks you’re serving.
According to the product information on Albert Heijn’s website, De Ruijter Kleintjes Strooibaar is a 140 g mixed box containing eight individual sachets.
AH Strooi mini's is a 140 g box containing eight portions, intended for rusks and other uses.
Jumbo lists Strooi Mini's in a 140 g pack of eight alongside larger packs of chocolate sprinkles.
The Venz Mini's assortment contained ten sachets of different sprinkles. Albert Heijn marks this pack as discontinued.
ALDI lists Kiekeboe dark chocolate sprinkles in a 600 g pack and fruit sprinkles in a 400 g pack.
Lidl lists Mister Choc Hagelslag Puur in its breakfast and toppings range.
That depends on the size of your rusk and what other toppings you’re serving. Albert Heijn lists 18 g per portion for AH Strooi mini's; sachets of 15 g and 20 g are listed for De Ruijter Kleintjes. Try them out before Christmas dinner to see how much you’ll need for the way you plan to serve them.
Not if guests need to avoid different ingredients: the varieties in a mixed box can differ. Check the label on the pack you bought and the description of each variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority points out that allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods.
Don’t assume that’s the case for the rusks you choose. The Dutch agreement, published in the Government Gazette in 2008, encourages the use of iodised salt in bread and bread substitutes. For the ingredients of a particular rusk, check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer.
