Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re looking for a wholemeal bread base

You want to check which flour is used in the bread for your chocolate sprinkles and compare the fibre per 100 g. If iodised salt matters to you, check the ingredients list separately.

If you want a crunchy snack base

You’re looking for something dry and crumbly for the snack table, so you’re choosing between crusty bread and crispbread.

If you check ingredients and allergens

You read the packaging for both the sourdough base and the chocolate sprinkles if you need to avoid certain ingredients or allergens.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want bread or a crisp, rusk-like product. Then compare the ingredients in your chosen base and the chocolate sprinkles.

Wholemeal wheat sourdough bread

Choose this if: you want a wholemeal bread base for chocolate sprinkles; the AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson reviewed here lists 57% wholemeal wheat flour and 6.3 g of fibre per 100 g.

Bear in mind: bread with a crust has a different texture from a completely dry, crumbly rusk base.

Wholemeal spelt sourdough bread

Choose this if: you’re looking for wholemeal spelt bread; Albert Heijn describes the Liefde & Passie variant reviewed here as made with spelt sourdough.

Bear in mind: spelt contains gluten. Also check that the ingredients in the exact variant suit your needs.

Sourdough crispbread

Choose this if: by rusk, you mainly mean a dry, crunchy base for chocolate sprinkles.

Bear in mind: crispbread won’t give you the softer texture of bread; check the grains and allergens in your chosen variant too.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
Texture Check whether you’re buying sliced bread, rustic bread or crispbread, and whether your chosen variant contains kernels or seeds. I want my snack base to break dry and crisp like a rusk, or to feel more like bread. For around 40% of consumers, this choice of texture comes first.
Wholemeal and labelling Check the type of flour and fibre per 100 g; look separately for iodised salt. Alongside the sweet topping, I mainly want to know which bread base I’m choosing and what the label says. For around 40% of consumers, the label is the most important consideration.
Allergens Check the ingredients, allergens and any warnings for both the base and the chocolate sprinkles. Even if the bread suits my needs, I still need to check what’s in the chocolate sprinkles. For around 20% of consumers, checking ingredients is the top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sourdough means wholemeal and iodised

    Sourdough doesn’t tell you which flour or salt has been used. The Voedingscentrum also says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.

    Check the packaging separately for wholemeal flour and iodised salt. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.

  • Checking only the bread for allergens

    The ingredients in chocolate sprinkles can matter too. The De Ruijter Specials hagelslag intens puur reviewed here lists soya lecithin and carries a warning about milk protein and lactose.

    Whenever you buy, check the latest information for both the bread or crispbread and the topping.

  • Treating bread and crispbread as the same kind of base

    A crust on sourdough bread doesn’t give you the same dry, crumbly texture as crispbread. You’ll notice the difference if you’re looking for a rusk-like result.

    Choose crispbread for that crunchy texture, or bread if you want a bread crumb.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn – AH OerDesem

Within this bread range, AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson is a specific example of wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.

  • Albert Heijn lists 57% wholemeal wheat flour and 6.3 g of fibre per 100 g for this variant.
  • Check the details of the variant you buy; the figures for this bread don’t automatically apply to the entire range.

Albert Heijn – Liefde & Passie

According to Albert Heijn, the sliced wholemeal spelt variant reviewed here is made with spelt sourdough.

  • An option to consider if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal spelt bread.
  • Spelt contains gluten; check the latest packaging for other ingredients and allergens.

Jumbo – Jumbo's desembroden

Jumbo describes a range of rustic sourdough breads in different styles.

  • If you’re looking for a bread texture, you can compare the individual variants by flour type and ingredients.
  • According to Jumbo, these sourdough breads are only available in Jumbo shops and can’t be ordered online.

Leksands

The sourdough crispbread reviewed here is a dry, crunchy option if you’re looking for a rusk-like base.

  • Jumbo’s product information lists wholemeal rye flour as an ingredient in the crispbread reviewed here.
  • The listed ingredients include gluten; crispbread also has a different texture from soft bread.

Joybuy products for a crunchy base

If you’re mainly looking for a dry, crunchy sourdough base for chocolate sprinkles, here’s a rye cracker to consider. If you’d rather have sliced bread, you’ll get a different texture.

Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers, 235 g pack

Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers 235 g

A sourdough rye cracker for anyone looking for a crunchy base for chocolate sprinkles; the pack contains 235 g.

Before buying, check the ingredients and allergens in these crackers and in your chosen chocolate sprinkles. If iodised salt is important to your choice, look specifically for it on the packaging.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is sourdough bread always wholemeal?

No. Sourdough doesn’t tell you which flour has been used. Check the packaging of the specific bread for the word ‘wholemeal’, and compare the fibre per 100 g if you wish.

Does all sourdough bread contain iodised salt?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for iodised salt, or ask which salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.

Is sourdough suitable if I need to avoid gluten?

Don’t assume so: the spelt bread and crispbread variants reviewed here contain gluten-containing grains. Check the allergen information for the exact product before choosing.

Should I check the chocolate sprinkles for allergens too?

Yes, check the bread and topping separately. The De Ruijter Specials hagelslag intens puur reviewed here lists soya lecithin and warns that the product may contain milk protein and lactose; check the latest packaging for the variant you buy.

Can I assume sourdough bread is available to order online?

No, this varies by bread range and retailer. Jumbo says that its rustic sourdough breads described here are only available in Jumbo shops and can’t be ordered online; check availability for the variant you want to buy.