Who is each option best for?

Anyone giving a ready-to-open St Nicholas’ gift

A chocolate figure or festive packaging is a good choice when you want to give a gift without baking or having to put together an extra display.

Home bakers decorating a St Nicholas’ treat

Aniseed sprinkles are ideal if you’re decorating cupcakes or crispbread yourself, for example, and would like an aniseed flavour instead of chocolate sprinkles.

Shoppers who need to check ingredients

For these shoppers, the information on the exact packaging is essential, for example if the recipient needs to avoid wheat, milk, soya or certain nuts.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a ready-made chocolate gift or something to decorate yourself. Then choose the quantity and ingredients to suit the recipient and the occasion.

St Nicholas’ chocolate

Choose this if: you want to give a recognisable gift without making a treat yourself.

Bear in mind: contents, size and allergens vary from one pack to another.

Aniseed sprinkles for decorating

Choose this if: you want to decorate crispbread or baked goods yourself and like the idea of an aniseed flavour.

Bear in mind: aniseed sprinkles aren’t a substitute for a chocolate gift, and you’ll need something to serve them on.

Chocolate and aniseed sprinkles

Choose this if: you want to give chocolate and decorate a homemade treat as well.

Bear in mind: check the ingredients and allergens on both packs separately.

What to consider What to check before buying Especially relevant for
Ready-to-give gift Check whether the contents and packaging are suitable for the gift you want to give, without any further preparation. If you want to hand something over straight away, sprinkles that still need to be used in a recipe may not be much help. For around 36% of consumers, a ready-to-give gift comes first.
Decorating something yourself Check that aniseed is a suitable flavour and that you have crispbread, baked goods or another way to use the sprinkles. When I make something myself for St Nicholas’ Eve, I’m mainly looking for a topping, not another chocolate gift. Around 21% of consumers prioritise decorations like these.
Ingredients and allergens Read the ingredients, allergen information and any ‘may contain’ statement on the exact packaging. If the recipient needs to avoid an ingredient, the label determines whether I can choose the product. For around 29% of consumers, checking this is the top priority.
Quantity and sharing Compare the weight and number of pieces with the number of recipients and how you plan to use the product. I look for something different for a small shoe gift than I do for a treat to share. For around 14% of consumers, choosing the right quantity comes first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking aniseed sprinkles for chocolate

    Aniseed sprinkles aren’t chocolates or a box of chocolates. If you have chocolate in mind as the main gift, choosing sprinkles alone means giving a different kind of treat.

    Choose chocolate figures or chocolate-coated spiced biscuits for a chocolate gift; use aniseed sprinkles when you want to decorate something with an aniseed flavour.

  • Judging a product by its festive packaging alone

    The packaging doesn’t tell you which ingredients and allergens matter to the recipient. For example, the Van Delft Luxe mix house contains wheat, milk and soya, and may contain almonds and hazelnuts.

    Read the information on the individual pack, including any ‘may contain’ statements, before choosing a product.

  • Choosing a pack without thinking about when it will be shared

    A small chocolate figure and a pack to share don’t serve the same purpose on St Nicholas’ Eve.

    Decide who the gift is for, then compare the weight and number of pieces.

  • Assuming the seasonal range is the same as before

    The range and product information for St Nicholas’ treats can change.

    Check the current product before you buy, and read the label again if ingredients or allergens are important.

Brands and ranges to consider

De Ruijter

Aniseed sprinkles for bread or as an addition to a homemade treat, rather than a ready-made chocolate gift.

  • Feestmuisjes are sugared aniseed seeds in a 330 g pack.
  • The Feestmuisjes described contain wheat; check the packaging if you have an allergy.

Albert Heijn

A range that includes St Nicholas’ chocolate figures and filled figures.

  • The different product formats offer options for a small gift or a treat to share.
  • Check the contents and label of the product you choose; they vary from one product to another.

Van Delft

The Luxe mix house is a festive pack of chocolate-coated spiced biscuits.

  • The pack contains 225 g of spiced biscuits coated in milk, white and dark chocolate.
  • The product contains wheat, milk and soya, and may also contain almonds and hazelnuts.

Jumbo's

St Nicholas’ chocolate in various shapes and flavours, including chocolate letters.

  • The range includes Belgian chocolate with coffee and speculoos, among other flavours.
  • Check the ingredients and gift packaging for each individual product.

PLUS Korenlanders

St Nicholas’ mixes in PLUS’s chocolate figure range.

  • The category includes Luxe Sinterklaasmix and Sinterklaasmix, among other products.
  • Check the current contents and packaging of the mix you choose.

Favorina / Way To Go

Seasonal chocolate and St Nicholas’ letters, as described by Lidl Netherlands under these ranges.

  • Lidl Netherlands lists special Way To Go chocolate products for festive occasions, including St Nicholas’ letters.
  • Check the individual product for its flavour, ingredients and packaging format.

Aniseed sprinkles for a homemade treat

This Joybuy product is a good choice if you plan to decorate something yourself for St Nicholas’ Eve. If you’re looking for chocolate you can give as a gift straight away, choose suitable chocolate packaging instead of aniseed sprinkles.

De Ruijter Mice Blue White, 330 g pack

De Ruijter Mice Blue White, 330 g

An option if you want to use aniseed sprinkles to decorate a treat yourself, rather than if you’re looking for a box of chocolates.

Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens if you need to take these into account.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I give aniseed sprinkles as a St Nicholas’ gift on their own?

You can if the recipient wants to use them, but they’re not a substitute for a box of chocolates if chocolate is the intended gift. Albert Heijn describes De Ruijter Feestmuisjes as sugared aniseed seeds.

How do I check allergens in a St Nicholas’ treat?

Read the allergen information on the exact packaging, even if you’ve bought the product before. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that this information must appear on the label of pre-packed products; also look out for any ‘may contain’ statements.

How should I store chocolate-coated spiced biscuits or a chocolate gift pack?

Follow the storage instructions for the product you’ve chosen. For the Van Delft Luxe mix house, the instruction is to store in a cool, dry place; don’t assume the same conditions apply to another pack.

Is the online product information enough if I have a dietary requirement?

Check the current packaging before using the product too. Albert Heijn warns that information about ingredients, nutritional values and allergens can change.