Which serving method is right for you?

Caterer running a self-service buffet

You want plenty of guests to be able to help themselves to a small amount of sugared aniseed sprinkles, without having to keep tidying the serving area.

Organiser of a short celebration

You’re serving sugared aniseed sprinkles as a topping for rusks or cupcakes, for example, and want a neat presentation without the need for a large dispenser.

Caterer responsible for allergen information

You’re serving the sprinkles unpackaged and need to make sure guests can get information about any allergens they contain. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that businesses serving unpackaged food must provide customers with this information.

What should you consider when choosing?

Compact shaker

Suitable when: guests are sprinkling a little over their food at a small topping station.

Bear in mind: check in advance that your chosen sprinkles pass through the openings and that the shaker is easy to clean.

Dry-food dispenser

Suitable when: guests will be helping themselves to a topping over several breaks and you want to use a dispensing mechanism.

Bear in mind: a label stating that it’s suitable for dry food doesn’t guarantee that your chosen sprinkles will flow smoothly through the mechanism.

Covered dish or pre-portioned servings

Suitable when: the sprinkles are only being served during a short event and you can serve them or portion them in advance.

Bear in mind: this approach involves more handling at the serving point than self-service with a dispenser that works well.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Tidy self-service Choose a shaker or dry-food serving container, and test the opening with your chosen sprinkles. At a busy self-service buffet, I want guests to be able to help themselves quickly without sprinkles ending up all over the serving area. Around 46% of consumers prioritise tidy, smooth-running self-service.
Portions and refills Decide on a portion size and compare the capacity of the serving container with the packs you plan to use. During several conference breaks, I want to be able to refill the container without repeatedly interrupting service. Around 36% of consumers prioritise a practical routine for stocking and portioning.
Simple presentation Consider whether a compact shaker or serving from a covered dish will do the job. For a short celebration, I want to serve sugared aniseed sprinkles neatly without a large dispenser. A simple presentation is the main requirement for around 18% of consumers.

Common serving mistakes

  • Choosing a sauce squeeze bottle because it looks neat

    A narrow nozzle designed for sauce isn’t automatically suitable for dry sugared aniseed sprinkles. Blockages or uneven dispensing can disrupt self-service.

    Start with a shaker or dry-food dispenser. If you still want to use a squeeze bottle, test the exact bottle and sprinkles well before the event.

  • Assuming the pack size tells you how many portions you’ll get

    Jumbo lists products including De Ruijter Feest Muisjes, 330 g, and Gestampte Muisjes, 270 g. The number of servings you get from a pack depends on the portion size you choose.

    Prepare a trial portion for the food you’re serving, then use that amount to plan how many packs and refills you’ll need.

  • Not making allergen information available at the buffet

    According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, businesses serving unpackaged food must give customers information about any allergens it contains. Guests must be able to get this information when making their choice.

    Make sure the allergen information for the sprinkles you’re serving is available at the serving point, and that relevant staff know where to find it.

  • Using a shaker without testing the openings

    A sugar shaker may be compact, but its name alone doesn’t tell you whether the chosen type of sprinkles will pass through.

    Fill the shaker with the type you’ll be serving and test dispensing small amounts onto a plate several times. Also check that you can clean it after use.

Brands and serving equipment to consider

De Ruijter

Relevant when choosing the sprinkles themselves. Jumbo lists products including Feest Muisjes, 330 g, and Gestampte Muisjes, 270 g; Joybuy also lists a blue-and-white 330 g variety.

  • You can choose a variety to suit the food and the presentation you have in mind.
  • The pack type doesn’t tell you whether the sprinkles will fit through a particular shaker or dispenser.

HENDI

Relevant when choosing how to serve them: HorecaStyle features a HENDI Multi Dispenser for dry food.

  • A device designed for dry food is a more suitable starting point than a sauce squeeze bottle.
  • Before use, test whether your chosen sprinkles pass through the dispensing mechanism and whether the device is easy to clean.

ProSup

Relevant for a small topping station. HorecaStyle lists a Pro-Sup sugar shaker with a glass container, stainless-steel lid and a capacity of 26 cl.

  • Its compact format suits a small serving area.
  • Check that the openings are suitable for the specific sprinkles you plan to serve.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can I serve dry sugared aniseed sprinkles from a standard squeeze bottle?

Don’t use a standard sauce squeeze bottle to serve dry sugared aniseed sprinkles without testing it first. Try the exact bottle and type of sprinkles in advance, or choose a shaker, dry-food dispenser or covered dish.

What size shaker is right for a small conference station?

A 26 cl shaker is a compact option, provided your chosen sprinkles pass through the openings. Decide on the portion size and number of servings before working out how many shakers or refills you’ll need.

Do guests need allergen information for unpackaged sugared aniseed sprinkles?

Yes. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that businesses serving unpackaged food must give customers information about any allergens it contains. Make sure guests can check the information for the sprinkles on offer when choosing at the buffet.

How can I keep sugared aniseed sprinkles covered while serving?

Choose a serving container with a suitable lid, or cover a dish between serving times. If guests are helping themselves, test in advance whether opening, dispensing and closing the container works well with your set-up.