Who is this choice relevant to?

Anyone looking for a vegan praline gift

A gift box or box of chocolates is a good choice if you want to give chocolate as a present. Check that the vegan label applies to every praline in the box, not just one flavour in the range.

Anyone considering allergens

A vegan label doesn’t mean a product is free from nuts, soya or other relevant allergens. For these shoppers, the allergen information and any warnings on the exact packaging are what matter most.

Anyone who actually means chocolate sprinkles

Chocolate sprinkles are intended as a topping, not as a substitute for pralines in a gift box. You should still check the ingredients of your chosen variety: Albert Heijn lists milk ingredients in De Ruijter Chocolade vlokken melk.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to give a box of chocolates, individual chocolates or chocolate sprinkles. Then check the exact variety for its vegan label and ingredients. If there’s an allergy to consider, assess the allergen information separately.

What to consider What to check when buying Who should consider this?
Whether the variety is vegan Read the vegan label and ingredients on the packaging you’ve chosen. Don’t rely on the description ‘dark chocolate’ alone. If I’m giving chocolate to someone who eats a vegan diet, I want to be sure this particular variety is suitable. For around 42% of consumers, vegan status comes first.
Allergens and cross-contamination Read the allergen information and any warnings on the packaging, taking the recipient’s allergy into account. If there’s an allergy, I want to know which ingredients are present and whether there are any relevant warnings. For around 33% of consumers, checking allergens is the main priority.
Gift box or topping Check whether you’re buying a gift box, a bag of chocolates, individual pralines or chocolate sprinkles. If it’s a gift, also check what’s inside and how to store it. I want the gift to suit the way it will be used: a box to give as a present, or chocolate sprinkles for bread or yoghurt. For around 25% of consumers, the product format is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘vegan’ means ‘allergen-free’

    A vegan product may still contain nuts, soya or other allergens. PLUS lists almonds, hazelnuts, soya and barley among the ingredients in Elvee Handwerkpralines vegan. It also states that the product is made in a facility that handles milk, peanuts and eggs.

    Check the vegan status and allergen information separately on the current packaging.

  • Treating chocolate sprinkles like a box of chocolates

    Chocolate sprinkles are a topping; they’re not the same product format as a box of pralines. What’s more, Albert Heijn lists milk powder, lactose, milk fat and buttermilk powder in De Ruijter Chocolade vlokken melk.

    Choose chocolate sprinkles only if the recipient wants that kind of topping, and check whether the specific variety is vegan.

  • Confusing an individual vegan praline with a whole vegan box

    Leonidas describes a vegan caramel praline. That alone tells you nothing about the ingredients in a whole gift box.

    If you’re buying an assorted box, check each praline you’ve chosen and the latest allergen information.

Brands to consider

Elvee

PLUS lists Elvee Handwerkpralines vegan as chocolates in a 150 g stand-up pouch.

  • PLUS product information gives the product a vegan label and lists its ingredients and allergens.
  • The stand-up pouch isn’t a traditional gift box. The product information also mentions nuts, soya and barley, and states that it’s made in a facility that handles milk, peanuts and eggs.

Neuhaus

Neuhaus describes its Vegan Collection as pralines in a gift box.

  • According to Neuhaus, the collection includes four different praline flavours.
  • Check the current contents of the box and allergen information on the retailer’s product page.

Leonidas

Leonidas describes a vegan caramel praline for anyone who wants to choose individual pralines.

  • The brand’s website identifies the vegan caramel praline separately.
  • If you’re choosing an assorted box, check that it contains only the vegan pralines you want, and consult the latest allergen information.

Tony's Chocolonely

Chocolate bars can make a good gift if you don’t need a box of chocolates.

  • In 2023, Tony's Chocolonely described its vegan dark chocolate bars as having a green leaf to help identify them.
  • A bar isn’t a box of pralines. Check the label and ingredients of the current bar variety.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a vegan chocolate box suitable for someone with a cow’s milk allergy?

Not automatically: a vegan label doesn’t replace an allergen check. For Elvee Handwerkpralines vegan, PLUS states that the product is made in a facility that also handles milk. If there’s an allergy, read the information and warnings on the current packaging of the product you’ve chosen.

Can you give chocolate sprinkles instead of vegan chocolates?

Yes, if the recipient specifically wants a topping, but chocolate sprinkles aren’t a substitute for a box of pralines. Check the exact variety: according to Albert Heijn, De Ruijter Chocolade vlokken melk contains milk ingredients and therefore isn’t vegan.

What should you look for in allergen information listed online?

Use the product information to help you decide, but also check the label on the packaging you receive. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that pre-packed products must display allergen information on the label.

How should you store pralines before giving them as a gift?

Follow the storage advice on the packaging you’ve chosen. PLUS recommends storing Elvee Handwerkpralines vegan in a cool, dry, dark place; don’t assume the same product-specific advice applies to other pralines.