Texture has been trending for a while now, and it’s only growing in popularity. From the viral chocolate crunch cake to biscuit-base layered bonbons and, of course, the kadaif filled Dubai chocolate bar, it’s time to pair your smooth and creamy textures with a crisp, crunch or chew.
With Mona Lisa’s new range of eye-catching sprinkles and decorations, it’s never been easier to give your chocolate bars, bonbons and bakes an added layer of texture, indulgence and visual appeal. Keep reading to discover the sprinkles that will take your 2026 festive range to the next level…
by Lyndsey Hall
25 May 2026
Today’s consumers aren’t just eating with their mouths — they’re eating with their eyes. And never is this truer than at Christmas, when customers are actively seeking out bakes and confections that feel special, celebratory and worth every penny. According to an Ipsos consumer survey, UK customers are willing to pay up to 50% more for desserts that look as good as they taste.
The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your entire range to capitalise on this trend. Sometimes, all it takes is a sprinkle of luxury.
The Power of Premiumisation
Consumers are buying fewer treats, but they’re spending more when they do. Research by Tate & Lyle found that 8 out of 10 customers say they can taste the difference between products made with premium versus standard ingredients — and that premium perception starts the moment they see your creation.
Texture and visual drama are among the biggest trends driving confectionery right now, and sparkling finishes are key this festive season. Decorative sprinkles have evolved far beyond their nostalgic roots (although, we still love a rainbow sprinkle!) into a sophisticated tool for premiumisation — adding layered texture, luxurious colour and a delicious flavour that elevates your products above the competition.
At Christmas, customers are searching for gifts and treats that feel genuinely indulgent, properly festive and beautifully crafted. Our new Mona Lisa sparkling sprinkle collection delivers exactly that — in rich, festive shades of red, bronze and gold.
Chocolate glazed doughnut with Sparkling Red Dark Choc Crispearls, Sparkling Red Mini Mix and Sparkling Gold Mini Mix
White chocolate glazed doughnut with Sparkling Gold Crispearls Mini Mix
Raspberry glazed doughnut with Sparkling Red Crispearls Mini Mix
Shine Bright: The Mona Lisa Festive Sprinkle Collection
Here’s a look at what’s new and how to make the most of each product in your range:
Dark Choc Crispearls Sparkling Gold & Sparkling Red
Starting with the showstoppers. You may already know and love Callebaut’s Crispearls, coming in all five colours of their core grade chocolates, from dark, milk and white to gold and ruby.
Well, now these dark chocolate-coated crispy biscuit balls are available in a shimmering gold (SDS566) or a bold sparkling red (SDS568). Bringing together rich cocoa flavour, a satisfying biscuit crunch and a decorative finish that catches the light – and your customers’ eye.
The contrast of crisp centre and smooth dark chocolate works perfectly against soft mousses, creams and ganache fillings, creating layers of contrasting texture. Scatter over chocolate bars and bark, decorate cakes and entremets for a polished finish, or use to top bonbons for a flavour cue (gold hints at a caramel filling, while red suggests berry flavours) that doubles as decoration. The red is especially striking for festive gifting ranges, while the gold adds an air of classic luxury to any sweet treat.
Crispearls Mini Mix Sparkling Gold & Sparkling Red
For a finish that feels a little more artisan and less uniform, the Crispearls Mini Mix — also available in sparkling gold (SDS563) and red (SDS565) — blends mixed mini chocolate pearls in a single sprinkle, creating a more dynamic, natural, yet still elegant, look across your finished products.
Each tiny pearl delivers a light crunch followed by smooth chocolate notes, making them ideal for balancing softer elements. The mix of coatings gives your decorating an organic, handcrafted quality — perfect for modern patisserie presentation or luxury truffle boxes where you want a rich, varied finish rather than a single repeated pattern. Scatter over truffles, cakes, entremets or plated desserts, and let the shimmer do the hard work.
When you want a decoration that does more than look good, Coffee Beans Sparkling Gold (SDS574) are the answer. These coffee-flavoured chocolate beans shimmer with a luxurious gold finish, bringing both striking visual impact and the unmistakable flavour of coffee to your creations.
Ideal for coffee shops and bakeries serving drinks, these luxurious chocolate beans make the perfect topper for hot drinks such as mochas and lattes, hot chocolates, and more.
Place a single bean on a coffee ganache bonbon as a clear flavour cue, use a small cluster to finish a chocolate and caramel tart, or add to plated desserts such as tiramisu for a sense of occasion and height. They pair beautifully with chocolate, caramel and nut profiles, and work especially well in coffee-themed gifting ranges — an easy, high-impact choice for the seasonal menu.
Check out our Fika Time blog for the perfect accompaniment – a croissant shaped chocolate mould and a ready-made chocolate coffee cup!
For something a little different, Gold Marzipan Crunch (SDS564) brings a delicate almond sweetness together with crisp sugar texture and a radiant metallic finish — adding both flavour and glamour in a single step.
The subtle marzipan note complements dark chocolate, amaretto or cherry ganache and spiced seasonal bakes without overpowering them, while the gold finish gives any creation an instantly luxurious feel. Scatter over ganache-filled bonbons for added crunch, finish buttercream cupcakes with a flash of gold, or use to top doughnuts and muffins for a texture and shimmer combination that’s hard to resist.
Round out your festive palette with the warmth of Bronze Metallic Chocrocks (SDS567) — artisanal dark chocolate sprinkles with a soft, glowing metallic finish that adds bold detail and rich cocoa flavour to every application.
These sprinkles are also heat-stable and freezer-friendly, with no dusting or colour transfer to creams, sponges or mousses, so your finished products stay clean and defined. Mix with the gold and red from across the range for a fully coordinated, premium festive display. The bronze tone is particularly effective alongside caramel, nut and spiced chocolate profiles — warm, elegant and undeniably seasonal.
And for a Fruity or Warming Contrast…
Not every festive creation calls for pure chocolate indulgence. For something bright and zingy, Raspberry Sugar Crunch (SDS562) adds a vibrant pop of colour and fresh fruity flavour to cut through rich ganache or buttery sponge — and it looks stunning paired with the sparkling reds from the Crispearls range. Meanwhile, Cappuccino Mini Sugar Crunch (SDS560) brings a soft coffee note and a light, crisp texture — a perfect match for mocha truffles, tiramisu-inspired bonbons and spiced winter bakes, especially when paired with the gold coffee beans.
A Simple Finish, a Significant Difference
The most successful festive ranges combine great flavour with great presentation — and the finishing touch is often what customers remember most. A single sprinkle of sparkling red or gold can transform a simple truffle into a giftable moment, turn a delicious cupcake into a social media trend, and give your display cabinet the kind of visual warmth that stops customers in their tracks.
Whether you’re a chocolatier building a luxury Christmas collection, a bakery filling a seasonal display counter, or a home baker looking to add something special, the Mona Lisa festive sprinkle range gives you the tools to create products that look as extraordinary as they taste.
Browse the full collection at Keylink and get your festive creations sparkling. And don’t forget to tag us when you use yours — we love seeing your festive creations!
Lyndsey is a marketing executive, writer and lover of books and chocolate from Sheffield.
Her favourite chocolate is Callebaut Power 41.