homemade sprinkles are SUPER easy – but no one has to know!
Note: “homemade sprinkles” is a post I shared 9 years ago; it has been edited here with updated photos and text.
this is one of my oldest and most popular recipes!
So this is a post that was originally published in May of 2012 – almost exactly 9 years ago (I’ve left some of the original pictures down at the bottom).
And it is – hands down – my most-viewed post ever, with almost 250,000 views as of today. This is because it was included in a BuzzFeed round up back in 2014, which went viral.
I always marveled at this occurrence, because – as you can see if you scroll to the bottom – the pictures are 100% meh. And BLURRY. But this made no difference to the popularity of the post. And so I never bothered to update it.
it was time to update these photos!
I was making these brownie sundaes for Father’s Day and wanted to top them with ombre sprinkles. I realized this was the perfect opportunity to make those much-needed updates, and here we are!
what ingredients do you need to make homemade sprinkles?
Sprinkles are made from very similar ingredients to royal icing:
powdered sugar
water
meringue powder
food coloring
You can leave them plain, or add some peppermint or vanilla extract. I’ve also seen recipes using light corn syrup but you absolutely don’t need it!
why do you use meringue powder instead of egg whites?
Two reasons. First, the sprinkles are not baked – so I prefer the powder, which is completely dried and a little safer than raw eggs. I DO occasionally use raw egg whites in my royal icing, but I prefer the powder in sprinkles because it doesn’t add any additional liquid.
you DON’T need a special tip to make perfect sprinkles!
The original recipe still holds up, but if I had to do it again I’d use a Wilton #2 tip instead of the schmancy sprinkle tip I bought for this purpose. Yes, you have to pipe more individual lines. But the sprinkles will be a little larger, and I think there would be less breakage and “squiggling”:
see all that squiggling???
Regardless, they came out just as I’d hoped, and I was thrilled to have some fresh pics to show for it.
how do you make ombre sprinkles?
To make these ombre sprinkles (I used Wilton Brown here), simply divide your mixture into as many bowls as you want shades. I did 4, leaving 1 white. For the other 3 I went from light to dark, gradually adding more food coloring till I achieved the desired shades. Have fun with it!
Homemade Sprinkles
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar, sifted (do not skip this step; even the smallest clump will clog the tip)
- 3 - 4 tablespoons water
- gel food coloring
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the meringue powder, sugar and 2 tablespoons of water in a mixer bowl. Using the whisk attachment, beat for 5 minutes (scraping down the sides as necessary). At this point you can add additional water – a teaspoon at a time – till you reach the appropriate consistency (think toothpaste and you’re on the right track).
- Add food coloring till you achieve your desired shade, and transfer to a piping bag fitted with your piping tip. Pipe out lines onto your prepared baking sheets. Don’t worry if the lines aren’t perfectly straight, or if there are breaks as you pipe them out.
- Let the icing dry – uncovered, at room temperature – for a full 24 hours, then cut into sprinkles. Use immediately or store in an airtight container.
Notes
- You can make chocolate sprinkles too!
- I doubled this recipe because I wanted to make ombre sprinkles, and wanted to have enough of each color to show up. I now have waaaaay too many sprinkles – which is not the worst thing in the world, but the original recipe makes plenty.
Need some more ways to use these beauties? Try these cookies, these cupcakes or this cake!
And now a trip down memory lane!
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112 Comments
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Hi! I'm Sheri!
Welcome to my little corner of the web where you’ll find easy, delicious recipes, the best kitchen hacks and simple tips for turning your home into a clean haven that is free of toxins. So glad you’re here!
Great idea and SOOO much easier than I would have expected! Love that you can flavour them too.
YES! I was shocked too – and happy! 🙂
I too LOVE sprinkles but refuse to buy them because of the ingredients!
I love you for this – xo
I had a feeling you’d like this one – so glad I was right! xo
Will they melt if you bake them in cake
I never have but I don’t think so. That said, maybe try a test batch first? And please let me know the results; I’ll add it to the recipe!
This means that I can make them for my man … his corn allergy means no processed sweets, I make my own confectioner’s sugar anyway. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! Let me know how they turn out! xo
you are so clever….but i shouldn’t say that too loud so it goes to your head 😉
Too late………….xo
What an absolute awesome trick to learn! I am so excited to try this. I hate even looking at the ingredients in store bought sprinkles. Thanks a million
Super easy too – have fun!
What a great idea. I don’t think I can buy that attachment here in Oz but I’m sure I could get it on-line! Have a great weekend Sheri and thanks for showing me something new xx
Yes! I put the link on the blog – I love it! 🙂
I am soooooo on this…..like sprinkles to ice cream.
I like the way you think!
Hi…how can I make chocolate sprinkles? Would love help and recipe!
I’ve not made them (yet!) but this will be the recipe I use: http://bravetart.com/recipes/ChocolateSprinklesGF Let me know if you try them!!
Here are the chocolate sprinkles! https://sherisilver.com/2015/04/16/d-i-y-chocolate-sprinkles/
SO cool! Do they have the same consistency as store-bought sprinkles, or are they crunchier? I saw your ombre sprinkle picture on Instagram – beautiful!
Crunchier! No comparison to store-bought and you can vary the flavor with different extracts! 🙂
you can also make into other shapes, like squiggles, swirls and whatnot. I wish i had pics of some i made last month….used them all, lol
I’m so boring (sigh…) 🙂
That’s awesome! Will add some bit of color to a chocolate cake, the kids are going to luv this!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Yay! Send me a picture! 🙂
Great idea! Seems like you could use a new garlic press for this too. An old one might still retain some odor or taste of garlic.
Ooh – never thought of that! Great idea!
Wow, I love this!! Never thought of making my own sprinkles before!
Could you sub real egg white for the “Just Egg White”? And if so, would you use the same amount? I’ve never seen “Just Egg White” here!
You could – for safety reasons I used the egg white substitute. Two teaspoons of of “Just Whites” is the equivalent of 1 regular egg white. So you’d want to use half of an egg white in the recipe. Let me know how they turn out!
How long do they store for? Do they need refrigerated since it has egg whites in it?
I use powdered egg whites (which allows the sprinkles to be stored indefinitely) for that reason. Any recipe I’ve seen for sprinkles indicates that as long as they’re stored in an airtight container that they will keep indefinitely – regardless of real or powdered whites. If you’re antsy about storing egg whites at room temp then I’d put them in the fridge; I’m not sure how the texture will be affected though. Let me know what you wind up doing!
I half expected to see a grater or potato ricer had been used for this – now I’m wondering what effects could be achieved using kids’ play-doh extruders. I may just have to buy some and find out. I can always pass them along to my grandson if they don’t work out! Do you think I could stiffen the mix a little with more sugar or with a bit of cornstarch, then slice stars etc. from an extruded shape?
Interesting idea! I think that the recipe is very adaptable and you could probably stiffen it with more sugar – let me know if you do and how it turns out!
How can I make chocolate jimmies??
I’ve not yet tried them but this will be the recipe when I do! http://bravetart.com/recipes/ChocolateSprinklesGF
I made the chocolate ones! https://sherisilver.com/2015/04/16/d-i-y-chocolate-sprinkles/
Are. “Just Whites” a powdered substitute? None of my local store carry it. Thanks!
Yes – it’s a powdered egg white substitute – pasteurized and kept at room temp. You can absolutely use egg whites instead, I include that for those who are reluctant to use raw egg.
Can meringue powder be used in place of egg white powder?
You could but you might have to play with the amounts as meringue powder has other ingredients in it that might affect the consistency. If you use it let me know and I’ll add it to the recipe!
Thank you this tip is greatest
Thank you! 🙂
I’m hoping this gets me on your email list. 🙂
Loved this easy, better way to have sprinkles – thanks!
Ugh – saw your tweet – working on it right now!!!
Hi! I’m Finnish so I just have to ask what the small t and big T stand for in recipes? I go to a fricking culinary school and I still have no idea, because our English teacher isn’t actually an English teacher (for example she thinks that the american “cup” stands for a coffee cup and nobody would believe me when I said that a cup is 2,4dl, because I’m the youngest in my class).
I really need to make sprinkles for my next bday cake, I don’t normally even like sprinkles, but maybe I will if I make them by myself.
Gah! Sorry! Small “t” is teaspoon, large “T” is tablespoon! Hope this helps! 🙂
The metric conversion would be 5ml and 15 ml respectively. 🙂
Cant wait to try this!
Thank you!
Yes, a cup has a standard measurement in US. It’s 8 oz. I am from Uruguay and some people would tell me the same thing.. it’s just a cup. I knew in baking things need to be precise. Coffee cups can be many sizes, so you are right 🙂
If you use a real egg white instead of the “Just Whites” do u take out the water? Or do u still need to use it?
Yes you can skip the water – you made need a little to thin out the mixture if it’s too thick!
If i used real egg whit how Long Do Sprinkles Last?
They’ll last quite a long time if kept in an airtight container!
Just a thought, but could you make a thicker frosting like fondant and push it through a sieve? Have no need for sprinkles right now or I would try it!
Ooh – good idea – or a potato ricer! 🙂
I’m going to try and flavor them with anis. Thanks for the idea 🙂
Ooh – that’s a great idea! Let me know how they turn out!
Where do u get the Wilton #134
I believe I found it in my local Chef Central – but you can order it directly from Wilton: http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?sku=402-134 . Hope this helps!
What is the texture like? Are they very different from the store bought kind? They look so fun!
They’re surprisingly similar – the texture is “crispier” (?) and has more of a snap than the store bought kind. Give them a try! 🙂
Very cool. I am very impressed. I’m so glad that that I stumbled across your blog. I’m trying to conquer my unnatural fear of baking and I think you are going to help tremendously. Lol. Thanks for sharing.
Yay! So glad you found me too – and feel free to ask ANY questions you ever have. I’m self-taught and have learned a lot but made a ton of mistakes too! 🙂
A big HI Sheri! (From Sherrie of the Philippines) I’m not sure if someone asked this already but may I know how much would the recipe yield? It’s not like there’s such a thing as ‘too much sprinkles’ 😉 I just had to ask so that I’ll know if I have to double the recipe if I need more. Thanks a lot. (And thanks for this wonderful tip.)
Hi Sherrie! I don’t remember how much this recipe yields so I can’t say for sure. I’m making another batch soon and will update the post when I do (if you get there first let me know!). Thanks for writing! 🙂
I’m so excited about homemade sprinkles for the same reasons as most. I just made my first batch, and I was wondering if you know if I could use these sprinkles to make a funfetti cake. Thanks! 🙂
Yay! Yes – you can use the sprinkles just like you would the store bought kind. Send me a picture! 🙂
Oh great! Thanks for getting back so quickly! I can’t wait to make the cake! I’ll surely send a picture. 🙂
So I tried the sprinkles in a funfetti cupcake, and they didn’t do so great. When I cut open the cupcake I could only see a couple dots of color even though I put plenty of sprinkles in the batter. I still love the sprinkles, and I’m going to decorate the top of the cupcakes for my son’s first birthday tomorrow. 🙂
Oh no! I did do my research before answering and was certain that you could bake with them – so sorry! Would still love to see a pic! 🙂
Hi again. Today was the big party, and the cupcakes looked wonderful, thanks entirely to the homemade sprinkles. I have a picture, but I’m not sure how to share it with you. There isn’t a way, that I’m aware of, to upload it in a comment.
Yay! E-mail it to me at Sheri at sherisilver dot com. I’ll put it in the comments!
Hello, Hello Jenn!!
Ik I’m a little late to the comments section, but I’ll bet what happened is:
As you baked the cupcakes with the sprinkles inside, the heat sort of “liquefied” them into what you’d typically see in sweet “drizzle”/icing (the kind you may see atop cinnamon rolls and the like)… and the little “dots” you saw was simply the lingering coloring used in the sprinkles.
Regular (store bought/icky) sprinkles add a variety of “waxy” preservatives with a higher melting point than plain confectioners sugar and egg whites, etc.
I’ve even seen sprinkles that included ingredients like beeswax to maintain the solid state in baking…
But enuff rambling from me, LoL…
I’m just guessing that the homemade jimmies turned to delicious flavored icing as it baked, is all.
(Didn’t mean to sound preachy and nerdy if I did, haha… I was just guessing based on an experience I’d had with homemade fondant-based sprinkles I’d purchased from a bakery years ago and my grandfather (a chef of 30+ years) explained the problem to me (in DETAIL, haha) when I was near tears out of frustration when my goodies continually failed)…
So I thought what I’d learned may apply here too 😉
Happiest of Holidays Guys!!!
(Aaaaaannnndddd TY TY TY AGAIN, Sheri for your lifesaving recipes/goodies!!!)
This “might” be my favorite comment. Ever. 😉
Hmmmm. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. My mixture never got smooth – it just formed into little white balls. I tried adding water twice and it didn’t help. Any thoughts? I really want to make this for my daughter’s first birthday. 🙁
Ugh – I’m sorry to hear that – I’ve never had that happen! Did you sift the sugar? It’s critical for this recipe. Also, your sugar might be extra “dry”. Start with less sugar and add more – a little at a time – till you get the right consistency. Let me know what happens!
Sorry I forgot to update! I tried again, adding the sugar a little at a time, and it worked. 🙂
Woo hoo! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Any update on how many ounces or cups of sprinkles this recipe makes? Making a sprinkle cake in a few weeks 🙂
~Thanks!
And also those are the exact colors I need! What colors did you use?!
Ugh – I wish I had exact answers for you – I’m planning another batch soon and will make note of the final amounts! As for the colors, I just eyeballed using gel paste food color – good luck!
I LOVE THE INTERNET!
And I love that there’s people like you out there, willing to share ideas, tips and tricks.
THANK you <3
Hugs
Frida
Denmark
Hugs back Frida – thank you! And tune in tomorrow, ’cause……………CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES!!!!
I’m being lazy lol
Is this basically royal icing?
I’ve had this thought many a time myself. 😉
Do you have to worry about salmonella using egg whites?
Just Egg Whites is powdered pasteurized egg whites so no need to worry! 🙂
Great!!!
Is the powdered egg whites you use the same thing as meringue powder?
Not exactly – some (if not all) meringue powders contain sugar and/or cornstarch. Powdered egg whites are just egg whites. I hope that helps!
What does one T mean?
Like in one t of egg whites?
“T” is tablespoon, “t” is teaspoon – I just adjusted the instructions to (hopefully!) clarify! 🙂
This is perfect! I have a 5 year old granddaughter who lives for sprinkles. Funny thing is that every time she visits, I take her for donuts (with sprinkles), I make dresses for her and she is constantly covered in dirt. This blog was made for me. LOL
Ha! I love this. Thanks so much! 🙂
Hi
This idea was passed on to me buy my mother as my kids love sprinkles. But i used the recipie but let the kids draw and make the patterns and when it drys we will cut them up to eat for lunch. Kids are excited. So thankyou for the recipie and great craft/cooking experience.
What a great idea – so glad you liked it! 🙂
though most ingredient fear is bs it’s still nice to be able to control what goes into food, i also think these probably taste better than something with wax in it food safe or not
Oh they taste SO much better! 🙂
Love this helpful recepie. Super awesome post. Please share all ur fabulous recepies. I am wanting to save money on decos and making my own is even better to learn. Thankz!
Thank YOU! 🙂
Any idea roughly how much this mix makes?
Thanks
I’ve never measured but I believe it’s 1 – 2 cups!
Hi, can these be mixed into a white cake to make your own confetti cake? I have made several custom confetti cakes using different colors of jimmies or sprinkles. This would be great to be able to make exactly the colors I want.
I don’t know what would happen if baked – I’ve never done that before and would be concerned that they would bleed. That said, could you do a test batch (like with a cupcake)? Let me know if you try it and how it turns out!!!
This is awesome! I’ve never even thought of making my own sprinkles. It doesn’t look like it’s too hard, either. I will definitely have to try this.
Thank you! SUPER easy, especially if you use that special piping tip! 🙂
I’m a little late to this party but thought I’d add a suggestion for future parties. Pipe the icing in a zig zag or wavy pattern, cutting just a tad longer than usual for a different effect (think-streamers on your cupcakes and ice cream; )
OOH! I love that idea! I’m sorely in need of updated photos for this post; will definitely try this when I do – thank you! 🙂
Where I was born & raised (Pittsburgh) we called them “Jimmies” —and yes, that is the same as sprinkles! lol But I can’t wait to try these for the grandkids, they love their sprinkles on their cupcakes!
Oh yay! Send me a picture when you make them; I love to see the different colors and sizes people use! 🙂
i just had to be the 111 commenter but i will definitely try this out and make them pink (:
Yay! Send me a picture!