Add a dash of cheer to your desserts with my 5-Ingredient Homemade Sprinkles β the secret ingredient to turning ordinary treats into colorful celebrations! With just a handful of pantry basics, you can add a burst of joy to every bite, in any color your heart desires. Let's sprinkle some easy magic into your kitchen!

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Dive into the whimsical world of our 5-ingredient homemade sprinkles β where simplicity meets the joy of baking with a sprinkle of playfulness! Picture this: a handful of ingredients, a pinch of creativity, and a burst of colorful magic waiting to decorate your desserts, including my sprinkle sugar cookies.
We're talking about sprinkles that are so easy to make, they practically dance their way onto your treats like confetti at a party. Trust me, once you've DIY-ed your own sprinkles, there's no going back to the store-bought kind (which really have no taste at all, honestly).
Making your own sprinkles also allows you to customize the colors, flavors, and shapes, giving your treats a unique touch. Plus, it's surprisingly simple and adds a delightful homemade charm to your desserts.
Now, I know what you're thinking β "Homemade sprinkles? Am I a baking wizard now?" Absolutely! These sprinkle-making antics not only jazz up your treats but also add that extra touch of love.
And because we're all about keeping the kitchen vibe light and breezy, check out my best chocolate chip cookies and white chocolate cranberry cookies to give your sprinkle-covered masterpieces the perfect backdrop. Because let's be honest, life's too short for bland cookies, right?
So, grab your ingredients, summon your inner sprinkle sorcerer, and let's turn your desserts into a canvas of colorful deliciousness. And if you're in the mood for even more whimsical fun, add some sprinkles to the top of your butterscotch milkshake β because sprinkles and ice cream are a match made in heaven!
π€ The history of sprinkles (and jimmies)
Sprinkles were invented in 1913 by a man named Erven H. de Jong from the Netherlands and were originally intended to be a topping for a slice of bread. In the Netherlands, sprinkles are called hagelslag (meaning chocolate sprinkles), supposedly named for their resemblance to hail. Their common use there is to sprinkle the sprinkles on a piece of bread with butter.
While just about everyone seems to have a strong opinion as to whether they're called sprinkles or jimmies, the answer is...both! At least in the northeastern U.S. The Just Born Candy Company claims to have called them jimmies, named after one of their employees.
Both the history of sprinkles and the debated name are actually quite complex. Who knew?!
π₯ Equipment
- Stand mixer with whisk attachment or handheld electric mixer
- Piping bag with #4 tip, or cut a tiny hole in a ziploc bag
- Parchment paper
π§Ύ Ingredients
- Powdered sugar (confectioners sugar, 10X sugar, icing sugar)
- Light corn syrup
- Vanilla extract
- Water
- Gel food coloring*
See the recipe card below for full list of ingredients and their measurements.
β Ingredient notes
- Food coloring - Gel food coloring will result in the brightest and most vibrant colors. If you don't have gel food coloring handy, you can use liquid food coloring instead, just be aware that your sprinkles' color may not be as vibrant. You can also try using natural fruit juices from berries, beets, oranges, spinach, etc), but may have to adjust the powdered sugar amount to account for the extra liquid.
- Corn syrup - Starting with a disclaimer that I have not tried any of these - if you prefer not to use corn syrup or aren't able to get it where you live, try using natural sweeteners, like agave syrup, honey, or maple syrup. And let me know how it works for you!
- Flavor extract - Vanilla extract is the most common flavoring for sprinkles, but if you prefer almond or peppermint or anything else, then use your favorite!
π₯£ How to make homemade sprinkles
Using either a stand mixer with whisk attachment or a handheld electric mixer, whisk together 1-Β½ cups of powdered sugar, water, corn syrup, and vanilla.
Then, add the remaining Β½ cup of powdered sugar and whisk again until completely smooth.
If you're going to be making your sprinkles in a variety of colors, separate the mixture into several bowls at this point.
Add your desired food coloring and mix very well until the color has infused all of the mixture and there are no white streaks remaining. If you're using the gel coloring, I found it helpful to dip a clean toothpick into the color, then use that same toothpick to stir it into the mixture.
Spoon your colored mixture into a piping bag with a #4 tip (or in a ziploc bag and cut just a tiny corner off the bottom).
Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. You can either tape down the edges if you wish, or add a dot of the sprinkle mixture under the corners to help hold it in place.
Holding the piping tip about half- to one-inch above the parchment, slowly and steadily pipe the mixture onto the paper in straight lines. Or, if you'd like to make sprinkle confetti instead, pipe small dots onto the parchment!
Place the piped sprinkles in a cool, dry place for about 12 hours, or until they've completely dried.
Once it's all totally dry, just break up the lines into small pieces using your hands!
Ta-daa, sprinkles!
π§Ί Storage
Kept in an airtight container, your homemade sprinkles will last up to a year!
β FAQ
Add your fabulous sprinkles to batters (cookies, cakes, pancakes, waffles), sprinkle them in yogurt, mix into a bowl of popcorn, top milkshakes and ice cream, or just grab a small handful and enjoy...they're really delicious!
Absolutely! Get the kids involved in making sprinkles. There's no cooking or baking involved, and children will love making these colorful little treats with you!
Homemade sprinkles are a great way to really personalize a special occasion. Make red and green for Christmas, pastel colors for Easter, or anyone's favorite color for their birthday, baby shower, or graduation.
You certainly can! Just make sure you have enough parchment and surface space for the piped sprinkles to dry for about 12 hours.
Do you have a sweet tooth like me? Check out a few more of our delicious recipes:
- Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
- Quick & Easy Nut Brittle
- Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Easy Homemade Banana Pudding
- Berry Chantilly Cake
- Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Fudge
- Brownie Blondies
- Mom's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
- Butterscotch Milkshake
π Recipe
5-Ingredient Homemade Sprinkles
Equipment
- Stand mixer with whisk attachment or handheld electric mixer
- Piping bag with #4 tip, or cut a tiny hole in a ziploc bag
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar divided
- 2 Β½ Tablespoons cool water
- 1 Β½ Tablespoons light corn syrup
- Β½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- gel food coloring
Instructions
- Using either a stand mixer with whisk attachment or a handheld electric mixer, whisk together 1-Β½ cups of powdered sugar, water, corn syrup, and vanilla.
- Then, add the remaining Β½ cup of powdered sugar and whisk again until completely smooth.
- If you're going to be making your sprinkles in a variety of colors, separate the mixture into several bowls at this point.
- Add your desired food coloring and mix very well until the color has infused all of the mixture and there are no white streaks remaining. If you're using the gel coloring, I found it helpful to dip a clean toothpick into the color, then use that same toothpick to stir it into the mixture.
- Spoon your colored mixture into a piping bag with a #4 tip (or in a ziploc bag and cut just a tiny corner off the bottom).
- Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper. You can either tape down the edges if you wish, or add a dot of the sprinkle mixture under the corners to help hold it in place.
- Holding the piping tip about half- to one-inch above the parchment, slowly and steadily pipe the mixture onto the paper in straight lines. Or, if you'd like to make sprinkle confetti instead, pipe small dots onto the parchment!
- Place the piped sprinkles in a cool, dry place for about 12 hours, or until they've completely dried.
- Once it's all totally dry, just break up the lines into small pieces using your hands!
- Ta-daa, sprinkles!
Notes
- π§Ί Storage - Kept in an airtight container, your homemade sprinkles will last up to a year!
- βCan I double (or even triple) the recipe? You certainly can! Just make sure you have enough parchment and surface space for the piped sprinkles to dry for about 12 hours.
- πΒ Suggestion: If you enjoyed this, you're gonna love our quick & easy nut brittle!
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Elaine
Such a fun recipe! I made blue, yellow, and pink. Can't wait to try red and green for our family Christmas party.
maplewoodroad
Thanks Elaine! So glad you liked it, and I'm thinking of doing the same for Christmas! π
Barb
My kids loved this!
maplewoodroad
Thanks Barb! I'm so glad you all had a fun time! π