When you know how to make sprinkles at home, you'll be able to easily customize whatever color pallete or shape you like!
Whether you want to use bright, vivid gel food coloring, or natural food colorings this recipe will work for all food coloring types and consistencies.
It also means you make any size, shape or color combination of sprinkles you can imagine!
Ingredients
Vanilla- optional, for boost of flavor. Use clear vanilla extract if you plan on making light or pastel colored sprinkles.
Corn syrup- use light, not dark corn syrup.
Meringue powder- can substitute dried egg whites or regular egg whites.
Food coloring- any kind of gel, powdered or natural food coloring you wish to use is fine.
Parchment paper- Can substitute wax paper. Don't try to use foil, because the sprinkles will stick.
Mix
Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla (optional), meringue powder, and corn syrup along with a bit of water until smooth.
For super vivid, white sprinkles, use very little to no vanilla extract or clear vanilla extract.
Food coloring
The beauty of homemade sprinkles is that you get to customize the color pallete perfectly.
For a variety of different colors, portion the non-colored sprinkle mixture from above into small bowls. Then add food coloring.
Monochromatic colored sprinkles are easier to color, and look great. Monochromatic just means that all the sprinkles are variations of one color.
So, it's easy to start with the lightest color, mix in a few drops, and portion a bit out, and add more as you go, portioning a little more out as you until you end on the last color.
Refer to the pictures below for a visual of what this looks like from left to right, (or lightest to darkest).
Piping the mixture
Add the colored sprinkle mixes to piping bags, and fit with a small round piping tip (like a Wilton size 2 tip).
No piping tips? No problem! I use plastic bags with a hole cut in the corner all the time.
Squeeze the sprinkle mixture onto parchment or wax paper to form thin lines.
It might feel wobbly the first few times, but you'll get a feel for it.
You can make thin to thicker lines, dots or hearts!
These will take anywhere from 1-3 hours to fully dry, but you can let them go overnight. No need to cover them.
Use a sharp knife to cut the lines once they are completely dried out.
Storage
Homemade sprinkles can be stored almost indefinitely in a cool pantry in a covered container.
A great way to use them is on a really simple Chocolate Cake With Sprinkles.
FAQ's
Homemade sprinkles can be made with as little as powdered sugar, corn syrup, and food coloring, with the optional vanilla extract. Meringue powder or egg whites help to stabilize and maintain structure.
You can make any color combination of any color of sprinkle with this simple recipe. The shapes and sizes are only limited to your imagination.
You can make chocolate, vanilla and a variety of rainbow colored sprinkles using natural ingredients without food coloring. There are also many natural food coloring products available for purchase.
Tips and tricks
While a piping bag and small round tip (like a Wilton small round 1,2 or 4) are ideal, you can easily improvise with plastic bags.
Zip lock bags generally have tougher seams than fold-over top sandwich bags; a weaker bag like that can easily split open when squeezed so if you use one of those, just squeeze the lines slowly and don't force it too hard.
Multi-colored sprinkles are fun, and as easy as dividing up the sprinkle base mixture into small bowls and coloring those portions individually, however you desire.
However, a monochromatic color palette requires only one bowl. Plus, it's trendy! Color as you go, and no dividing into little bowls before piping out.
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Homemade Sprinkles
Equipment
- Piping bags and tips
- Parchment or wax paper
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 2 tablespoon corn syrup light
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon water
- food coloring
Instructions
- Mix together the powdered sugar (2 ½ cups, sifted if necessary) with the corn syrup, vanilla extract and water until smooth.
- It should be a paste-like consistency so add a tablespoon more of water if it's too thick to come together or powdered sugar if it's too thin.
- Divide into 3-4 small bowls and stir in a few drops of desired food coloring.
- Scoop into piping bags fitted with a small round tip (like a Wilton #2), or plastic bags and snip a small hole in the corners (twist and tie off the ends).
- On parchment paper pipe thin lines all the way across with each color.
- Allow to dry 2-3 hours (possibly overnight if they are thick).
- Cut off any wonky, irregular ends and cut or break into segments of desired length. You can also crush them in a plastic bag with a rolling pin for fine sprinkles, or leave extra long 1-2 inches for a cool variety.
- Store in a container, covered for up to 6 months in the pantry.
Notes
- Don't overdo it on the vanilla as it can slightly tint the mixture; or use clear vanilla extract.
- Monochromatic sprinkle color (like Ombre) pallete is the easiest, and the food coloring can be mixed in the same bowl by adding a few drops at a time, removing a portion, adding a bit more, stirring and repeat.
- Experiment with dots, hearts, jimmies (the lines) and more to create a fun and festive mix.
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