This is the ultimate in DIY! Have you ever looked at the ingredients on a packet of sprinkles? Not counting the colouring, there are 6 ingredients! That seems like a lot to me for some hard sugar. I came across this recipe from BraveTart and just had to give it a go. The sprinkles were really easy to make and only use 3 ingredients, 5 if you count the colour and flavouring.
I made a batch of blue ones that I’m going to use on Roman’s birthday cake. I only used about a third of the recipe below before my hand was too cramped to do any more.
Home-made Sprinkles
makes about 2 cups
240g icing sugar
1 egg white*
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp flavouring, I used coconut extract
colouring of your choice
Combine the first 4 ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer** and fit the paddle attachment. Mix on low until the mixture forms a thick paste. Add your colouring and mix. Repeat if needed, until you have the desired colour. If you want to make several different colours, separate the white mixture out into bowls and tint each lot.
Fit a piping bag with a multi opening tip (Wilton #134) and pipe lines out onto baking paper. I piped straight onto my silicon baking sheets. Leave to dry for 24hrs.
Loosen the lines by picking up the corners of the baking paper and gently tapping the back of the paper. Put into a pile and chop. Repeat a few times until they’re pretty evenly cut up.
Now get decorating!
*BraveTarts site also has a recipe for a vegan version.
**You could easily do this with a hand mixer
Anonymous says
This is the biggest waste of time ever.
karen says
Rude! Also it is a quick solution to not using the unhealthy sprinkles with dyes and crap for your kids! Not a waste of time if you ask me. Also a heck of a lot cheaper than sprinkles.
abby says
thanks for stopping by! Yes, much better quality and cheaper than ordinary sprinkles
Alyssa says
That is so cool! Definitely saving this to try.
Madeline (ThursdayNightBaking) says
This is such a great idea! I’m always wishing I had a specific color of sprinkle but can never seem to find them. Not to mention this is such a money saver! 🙂 Thanks for the great tip!
thingsforboys says
@Anon – you’re probably right, but I got the exact colour I wanted and they probably cost about 50c to make. They were so easy too!
Calida says
Thanks for sharing the recipe and the lovely example photos! This is probably a good recipe to use for ornamental cake toppings too, like those edible “Happy Birthday” things you buy that taste like hard sugar!
Erin says
If I get carpal tunnel syndrome this will be the reason. I’m loving this so far. Just finished mixing and piping my first batch! Can’t wait to finish!
thingsforboys says
@Calida – I think the ‘Happy Birthday’ signs would taste much nicer made from this than the bought ones (my hubby likes to eat them) :/
@Erin – good luck! I took a few hours to pipe mine. I did a few rows and then left it and did something else. When I came back I just poked the holes in the piping tip with a toothpick to loosen any hard icing and did a few more rows.
Anna says
This is what I have been looking for. Do you sometimes want a certain color of sprinkles and all you get to see available in baker shops are the assorted ones? How do I go about picking out all the pink ones or the yellow ones? This is the best way to do it. Do it yourself sprinkles! If everything else fails, I can just crush everything and I have the perfect colored crumbs, still good for decorating. Thanks! 😉
Nisa Homey says
Hi first time here…and I am glad I stumbled into this lovely space….this is a fantastic idea and I am so excited just thinking of all the exciting colours I now will be able to make…YAY!!
Lindsay {Easy Made Invitations} says
Love this idea!! Definitely going to try this next time I need a color that I can’t find in the store! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jennifer Watkins says
This is a dumb question, but what multi open tip did you use? The one that makes grass? I guess I am tired, just not visualizing it. However, this really is a great idea (despite what anon says). Thanks for sharing!!
thingsforboys says
@Lindsay – thanks!
@Jennifer – I used a tip with 5 holes in a row in it (Wilton #134) I’m not sure that the grass tip would work because I imagine some of the rows of icing would rest on top of others. I will test it out next time I make some though. If you use the grass tip let me know how it works.
Anonymous says
Instead of piping it how about using a spreader with fine teeth or a new unused comb. you could make it quicker. Just a thought to add to your brill ide. From Kiss me cake xx
Anonymous says
Why the need for salt though?
Aren’t we meant to be keeping salt out of cooking?
Apart from that it sounds a good idea for getting that perfect shade 🙂
The Mom Chef says
How very cool is this! I don’t know that I have a tip like this but it’s worth finding one so I can have a specific color of sprinkle whenever I want it and at a fraction of the cost. Brilliant idea. Many thanks!
thingsforboys says
@Kiss me cake – I like the idea of a spreader…very cool! And about 1000 times faster if it works…you’ve got me thinking!
@Anon – TBH, I’m not sure why the salt is in the original recipe, I’m guessing it’s to help them dry quicker or to increase the shelf life. It’s such a tiny amount, I’m sure you could leave it out without any problems.
@the Mom chef – you can do these with a writing tip, but because it’s only got one hole, it would take you 5 times as long. :/
Joyful says
I think this is brilliant since I try to stay away from artificial food dye. I’m going to try to make a batch with natural food dye!!
Beth Halleck says
Anyone think this would work with a pasta maker using the angel hair disc?
thingsforboys says
I’m not sure. Angel hair is a fair bit thicker than sprinkles. Also, I’m not sure the icing would go through the pasta machine. If you do give it a go, I’d love to hear how it works out!
Terri Tritschler says
Loving this. I have a child with many allergies and this controls 100% what is in it!! Ty Ty Ty!
thingsforboys says
thanks for stopping by Terri!
kATHY says
JUST SAW THIS, BUT AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS BETTER FOR MY GRANDSONS.
THANK YOU.
Abby Rudakov says
thanks for stopping by Kathy!