Making your own sprinkles is one of those simple, joyful projects that turns ordinary baking into something extra special. With just a few pantry staples, you can create colorful, homemade jimmies perfect for cookies, cupcakes, and sweet memories made with the people you love.
Sometimes the sweetest things in the kitchen aren’t complicated at all.
I Always Bought My Sprinkles
Once I realized how easy they were to make, I customize the colors for the seasons. So fun and everyone loves breaking them apart. It’s like popping bubble wrap.
There’s something so special about taking an everyday baking ingredient and realizing… you can make that yourself.
The first time I made homemade sprinkles, it felt a little magical. Just powdered sugar, a bit of coloring, and suddenly I had bright, cheerful little jimmies drying on parchment paper. It was so easy using simple pantry staples.
And if you love baking cookies, cakes, or cupcakes with your grandkids like I do, this is such a sweet little kitchen project to make together. Homemade sprinkles are budget-friendly, customizable for every season, and a wonderful way to add a pop of color to your favorite recipes.
Why We Love This Recipe
Only 4 ingredients. You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen, which makes this recipe quick, simple, and budget friendly.
Super customizable. Choose any colors to match birthdays, holidays, baby showers, or your favorite seasonal theme.
Beginner friendly. No special tools or decorating skills required. If you can stir and pipe a line, you can make homemade sprinkles.
Homemade with heart. Those tiny imperfections? They’re part of the charm. Each batch feels personal, handcrafted, and made with love.
Perfect for all kinds of treats. Cupcakes, cookies, cakes, brownies, and even a bowl of ice cream look more festive with a sprinkle of something homemade.
Making sprinkles from scratch isn’t just trendy on social media — it actually makes sense.
If you already make homemade frosting, cookies, or cakes from scratch, this is just one more simple thing you can add to your from-scratch baking routine.
Let’s make some.
How to Make Your Own Sprinkles (Easy Homemade Jimmies)
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Ingredients
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 2-3 Teaspoons Milk or water
- ¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract optional, or other flavoring
- Gel food coloring preferred for vibrant colors
Instructions
How to Make Homemade Sprinkles (Step-by-Step)
- Mix the Icing. In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Stir until smooth.1 Cup Powdered Sugar, 2-3 Teaspoons Milk, ¼ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- You’re looking for a thick, pipeable consistency — similar to royal icing. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar. Too thick? Add milk a drop at a time.
- Add Color. Divide into small bowls and add gel food coloring. Stir until evenly mixed. This is where it gets fun — make seasonal colors. See ideas in the notes section.Gel food coloring
- Pipe the Sprinkles. Spoon the icing into a piping bag (or zip-top bag with the corner snipped off).
- Pipe thin lines onto parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Try to keep them long and straight — we’ll break them into sprinkle-size pieces later.
- Let Them Dry Completely. Allow the piped icing to dry at room temperature for 12–24 hours. They must be fully hardened before breaking apart.
- Break Into Sprinkles. Once dry, gently break the lines into small sprinkle-sized pieces with your fingers.
- Store in an airtight container. And just like that — you have homemade sprinkles!
Notes
Seasonal Color Ideas
Christmas Sprinkles. Color Ideas: Classic red & green, White (snow), or Gold (add edible shimmer dust). For natural red coloring and flavor, use Crushed freeze-dried strawberries for natural red Valentine’s Day Sprinkles. Color Ideas: Blush pink (beet powder), Deep red (strawberry powder), White. Tiny heart shapes. Spring Garden Sprinkles. Soft florals, pastel tones, Soft pink, pale yellow, lavender, and mint green. Natural coloring and flavoring ideas: Matcha, turmeric, beet powder, and blueberry powder 4th of July Sprinkles. Red, White & Blue Homemade Sprinkles. Summer Berry Sprinkles. Pink, Red, Blue with some natural coloring ideas: Strawberry, blueberry, raspberry powders Halloween Sprinkles. Color ideas: orange, black, and purple. Autumn Harvest Sprinkles. Warm browns, oranges, golds. Some flavoring ideas: Cinnamon + cocoa, and Maple-flavored.Winter Snow Sprinkles. White and soft blue colors with Vanilla or almond flavors.
Nutrition
Natural Food Coloring Ideas
If you prefer to avoid artificial dyes, you can absolutely make naturally colored sprinkles. The colors will be softer and more muted, but they have a beautiful, old-fashioned charm.
Here are a few simple options:
- Pink: Beet powder
- Yellow: Turmeric (use sparingly)
- Green: Matcha powder or spinach powder
- Brown: Cocoa powder
- Purple: Blueberry powder
- Orange: Paprika (sweet, not smoked)
Tips for Using Natural Color:
- Start with ¼ teaspoon and adjust gradually.
- Add a tiny bit more milk if the mixture thickens from the powders.
- Expect earthy, pastel tones rather than bright, vibrant shades.
Natural sprinkles are especially lovely for spring baking, rustic cakes, or anyone embracing a more traditional homestead kitchen.
Optional Flavoring Ideas
Since sprinkles are mostly decorative, flavor should be subtle. Here are gentle additions that work well:
- Almond extract – Add ¼ teaspoon for a classic bakery flavor
- Lemon or orange extract – Bright and fresh
- Peppermint extract – Perfect for Christmas cookies
- Maple extract – Lovely for fall baking
- Espresso powder – Just a pinch for mocha desserts
- Cinnamon – Warm and cozy for autumn treats
Important: Keep flavor additions small. Too much liquid can thin the icing and affect how the sprinkles dry.
How to Use Homemade Sprinkles
Use them just like store-bought jimmies:
- On sugar cookies
- On frosted cupcakes
- Mixed into buttercream
- On ice cream
- In homemade sprinkle cookies
- On cake pops
They work best when placed on frosting or icing before it sets so they stick properly.
Storage Tips
Store your homemade sprinkles in an airtight container at room temperature.
They will keep for 2–3 months if completely dry before storing.
Make sure there is no moisture in the container — humidity can soften them.
If they soften slightly over time, spread them on parchment paper and allow them to air dry again.
Common Questions
Can I Make them Without Food Coloring?
Yes! Leave them white for a classic look or add natural color using:
- Beet powder (pink)
- Turmeric (yellow)
- Matcha powder (green)
- Cocoa powder (brown)
Keep in mind natural colors will be softer and more muted.
Can I Make Different Shapes?
Yes! Instead of piping long lines, try:
- Tiny dots
- Hearts
- Stars
- Letters (fun for birthdays!)
Just remember smaller shapes dry faster.
Are Homemade Sprinkles Crunchy?
They’re slightly crisp but not as hard as some store-bought sprinkles. They have more of a delicate sugar crunch.
A Sweet From-Scratch Tradition
There’s something deeply satisfying about looking at a tray of drying sprinkles and knowing you made them yourself.
It’s simple. It’s old-fashioned in the best way. And it turns even an ordinary batch of cookies into something a little more special.
Super easy and fun way to make lots of color and flavor combinations.