Homemade sprinkles!
Somewhere over the rainbow…
Above, rainbow homemade sprinkles on my Healthy Vanilla Ice Cream.
I was surprised at how easy—and fun—it is to make healthy sprinkles from scratch, with none of the artificial ingredients, dyes, or corn syrup. Today’s recipe is the creation of Hannah Kaminsky, a girl almost too good to be true. A gifted writer, recipe developer, and photographer, Hannah is also a former VegNews columnist and has published three cookbooks… all before graduating from college!
When asked if I’d like to review her newest cookbook, Vegan à la Mode, of course I jumped at the chance. The stunning photos (included for every single recipe) overwhelmed me. Tiramisu, Double Fudge, Sour Apple, Buttered Popcorn Ice Cream… How could I choose which one to try first? Then I saw the homemade sprinkles.
You know I have a thing for sprinkles.
I will be reviewing the actual ice cream recipes in Hannah’s cookbook, later this month. I’ll also hold a giveaway so that one of you will be lucky enough to win a copy of this delectable book for your very own. In the meantime, you can buy it on Amazon. (This is not an affiliate link. I don’t receive any money from sales of the book and am recommending it simply because I enjoyed it.)
Rainbow Homemade Sprinkles
(Reprinted with permission)
Rainbow Homemade Sprinkles!
Print This Recipe
[mrp_rating_result show_count="false" show_rich_snippets="false"]
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp vanilla, lemon, or almond extract
- 2-3 tsp vodka (for alcohol-free options, see below the next photo in this post)
Instructions
Sift the sugar and cornstarch together, being scrupulous about getting out any and all lumps. Add the extract of your choice, and slowly drizzle in the vodka, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the mixture becomes a smooth, very thick paste. Transfer the sprinkle paste into a piping bag fitted with a very small, round tip. (CCK note: I used a plastic bag and just cut a tiny hole in the side.) Pipe out long lines across either a silpat or piece of parchment paper, spanning the whole length of the surface. Let dry undisturbed in a cool place, for a full 24 hours, until dry to the touch. Colored sprinkles (see below the next photo in this post) made without the vodka may take longer, so be patient. Gently break the lines into short pieces, and store these vegan sprinkles in an airtight container for up to three months.
Color Variations:
For each additional color, make a full batch of white vegan sprinkles, and add the following:
- Yellow sprinkles: 1/8 tsp tumeric
- Green sprinkles: 1/4 tsp matcha or spirulina powder
- Red sprinkles: 2 tsp red beet juice in place of the vodka
- Blue sprinkles: 2 tsp red cabbage juice in place of the vodka (simmer 1/2 a red cabbage for an hour in a covered pot with a little water. Use the resulting liquid as the “cabbage juice.”) Add a tiny pinch of baking powder and stir well.
- CCK note: If you want a more vibrant result than is shown in the photos, you could also just use–in the original base– a few drops of food coloring, or natural food colorings for all-natural healthy sprinkles.
Link of the Day:
Ashley Dodge says
I’ve had a chocolate-covered potato chip flavored ice cream before, and it was delicious! You should try toasted marshmallow!
Tanya @ playful and hungry says
I can hardly imagine what that would taste like! There is a chocolate covered ben and jerrys flavor like that, right?
Tanya @ playful and hungry says
Chocolate Covered potato chips 😉
Ashley Dodge says
Yep, that’s the one! It’s amazing. The sweet with salt is delicious. I love chocolate with sea salt, too.
Mandie says
Toasted Marshmallow! Yum!
Rachel says
This is awesome! Try the toasted marshmallow!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
This is insanely simple! Love the idea!
Alex @ Brain, Body, Because says
My brain just EXPLODED!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
^ Lol – I was about to comment that my mind just exploded all over my face!
Alex @ Healthy Life Happy Wife says
Chocolate covered potato chip!!! Omg! Yum-o!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
omg how cool! I had no idea you can make your own sprinkles!
Nikki says
Oh my gosh. I have been searching FOREVER for healthy sprinkles that contain no artificial flavorings and dyes. You have no idea how excited this makes me . . . now I can make my own!
These would look soooo pretty on your healthy vanilla cupcakes. 🙂
Janae @ Bring-Joy says
This is a recipe my kids would love to make! The “healthy” sprinkles at my natural foods store are PRICEY, this looks much more cost-effective (& fun!).
Definitely toasted marshmallow. How I miss marshmallows since going veg.
Alina says
If you are looking for a good vegan marshmallow recipe I would definitely recommend this recipe: https://againstallgrain.com/2017/12/13/gluten-free-homemade-marshmallows-recipe/
Deb says
Love your homemade sprinkles! I’ll have to try making them.
I’d love to see a recipe for Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream!!
Samantha says
How fun! You must be loving trying this out. Who wouldn’t want to review a book like this? OK, how about toasted marshmallow. 🙂
I can see why you jumped on the sprinkles by the way.
Laura Miller says
Toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow, toasted marshmallow….
Okay, so I may or may not be obsessed with the toasted marshmallow flavor. 🙂
Eileen says
I love the idea of toasted marshmallow. For a brief period, when I was a teen, Dairy Queen served a S’more Parfait. It was so good.
I love anything marshmallow. It would be better if these recipes had the homemade marshmallows in them. Mmm…
Oh, I also would love to smell like toasted marshmallows, is that strange?
Laura says
Not at all weird! My mom actually makes lip balm(so its also free organic lip balm for me!) and she makes a toasted marshmallow flavor. It’s sooooooo good!
Eileen says
That sounds heavenly! If she ever feels like selling it on Etsy. I’ll be sure to look her up!
Allison says
I don’t even like potato chips, but I’m so intrigued by that flavor!
Heather says
Toasted marshmallow! I was just thinking this morning about how well toasted marshmallows could be incorporated into ice cream. Yum!
Lauren says
Anything with marshmallows takes precedence! This is such an inventive recipe! Really nice, considering all the typical dyes and waxes in store-bought sprinkles.
Ashley says
toasted marshmallow!!!!
kim@hungryhealthygirl says
I have never thought about making my own sprinkles….genius! My vote is for Toasted Marshmallow, after all this is Smores season!
Haleigh says
Chocolate covered POTATO CHIP!!!! OM Goodness!!!!! Sounds divine!
Cat @sugaraddictanonymous says
wow! Who knew? Awesome! Thanks!
Sarah L says
Genious indeed! Choclate-Covered potato chips just because that sounds so weird!
Therese says
I think if you want a lower, sugar free option this might work with powdered soy or rice milk and stevia. I might try that, but I am so happy to see this! Trans fat in sprinkles was always my biggest reason not to buy them, but the corn syrup and dyes are definitely not welcome ingredients either.
Kelsey says
TOTALLY Chocolate-covered Potato Chip!
Ilana says
Toasted marshmallow! And while I haven’t tried it, I wonder if a ricer would make the sprinkles come out just right
Olivia @ http://omnomlove.weebly.com/index.html says
oh definitely toasted marshmallow. that sounds soooooooooooo delicious. you’re sprinkles look awesome by the way. i like how they’re pastel colors rather than bright neon. gorgeous 🙂
Aja says
That is awesome! I’ve been wondering how you make sprinkles for a while now! They sound delicious.
Megan says
Chocolate-Covered Potato Chip B/C CHOCOLATE
Anonymous says
You’re awesome, Katie! Oh, wait. You got the recipe out of a cookbook. Oops! But I don’t care. You’re still awesome.
I’ve been wanting a recipe for sprinkles (without raw egg white–yuck!) for a while, so I’m super-glad you found a good one. I Have one question, though. Would water work in place of the vodka?
Thanks! Can’t wait to try it out! I PROMISE it’ll be today, and I’ll let you know how it goes!
Anonymous says
I forgot. I think you should try chocolate-covered potato chip (just because it sounds fun) first, and then make toasted marshmallow two minutes later 🙂 OR you could send me the recipe for one of them, and we’ll each make a different flavor.
The last idea sounds way better to me. PLEASE!!?!
Tamalyn says
Sorry I came out as “anonymous”. That’s fixed now.
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
oh my gosh those look awesome! Most sprinkles aren’t gluten free! So these are perfect!
kinsey says
Definitely the chocolate-covered potato chip!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on this book 🙂
Tricia says
These look so fun! I’d love to try them 🙂
Sarah the official CCK drooler says
natural sprinkles. from scratch. seriously? SERIOUSLY?
oh yeah, and i vote hot chocolate. or toasted marshmallow. hey, you could TOTALLY mix the two, right? Cuz we do put marshmallows in our hot chocolate! I dunno, you’re the cook- you deal with it 🙂
Laura says
This idea! ^^^. With crumbled homemade graham crackers to make a s’mores ice cream? Ehhh, ehhhhh?
balancegirl says
that is such a sweet idea. I want to make these when my niece and nephew come over next week.
Destinie says
I say chocolate covered potato chip. It sounds so weird that its bound to be good.
Taylor @ Nuts for Apples says
Chocolate covered potato chip!! Sounds crazy!!
The Blissful Baker says
These are so fun! I need to try them ASAP! And…my vote is Chocolate Covered Potato Chip-I bet the sweet/salty combo is AMAZING!
Check out my latest recipe, review & giveaway @ Baking Blissful
Lisa @ The Raw Serenity says
Its so sad that Its been so many years since trying a marshmallow I completely forget what they taste like! Hot chocolate sounds yummy
Mary says
Choc potato chip PLEASE!
B @ Crags and Veggies says
I can’t wait to try Katie! I love the color and fun sprinkles add, but the crazy additives in store bought scare me! Thanks for giving me something different to add to my food to make it fun! Can’t wait to make cupcakes with pink sprinkles!
Danica @ It's Progression says
homemade sprinkles? genius!
Tamalyn says
This is really weird, but where it says what website you have in a tab (REALLY bad explanation) instead of saying “Rainbow Sprinkles… homemade!” on my computer it says “Rainbow Sprinkels… homemade!” I don’t know if you’d want to fix that, but I thought I’d let you know, just in case. 🙂
P.S. Sorry about the other comments, I think I got a little carried away. Pre-teens and teens do that sometimes, right? Forgive me, please. I’m learning.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Thank you so much for letting me know, so I could fix it! Definitely a typo. Embarrassed 😕
Hannah says
I’m ecstatic to see your post not only because it’s an hugely flattering feature, but also because I thought for sure no one would ever touch that sprinkle recipe! Thank you so much for proving me wrong and really utilizing that book. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the ice creams themselves- Happy churning! 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hannah, I feel like a celebrity just wrote to me :).
Thank you for being such an incredible superstar in the vegan world. I really don’t know what recipe to try first; you’ve made them all look so good!
Maddie says
A vegan toasted marshmallow ice cream?! That sounds amazingly improbable! (in all the right ways.) 😛 My vote is for the marshmallow ice cream obviously. Sprinkles look fantastic!
Nina says
I vote….Chocolate Covered Potato Chip. You’ll have to let us know how it is. 🙂
Jessica says
I adore you. Your blog makes me happy every day. Thanks for sharing.
Shundara says
I am going to try this yummy!!!! Can I use Cayenne pepper instead of beat and cabbage juice..
L. says
No joke, I read your post and went straight away to buy the book! 🙂
Jessica says
Me too! I went earlier today and was really bummed that my Barnes and Nobles didn’t have it. But they are going to order it for me!
You sold me on the sprinkles, but I really want to know about this Tiramisu ice cream as well!
Tanya @ playful and hungry says
I’d love to see chocolate covered potato chips! Never tried that!
And you are right, Hannah really is genius! It’s funny that you do the review right now cause I recently discovered her Blog!
Joanne @ threeunderthree says
These look fantastic. My children are huge fans of sprinkles on just about anything, in fact my 3 year old daughter told me today that anything looks pretty if it’s got sprinkles on it! I don’t really like giving them the store bought ones too often as they are so young so these would be ideal. Thank you so much for this post.
I think the Toasted Marshmallow ice cream would be great to try.
Connie says
Toasted Marshmallow! Absolutely! 🙂
Michelle says
Awesome! Can’t wait to try this recipe! But omg your vanilla ice milk looks so good! I use almond milk for mine and it never turns out looking like that! Wow!
Liz says
GENIUS!
I’m checking out the book for sure. If I don’t win your giveaway, I’m definitely buying a copy for myself. Chocolate Potato Chip ice cream needs to get in my belly!
Carey says
Amazing. I never even considered making my own sprinkles! I think I need a video demonstration of this. I just can’t image piping it out skinny enough to make these!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I actually did take pictures, but they didn’t make it onto the blog. You cut a very very tiny hole in the edge of the plastic bag.
Carey says
I’ll just have to get brave and give it a go!
Katie Henderson says
I think I’m going to try to make these using rum. I have plenty of that and it’s been sitting around forever…but no vodka!
Mo says
You are officially my hero! My 4 year-old LOVES sprinkles but I hate using the store bought ones. Definitely trying these. Thanks!
Stephanie @ Legally Blinde says
Oooh, I think you should try the chocolate-covered potato chip ice cream first. I love sweet + salty combos, so that sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing the sprinkles recipe – I never even considered making my own. Very cool!
nikki says
someone else asked, too, but i don’t see the alternatives to vodka under the picture as you stated. what can be used instead? thanks in advance! 🙂
another Katie says
It says in the colors list.
nikki says
oh… i see it now. thanks. so basically you can only make red and/or blue if you don’t have (or don’t want to use) vodka?
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
Chocolate covered potato chip ice cream definitely catches my attention.
I need to make those sprinkles! Clearly. 🙂
Ulya says
Wow really interesting recipe! Normally, I don’t eat store-bought sprinkles, but I’ll definitely try this one! Thanks for sharing
Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says
How fun,, Katie! I bet this would be a great project to make with kids…homemade ice cream sundaes with their own little sprinkles in whatever color they choose 😀
narf7 says
I am waiting on my copy of Hannah’s latest book to arrive in the mail. You just made me drool on my keyboard! Sorry Hannah…I can’t wait for your book…I am off into the kitchen to cook me up a batch of sprinkles and slowly dissolve myself into a diabetic coma!
another Katie says
Wow, she really does sound too good to be true! Thanks for the heads up about the book. I just checked it out on Amazon and am really excited about it. I went vegan a few months ago and am missing ice cream like crazy, so I think this book will help a lot!
Amd now I’m off to make your Secret Peanut Butter Cookies for the third time this week :).
Sarah S. says
This is seriously cool <3
Hanna says
Just as long as you post all the recipes at some point 😉
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance says
Definitely try the toasted marshmallow! That sounds awesome!
And I have to say, chocolate covered potato chip ice cream sounds terrible. Who thought of that?!? Eeek.
Sarah says
Chocolate covered potato chip! I imagine it’s similar to the chocolate covered salted pretzel I tried once. Yum-my!
Also, don’t crucify me but I’m curious… am I the only one who doesn’t get the whole sprinkle craze? They don’t actually taste like anything. Maybe I would like them with vodka. I do like vodka 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I just think they’re fun because of the aesthetic aspect. I agree that they don’t really taste like anything!
Sarah says
Now I feel like a celebrity just wrote to me because YOU responded to MY comment! 🙂 And you did it on my birthday! You are definitely a mind reader. I say that all the time but now I know for sure.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aw happy birthday, Sarah!
Anonymous says
Happy b-day Sarah! I don’t know you, obviously, but I love birthdays and I love Katie’s blog. So I thought I’d drop a birthday greeting here. I think you’re right abt the mind-reading, bc this entry is appropriately themed for a birthday
Annie says
btw that last comment was mine, but for some reason my name didn’t show up
Shannon @ Skinny Sometimes says
I can’t wait to read the review later this month, but I might have to buy the book before then!
gina@cateror says
What a nifty idea (would make a great summer hostess gift, too! Thanks for sharing this recipe, will have to go search out Hannah’s cookbooks 🙂
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
So fun! I love that you made your own sprinkles….i put rainbow sprinkles on MANY desserts of mine 🙂
Jen E says
Oh my I’ve been searching for a vegan sprinkle recipe. They all have egg in them yuck! Where is the alcohol free option? I don’t see it or am I blind lol. I vote Chocolate-Covered Potato Chip have you ever tried a actual Chocolate-Covered Potato Chip they are the bomb!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
It’s in the red or blue color options 🙂
Jen E says
Thank you 🙂
Ellen says
Oh, please, please try the chocolate-covered potato chip! Just sounds fun and snack-o-licious. I’ve only recently found your blog and your fun-filled spirit and great recipes inspired a whole new board on my Pinterest account. Thanks so much!
Ruth says
Great recipe! I am not really a fan of sprinkles but I would try these! This will come handy for when I have kids 🙂
sheila says
Cool! I would have never thought about making my own sprinkles but I can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Anonymous says
Def choco-covered potato-chip! Bc it’s strange! And bc I’d want to try it with a positive reccomendation/your opinion
Anonymous says
Toasted marshmallow also sounds amazing. Could u try both?
Moni Meals says
Adorable and a great idea. How do you have so many GREAT ideas Katie? Seriously?!? How?
Amanda says
Choc-covered potato chip!! And these look AWESOME.
Bek @ Crave says
I vote toasted marshmallow- and so does my bf who is sitting next to me not reading the screen or realising that he even voted haha. Wow the sprinkles recipe is really interesting- why vodka is added I’ll never know. How cool, I love it!
Claire says
Great post! I was just wondering about how to make home-made sprinkles with natural ingredients then I saw this post. Thanks for the info!
Jessica says
The easiest way I’ve made sprinkles, since we can’t have sugar on the candida diet, is to dehydrate different fruits like raspberries, lemon, orange, and lime peels, and blueberries. Then you just crush them after they’re dehydrated and sprinkle to your hearts content! No chemicals in the colors and NO sugar! Thanks for all your recipe ideas and SO many using stevia. You rock!
Ishliv says
Hey katie….
Ur a miracle
I wanted a recipe jst lyk dis…..
Thx…
I just wasnt able to see d alcohol free options
I now its written below d pic
But i cant rly see it…
Can u plz reply n tell me
ill by rly grateful to ya….
trajayjay says
Well, it’s a heluva lot better than commercial sprinkles with partially hydrogenated oil (nasty trans fat)
Cindy says
So if I’m making white, is there an alcohol-free version?
Loreen says
Is there a corn-free substitution for the corn starch? I’m allergic…
cck says
Maybe arrowroot, but I haven’t tried.
Anna says
Ohmygod! This website looks set to be my new addiction! The homemade sprinkles have reeled me in – can’t wait to try some recipes x
Amanda B. says
Is there a way to keep these longer than 3 months? I wouldn’t think I’d use them all up too quickly and I’d love to be able to store them.
Reba - Not So Perfect Life says
I have tried making these twice now… not sure where I am going wrong. Both times it turned out to liquidly. I have tried pulling back the liquid but it isn’t working. Do you have any new tips on it?
Tammy says
Katie!!!!!!!! This recipe is featured in an article called “35 little hacks that will make parenting so much easier”. I knew it would be you simply by the pictures 🙂 Anyway, thought you’d like to know… if you didnt already.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/36-little-hacks-that-will-make-parenting-so-much-easier
julie says
About how long do you think these will keep?
P.S. I love your site!
julie says
Ignore my comment. I obviously did not read through. Thanks for the post!
April says
I love this idea! My only concern is that there is artificial colour in the recipe. The confectioner’s sugar contains red dye. I know…I know…I know…but it’s white. Red dye is used as a whitening agent in some products.
I have only learned of this recently as our 3 children suffer from an allergy to artificial colours.
Teghan says
If I use natural food coloring in this recipes do I still need the vodka? I am making these for a child’s party and would prefer not to use alcohol in the recipe. Thanks
Sarah says
Is there a general liquid I can use instead of vodka? Like water or milk?
PottedFern says
Is the vodka ok for minors?? I’m a minor… can we just use water or?
Katherine of Texas says
I cannot wait to make these sprinkles. Thank you so very much for posting. 🙂
Kim says
Have you tried making these with xylitol or erythritol? If not, do you think it would work?
Melissa says
Any ideas for corn-free due to allergy?
Jason Sanford says
Arrowroot?
Paige says
I want to make these, but I would make them to enjoy at parties where there are little kids. Do you think I could bake them instead of letting them cool on their own to cook out the alcohol? Or would they lose all of their color and go brown. Also, the alcohol is probably just to help them dry, so if I baked them the alcohol wouldn’t even be necessary, would it?
Thank you!!!
Jason Sanford says
Because this is a guest post, I would probably ask Hannah!
your friend says
hi!
me says
yum yum yum
Claire Rostron says
Hi what could I use instead of corn flour? My daughter is corn free as she’s allergic. Thank you!
Hailey says
Hi! I’m super excited about making these for my girls! Can you tell me, with making these with homemade food for coloring, such as beet juice and cabbage juice, how long is the shelf life? Do we need to worry about them growing bacteria or anything since there are no preservatives or are they fine?
Thank you!