Offered in every color of the rainbow, different textures, and shapes, sprinkles add a pop of color to cupcakes, cakes, and other treats. Sprinkles can appear fine and glittery or be large special shapes. Early sprinkles were made in the 1800s by French bakers. Those sprinkles were used to top bread and toast, not confections like cakes. In the 1930s the Dutch made a chocolate sprinkle, and the rest is history!
Sprinkles are typically gluten-free. They are usually made of sugar, confectioners’ glaze, coloring, and carnauba wax, which don’t contain gluten. They can contain thickeners as well, but most are corn-based so are gluten-free. There’s still a small chance that sprinkles could become cross-contaminated during manufacturing. The best gluten-free sprinkles are Bougie Bakes Sugar-Free Rainbow Sprinkles, and SuperFat Keto Sprinkles.
So what are confectioners’ glaze and carnauba wax anyway? Let’s break down the ingredients in sprinkles and learn more about their nutritional information below.
Common Ingredients in Sprinkles
1. Sugar
The main ingredient in most sprinkles is sugar. Refined cane sugar tends to be the cheapest to use and therefore the most prevalent type of sugar in sprinkles.
2. Carnauba Wax
Carnauba wax is harvested from plants native to Brazil. The leaves of the plants are collected, dried, and then beaten to loosen the wax. The carnauba wax is then refined and bleached and is used as a food additive. Carnauba wax gives sprinkles their texture and a slight sheen.
3. Confectioners’ Glaze
Confectioners’ glaze is also called shellac. It’s made from secretions of bugs, so confectioners’ glaze isn’t vegan-friendly. Confectioners’ glaze is referred to as a non-nutritive substance and is “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA. Confectioners’ glaze gives a shiny, smooth appearance to sprinkles.
4. Colors
Artificial colors are most often used in sprinkles. Artificial colors are brighter and bolder than natural colors. Some types of sprinkles use natural colors from fruits and vegetables, but those aren’t as common as artificially-colored sprinkles.
5. Thickeners
Some sprinkles use thickeners like corn starch, xanthan gum, dextrin (most often made from corn, but is sometimes made with wheat), and maltodextrin. These thickeners are gluten-free.
What are the different types of sprinkles?
You might be surprised at the number of shapes of sprinkles there are. The type of sprinkle you choose will depend on what you’re using it for, e.g. baking, topping baked goods, or sprinkling over ice cream. The most common textures & shapes of sprinkles include:
Jimmies
Jimmies are rod-shaped sprinkles that most people think of when they think of sprinkles. They can be colorful or made of chocolate. Jimmies can be used in baking because their color doesn’t bleed as much as other types of sprinkles when heated.
Nonpareils
These sprinkles are tiny balls made of starch and sugar. They’re typically not used in baking because their color bleeds more than jimmies.
Quins
Quins are flat sprinkles that come in a variety of shapes. You’ve probably seen them sprinkled on the top of frosted cupcakes. They aren’t good for baking because they’ll melt, lose their shape, and the color can bleed.
Dragees
Dragees are similar to nonpareils because they’re round. They’re larger than nonpareils and have a metallic coating, making them look like pearls. Many types of dragees aren’t edible because of their metallic coating, so they’re primarily used for decorating.
Sanding sugar
Sanding sugar is coarser than refined sugar. It comes in a variety of colors and helps give baked goods sparkle. Because of the size and texture, it won’t melt if you use it in baking.
Are sprinkles bad for you?
Sprinkles don’t bring much to the table nutrition-wise. They’re primarily made of sugar, starch, and artificial colors. Their main purpose is to make baked goods more visually appealing, so any food with sprinkles on it is likely a high-sugar treat.
While some of the ingredients in sprinkles might seem strange (carnauba wax, shellac, etc.), these ingredients are all “generally recognized as safe” by the Food and Drug Administration.
The bottom line is that sprinkles aren’t necessarily “bad for you”, but they don’t do much for you nutrition-wise either.
Are Wilton Sprinkles Gluten-Free?
Wilton is likely the most popular brand of sprinkles on the market. A baking staple for holidays or special occasions, Wilton’s sprinkles come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. From Christmas candy canes and Halloween ghost and pumpkin shaped sprinkles to blue or white sugar pearls, Wilton’s sprinkles sure are versatile.
Common ingredients in Wilton’s sprinkles include sugar, corn starch, carnauba wax, confectioner’s glaze, gum arabic, and food coloring. None of the ingredients contain wheat, rye, barley, or gluten. However, Wilton clearly states on the label that the sprinkles are made in a facility that also processes soy and wheat. Thus, there is a high likelihood of cross-contamination during manufacturing. It is probably best for those with celiac or gluten intolerance to opt for a certified gluten-free sprinkles brand. Keep reading to learn more about gluten-free sprinkles!
Sprinkles Nutrition Information
The most common type of sprinkles you’ll likely find in the baking aisle at your local grocery store are jimmies and sanding sugar. Some of the more specialty sprinkles with unique shapes can be ordered online.
Wilton’s Dark Green Sanding Sugar
Wilton’s is a popular brand you might find in your local stores. This sanding sugar is very fine and can be used to top holiday cookies or anything to which you want to add a pop of color and sparkle.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Carnauba Wax
- Confectioners’ Glaze
- FD&C Yellow #5
- FD&C Blue#1
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tsp. serving):
- Calories: 15
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Total Carbohydrate: 4 g
- Total Sugars: 4 g
- Added Sugars: 4 g
- Protein: 0 g
Wilton’s White Sugar Pearl Sprinkles
These sprinkles are larger than sanding sugar and look more fancy and delicate because of their pearl shape and color.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Starch
- Dextrin
- Carnauba Wax
- Confectioner’s Glaze
- Gum Arabic
- Titanium Dioxide (color)
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tsp. serving):
- Calories: 15
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Total Carbohydrate: 4 g
- Total Sugars: 3 g
- Added Sugars: 3 g
- Protein: 0 g
Fancy Sprinkles – Interstellar (Star-Shaped)
These sprinkles are available online. It comes in fun shapes, but its ingredients list is a bit more lengthy than many.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Carnauba Wax
- Confectioner’s Glaze
- FD&C Artificial Colors
- HPMC (variation of cellulose)
- Propylene Glycol
- Mica
- Titanium Dioxide
Nutrition Facts: not available
Krazy Sprinkles Rainbow Party Confetti Sprinkles
This is another specialty brand you can shop from online. These quin sprinkles come in a variety of bright colors and resemble confetti with their flat disc shapes.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Starch
- Water
- Hydroxypropyl Distarch Phosphate
- Hydrogenated Palm Oil
- Gum Arabic
- Shellac
- Carnauba Wax
- Xanthan Gum
- Artificial Flavor
- Yellow 5
- Yellow 6
- Red 4
- Blue 1
- Mica Pearlescent
Nutrition Facts: not available
Healthier Gluten-Free Sprinkle Options
There are several different kinds of sprinkles that are healthier (in some ways) than traditional sprinkles. Healthier versions of sprinkles are free of artificial colors and/or refined sugar.
Supernatural Dinomite Sprinkles
These sprinkles contain fun dinosaur shapes. They’re vegan because they don’t use confectioner’s glaze, and are still gluten-free. There are no artificial colors in these sprinkles – only natural colors from spices like turmeric and paprika.
Ingredients:
- Cane Sugar
- Corn Starch
- Potato Starch
- Maltodextrin
- Rice Bran Oil
- Natural Color from Spirulina
- Paprika
- Turmeric and Anthocyanins
- Carnauba Wax.
Nutrition Facts: not available
Bougie Bakes Sugar-Free Rainbow Sprinkles
These sprinkles get their sweetness from erythritol, a sugar alcohol, as well as stevia extract. It uses tapioca starch as a thickener, which is gluten-free. It’s also free of artificial colors.
Ingredients:
- Erythritol
- Stevia Extract
- Tapioca Starch
- Coconut Oil
- Cellulose
- Natural Colors
- Citric Acid
Nutrition Facts: not available
ColorKitchen Rainbow Sprinkles
These sprinkles are free of dyes and are colored with natural ingredients like beet juice. They use sustainably sourced palm oil (palm oil harvesting has caused major deforestation in some areas).
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Palm Kernel & Palm Oil*
- Corn Starch
- Colored With Beet Juice, Vegetable Juice, Annatto Extract, Spirulina Extract, Turmeric, Beta-carotene, Paprika Oleoresin
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Maltodextrin
- Carnauba Wax
- Cellulose Gum
- *RSPO Sustainable Certified
Nutrition Facts (per .58 tsp. serving):
- Calories: 15
- Total Fat: 0.5
- Total Carbohydrate: 2 g
- Total Sugars: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
SuperFat Keto Sprinkles
If you want a gluten-free and keto-friendly sprinkle, this one fits the bill. It’s free of added sugar and uses erythritol and stevia as sweeteners instead.
Ingredients:
- ErySweet+ 100 (Erythritol and Stevia)
- Tapioca Starch
- Cocoa
- Coconut Oil
- Cellulose
- Natural Flavors
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tsp. serving):
- Calories: 6
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Total Carbohydrate: 3 g
- Total Sugars: 0 g
- Sugar Alcohol: 2 g
- Protein: 0 g
Summary
Sprinkles are usually made from sugar, carnauba wax, shellac, thickeners, and coloring/dyes. The vast majority of sprinkles are gluten-free because the thickeners used are corn-based. One exception is dextrin, which is usually made from corn but can sometimes be made from wheat.
Sprinkles come in a variety of shapes and textures. The most common types of sprinkles are jimmies (rod-shaped) and sanding sugar, which is fine and offers a shimmery finish to baked goods.
Sprinkles aren’t considered nutritious, even when they’re healthier versions. Healthier sprinkles are free of sugar, artificial colors/dyes, or both.
Related Questions
Are sprinkles vegan?
Sprinkles aren’t usually vegan because they contain confectioner’s glaze (shellac), which is made from bug secretions. There are vegan-friendly sprinkles that omit the use of confectioner’s glaze and/or shellac.
Are sprinkles dairy-free?
Sprinkles are predominately dairy-free. Even chocolate sprinkles usually don’t contain dairy. However, you should always double-check the ingredients list to be sure since different brands have their own formulations.
Are sprinkles made of wax?
Most sprinkles contain carnauba wax, which is an edible wax harvested from plants in Brazil. Using wax allows the sprinkles to be shaped into discs, balls, and other shapes. Carnauba wax is also used in products like car wax and dental floss, though it’s “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) for human consumption by the Food and Drug Administration.