I LOVE sprinkles. They can make an ordinary cake or cupcake instantly extraordinary. I am pretty liberal with my sprinkles too… you only live once right? Sometimes I have been a little disappointed in the usual selection of sprinkles that I find in my local grocery store. A lot of times I want a specific color that I can’t find. I discovered something amazing one day when I was decorating this Princess Castle Cake I posted about a year ago. Did you know that you can color your own? Believe it or not you can and it’s easily done with just some white sprinkles and food coloring!
Sprinkles! {diy custom colors}
What you need:
White sprinkles either nonpareils, jimmies or pearls (I have tried all of these kinds, but you can try others at your own risk)
food coloring/ colorings or choice: powdered, liquid or gel
I have a wide assortment of food colors since I bake a lot, but any food color will work. Gel, powdered, or liquid- it doesn’t matter. I wondered if the liquid would melt the sprinkles, but it never has for me. I made some red ones last year using this method and had to use a large amount of food coloring (about 5 or 6 drops) and it never melted them and the color never came off. This really is a great method!
Since I was making 6 colors I used 2 containers of sprinkles separated into 6 bags. I used gel food colors as well as liquid food colors. For the gel colors I just placed a little bit on the end of a toothpick and rubbed it on the inside of the bag where the sprinkles touched it. For the liquid colors I just squeezed a drop (or two) if needed right on the sprinkles.
This next part is fun for kids too. Just close up the bag and shake it and smoosh it around until the color is thoroughly mixed in. If you want the color darker just add more coloring. So easy!
I adore these pastel colors. SO pretty. Perfect for spring baking or Easter!
I even mixed them together for custom multi-colored sprinkles!
I used small mason jars to store mine, but you can just store them in the ziploc bags if you want! So easy and FUN!!!
What colors or color combos would you like to make?
© 2013, Rachel Rockwell. All rights reserved.
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SOOO pretty and the possibilities are endless! Pinned for sure!
Thanks so much!
What an AWESOME idea!!!!! I love sprinkles too and often don’t really like the colors they have in the stores, or wish there was a color that they sold that I need. Love the colors you came up with!! Thanks so much for sharing this, I’ll definitely do this too now! You have such great ideas!
Thanks, Maria! I took a chance when making that cake last year and couldn’t believe that it worked! I tried it over and over again and it hasn’t failed me yet! Thanks for stopping by!
Great idea to custom-dye your own sprinkles. You are right, the selection is pretty boring out there!
thanks! yep… and when I do find prettier colors… they are much more expensive usually. Like the kinds I can only get at Hobby Lobby.
I love this idea! It is so much easier that trying to find the perfect sprinkles!
I know! I’ve made this so many times now…
I just died over this post! Saving, pinning, and Stumbling it! You freakin’ rock!
Thanks, Kelly!
Thanks for the idea! Do you think the color would stay if baked in a mix for cupcakes?
it should work. I’ve never had them bleed or come off on my hands… so baking them shouldn’t matter. Tell me how it goes if you try it out.
How fun!! I love this!! I can’t wait to try it out. And those colors would be perfect for Easter time!
Found you at the Shaken Together party!!
Thanks, Megan!
Those are so impressive! I absolutely love them and will be buying a huge bag of plain white sprinkles to customize! Thank you so much for the wonderful idea.
Love all these beautiful colors! Can’t wait to try this! Thanks, Rachel!
What a great idea … I love the pastel colors!