Sprinkles, also known as jimmies, are small pieces of sugar used as a topping or decoration on cakes, cupcakes, ice cream, and other desserts. With their fun colors and sweet taste, sprinkles can add a pop of fun and flavor. But do those tiny decorations also add extra calories? Let’s take a closer look at whether sprinkles have calories.
The Basics of Sprinkles
Sprinkles are made from sugar along with small amounts of edible coloring and binders. The most common sprinkles are nonpareils, which are those small round sprinkles that come in a variety of colors. Sanding sugar, also known as crystal sugar, is another popular sprinkle ingredient that has a coarse texture and comes in colors like white, pink, blue, and more. Jimmies are a longer, rod-shaped sprinkle typically used on ice cream. Hundreds and thousands are very small round sprinkles. There are also specialty sprinkles like confetti quins, shaped sprinkles, and more.
While ingredients can vary by brand, most sprinkles contain some combination of the following:
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Palm oil or vegetable oils
- Food coloring
- Carnauba wax
- Confectioner’s glaze
The main ingredient is sugar, which provides the sweetness and carbohydrates. Cornstarch is often used as a binder to hold the sprinkles together and give them a crunchy texture. Oils help keep sprinkles from drying out. Food coloring gives sprinkles their vibrant colors. Carnauba wax and confectioners glaze help make sprinkles shiny and glossy looking. Some brands may also include natural and artificial flavors.
Do Sprinkles Have Calories?
Yes, sprinkles do contain calories, though the amount can vary greatly depending on the specific ingredients.
On average, regular sprinkles contain approximately:
- 20 calories per teaspoon
- 80 calories per tablespoon
This is based on sugar being the main ingredient. Plain white granulated sugar has about 16 calories per teaspoon. Since colored sprinkles also contain added cornstarch and other minor ingredients, the calories get bumped up slightly higher than plain sugar.
Specialty sprinkles like jimmies, confetti quins, and sanding sugar may have slightly more or less calories. Decorations made with edible glitter can clock in a bit higher at around 25 calories per teaspoon. The more elaborate the shape and colors, the more ingredients are required during production.
To get a more precise measurement, you can check the nutrition labels on sprinkle packages. But most brands don’t provide full detailed labels since sprinkles are sold in very small quantities and the calories vary so little from one product to another.
Factors That Affect Sprinkle Calories
There are a few key factors that determine how many calories are in different sprinkle products.
Ingredients
The ingredients that go into making sprinkles have an impact on the calorie count. Sugar is the main driver of calories. More sugar means more calories. Additional ingredients like oils and cornstarch can slightly increase calories as well. Specialty ingredients like edible glitter tend to add more calories than plain sprinkles.
Size and Shape
Larger sprinkles or sprinkles with more intricate shapes tend to have more calories because they require more ingredients to make. For example, jimmies are longer than standard round sprinkles, so you may get fewer per teaspoon. Similarly, sanding sugar crystals are coarser than fine nonpareils. This means you may use less per teaspoon, resulting in slightly fewer calories.
Coloring and Flavor
The more color varieties and artificial flavorings that go into sprinkles, the more potential those extras have to add some calories. Heavily colored sprinkles tend to weigh a bit more than plain white sprinkles, so the portion sizes may contain a few more calories. Still, since colorings and flavorings are used sparingly, they won’t boost calories by a significant amount.
Serving Size
As is the case with any food, the serving size affects the calorie count. A teaspoon of sprinkles has way fewer calories than a tablespoon. And sprinkling a dash over a cupcake is far less than piling on mounds of sprinkles. When estimating your sprinkle calories, be mindful of your portion size.
Calories in Popular Sprinkle Brands
To give you a better idea of real-world sprinkle calories, here is the nutrition information for some top retail sprinkle brands:
Cake Mate Sprinkles
- 1 teaspoon (3g): 24 calories
- 1 tablespoon (9g): 72 calories
Wilton Sprinkles
- 1 teaspoon (2.3g): 19 calories
- 1 tablespoon (6.8g): 56 calories
Sweetapolita Sprinkles
- 1 teaspoon (3g): 20 calories
- 1 tablespoon (9g): 60 calories
As you can see, calories range from about 19-24 per teaspoon between brands. Per tablespoon, calories range from 56-72. Variations in calorie counts come down to factors like ingredient differences and density of the sprinkles. But no matter what the brand, you can expect about 20 calories per teaspoon as an average.
Comparing Calories in Sprinkles vs. Other Toppings
How do sprinkles stack up calorie-wise against other popular cake, cupcake, and ice cream toppings?
| Topping | Calories (per teaspoon) |
|---|---|
| Sprinkles | 20 |
| Chocolate chips | 26 |
| Chopped nuts | 28 |
| Sanding sugar | 22 |
| Granola | 27 |
| Shredded coconut | 18 |
| Chocolate syrup | 52 |
| Caramel sauce | 60 |
| Whipped cream | 8 |
As you can see, sprinkles are very low-calorie compared to most other sweet toppings. Only shredded coconut and whipped cream have fewer calories per teaspoon. Syrups and sauces pack on significantly more calories due to their higher sugar content.
Key Takeaways
- Sprinkles have about 20 calories per teaspoon on average.
- Sugar is the main source of calories in sprinkles.
- Ingredients, size, color, and serving amount impact calories.
- Sprinkles are lower in calories than most other sweet toppings.
How Many Sprinkles Can You Have on a Diet?
When following a calorie-controlled diet, you can still enjoy a small portion of sprinkles in moderation. Here are some diet-friendly sprinkle guidelines:
- Low-calorie diets (1,200-1,500 calories daily): Work in 2-3 teaspoons (40-60 calories) of sprinkles into your daily calorie intake. Save them for a once-a-day treat on foods like light ice cream, oatmeal, or angel food cake.
- Moderate-calorie diets (1,500-1,800 calories daily): You can afford 5-6 teaspoons (100-120 calories) of sprinkles per day. Use them in or on breakfast foods, yogurts, desserts or as part of a higher calorie meal.
- Higher calorie diets (up to 2,000-2,500 daily): With more calories to spare, you can enjoy up to 2-3 tablespoons (120-180 calories) of sprinkles daily in measured portions. Or save your sprinkle calories for bigger dessert treats.
No matter your diet, stick to single-serving sprinkle portions rather than freely pouring from the container. Measure your teaspoons and tablespoons to maintain awareness and control of your intake. Portioning your sprinkles can help satisfy your cravings without overloading on calories.
Health Impact of Sprinkles
In moderation, sprinkles can be incorporated into an otherwise balanced diet. But sprinkles provide very minimal nutritional value. The high sugar content can also make them problematic in large amounts.
Pros
- Low calorie density: With only 20 calories per teaspoon, sprinkles provide portion-controlled sweetness for minimal calories.
- Pure sugar: Sprinkles are made from refined sugar. So unlike chocolate and candy, you don’t have to account for additional fat or saturated fat.
- Adds color and texture: The crunch and color of sprinkles can make foods like yogurt, cereal, and baked goods more fun and appealing to eat.
- Potential nostalgia factor: Sprinkles can remind you of beloved childhood treats.
Cons
- Sugar overload risk: It’s easy to overdo portions and pile on too many sprinkles, leading to excess sugar intake beyond recommended limits.
- Nutrient void: Sprinkles provide zero protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, or other redeeming nutritional value.
- Artificial colors: Colored sprinkles rely on artificial food dyes, which some people try to avoid.
- Choking hazard: The small size of sprinkles poses a potential choking risk for young children.
Overall, easy to over-consume but fine in small doses. For a more nutritious way to add crunch and flavor, you can top foods with nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, or shredded coconut instead.
Baking and Measuring with Sprinkles
When baking, sprinkles can be tricky to measure accurately since they are so lightweight. Follow these tips:
Use volume vs. weight
The best way to measure sprinkles is by volume using measuring spoons or cups. Trying to weigh them can be difficult and inaccurate.
Level, don’t pack
Lightly spoon sprinkles into the measuring spoon and level off excess using a knife or spatula. Don’t tap or pack them down.
Stick with standard sizes
For even baking results, use standard round sprinkles rather than jimmies or irregularly shaped decorations.
Weigh down during baking
Sprinkles have a tendency to sink or float during baking. You can place a piece of parchment paper on top of the batter and sprinkle sprinkles on top. This will hold them in place.
Fun and Creative Uses for Sprinkles
Sprinkles aren’t just for topping cupcakes! Here are some fun ways to use up your stash of sprinkles beyond basic decorating:
- Mix them into cookie dough, pancake batter, or milkshake blended drinks for flecks of color and crunch.
- Line the rim of a glass with sprinkles and serve lemonade, juice, or cocktails for a whimsical touch.
- Toast them briefly to bring out new flavors.
- Use them to decorate the tops of hand pies, macarons, rice crispy treats, and more.
- Roll balls of ice cream in sprinkles for a quick dessert.
- Coat ornaments, place cards, vases, and other crafts.
- Fill small paper cones with sprinkles and use them as party favors.
Sprinkles are meant to be fun. So get creative and use them to brighten up all kinds of treats in your kitchen!
Conclusion
Sprinkles are a classic decorative topping that can add flair and fun to all kinds of desserts. Though tiny, those colorful little sprinkles do contain calories, with about 20 calories per teaspoon. Sugar is the primary source of calories, but oil, cornstarch, and colorings contribute a bit as well. In moderation, sprinkles can be incorporated into most healthy diets by carefully watching portion sizes. While they don’t offer much nutrition, sprinkles provide eye-catching decoration for minimal calories. So don’t be afraid to sprinkle on a little sprinkle delight!