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5/2/12

Homemade Colored Sugar Sprinkles (Sugar Free Version Included)

Homemade colored sprinkles add sparkle to your dessert

Sprinkles!  Sparkles!  Just a light touch of brightly colored sugar or sugar substitute granules finish off an otherwise boring cookie or bar.  But... what if you don't have any colored sugar on hand?  What if you just don't want to go to the store?

Make it yourself.  In about 10 seconds.

Colored Sugar Crystals (sugar free version too!)

1 or 2 Tablespoons sugar crystals or Now Foods Xylitol granules
1 drop gel or liquid or paste food color

Place the crystals either in a small dish or in a Ziploc Baggy.  Use just 1 drop of color to start.  You will be surprised at far a drop of food color goes.  You can always add a bit more later if you need to.  The amount of sugar and the amount of color depends on how bright, light or dark you need your color to be.  You can use 2 drops if you need to make a custom color like mixing a blue and a green for turquoise, but make sure you use enough sugar or substitute to absorb the 2 drops. 

Start to massage the baggy gently, coating the sugar or substitute crystals with the color.  If using a dish, I like to put a plastic baggy over my finger and use my index finger to move and coat the crystals.  A fork or spoon takes longer and you can do it in about 10-15 seconds by hand.  The plastic or baggy protects your finger from discoloration.

Use the sugar or substitute sprinkles on your dessert.  Note:  sugar and substitute sprinkles should be added to bars or wet surfaces like cheesecake, whipped cream, etc. just before serving as they can melt and run if left overnight.  Store extra in the plastic Ziploc or another small, air tight container. 


*I was using NOW brand Xylitol crystals in these photos below as well as the sugar free lemon bars in the photo at the top of this post.

A small amount of sugar or substitute and 1 drop of food color

Smooshing the crystals around gently with a plastic covered fingertip

Colored sugar substitute sprinkles!
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