Sprinkles are the tiny, colourful finishing touch that can transform any cake from simple to spectacular. Whether you’re decorating a birthday cake, wedding cupcakes or a festive traybake, choosing the right sprinkles can make all the difference. But with so many types, shapes and colours available, how do you know which ones to use?
In this complete guide to sprinkles for cakes, we’ll walk you through which types work best for different designs and how to apply them like a pro. Whether you’re a beginner baker or a seasoned cake artist, this guide will help you create sprinkle-covered masterpieces.
The Different Types of Sprinkles Explained: Understanding the Basics
Before we dive into which sprinkles work best, let’s look at the basics and what types you’ll find on the market.
Hundreds and Thousands vs Nonpareils
When looking for sprinkles, you may have come across both ‘hundreds and thousands’ and ‘nonpareils’ – but what’s the difference? Both are small, colourful sugar balls used to decorate cakes, the distinction is purely in terminology. In the UK, we know them as ‘hundreds and thousands’, while in Europe and the USA, they’re called ‘nonpareils’.
Sanding Sugar and Crystal Sprinkles
Sanding sugar and crystal sprinkles add a touch of sparkle to cakes– perfect for decorating, finishing and sprinkling. Sanding sugar consists of fine, translucent grains that have a subtle shimmer, while crystal sprinkles are larger and more reflective for even more visual impact. Both are available in an array of colours to choose from to match your cake theme or colour scheme.
Dragées and Metallic Balls
Dragées are small, round confections with a hard sugar or chocolate coating, often used for cake decorating. They come in various sizes, colours and finishes, including metallic gold and silver. Traditionally, they were chocolate or sugar-coated nuts or sugar pearls. The crunchy texture and glossy appearance of dragées make them a favourite for adding style and sophistication to cakes.
Ice Cream Sprinkles
Ice cream sprinkles enhance the colour and flavour of creamy frozen treats. For a splash of colour, hundreds and thousands and rainbow strands work well. For added texture, you could sprinkle some sugar-coasted rice crisp or flavoured crunch. And for even more decadence, try using chocolate curls, marshmallows or irresistible fudge pieces.
Different Shaped Sprinkles
Sprinkles don’t just have to be balls or strands. They come in a variety of shapes, from stars to hearts. Each shape brings unique texture and flair, making cakes seasonal, playful or elegant depending on the occasion. Shaped sprinkles are the ideal choice for birthday parties and seasonal celebrations.
The Best Sprinkles for Cakes
So now we know what’s on offer, but what are the best sprinkles for cakes? Here’s our pick of the best type by cake design.
1. Best Sprinkles for Cake Tops
Sugar pearls
Sugar pearls are ideal for cake tops. They’re vibrant and refined and you can choose a colour to match your theme. Here at OV Group, our colourful sugar pearls are naturally vegan-friendly. They come in a variety of colours and flavours for added crunch and sweetness. Try our deco sugar pearls for a pop of colour and salted caramel for extra depth of flavour.
2. Best for Baking Inside Cakes
Chocolate chunks or chips
When it comes to inside cakes, chocolate chunks or chips are ideal, adding crunch and decadent flavour. Depending on your sponge flavour and preference, you could choose dark, milk or white chocolate pieces.
3. Best Sprinkles for Side Decorating
Croquant
Croquant is a crispy, caramelised nut brittle which brings crunch and sweetness to cakes. Croquant works well for side decorating, giving baked creations rustic and wholesome charm. At OV, we have a wide range of croquant, from hazelnut and pistachio to popcorn and coconut – each boasts our distinct and rich roasted caramel flavour.
4. Best to Prevent Colour Bleeding
Dragées
Dragées are delicate micro-bites that bring elegance to cake decoration without the risk of colour bleeding. At OV, we coat our dragées in rich Swiss chocolate and polish them to a glossy finish, adding luxurious appeal, texture and flavour to cakes and bakes.
5. Sprinkles That Hold Their Shape
Shaped sprinkles
From Easter bunnies and Christmas trees to Valentine’s hearts and Halloween pumpkins, shaped sprinkles enhance the colour and character of cakes – and they hold their shape too.
6. Sprinkles That Work Well with Buttercream
Hundreds and thousands
Hundreds and thousands come in a range of colours, perfect for adding texture and visual appeal to buttercream cakes. At OV, we offer nonpareils in a choice of colours, including traditional rainbow and Christmas and Easter-themed options.
7. Perfect Sprinkle Choices for Ganache-Covered Cakes
Fudge and caramel pieces
Decadent grenache-covered cakes deserve classic, indulgent sprinkles such as fudge or caramel. Our range of soft fudge and caramel cubes is perfect for decorating cakes and infusing rich sweetness. They’re available in a range of flavours, from classics like salt caramel to banana, liquorice and apple and cinnamon. They also come with elegant coatings like chocolate, as well as gold and bronze dustings.
8. Colour-Fast Options for Funfetti Cakes
Sugar Strands and Flakes
Whether it’s a birthday celebration or a baby shower, funfetti cakes bring a bright and joyful touch. To prevent marbling and excessive colour bleed in your sponge, choose colour-fast sprinkles. At OV, our sugar strands and flakes hold their vibrancy, ensuring well-defined pops of colour throughout your bake.
How to Use Sprinkles Like a Pro
Application Techniques
Methods for Even Coverage
For even sprinkle coverage, apply them over a freshly iced surface, using a spoon or shaker for control. For smaller bakes like cupcakes, you can roll them in sprinkles to get more uniform coverage.
Tips for Creating Patterns
To create patterns with sprinkles, use stencils for precision, apply sprinkles with tweezers for detailed designs, and layer colours strategically. Also, pressing sprinkles into specific areas helps achieve crisp, defined shapes.
How to Apply Sprinkles Without Mess
To apply sprinkles without making a mess, work over a tray to catch the excess. And you can use a spoon or shaker for more control, gently pressing the sprinkles onto sticky surfaces.
Common Cake Sprinkle Problems and Solutions
Dealing with Bleeding Colours
The best way to prevent colour bleeding is to apply colour-fast sprinkles to cool, well-set icing. Using sprinkles on wet or warm icing can make the colours run.
Preventing Sprinkles from Melting
To prevent sprinkles from melting and destroying your beautiful decoration, ensure your cake is completely cool before application. Avoid leaving your finished cake in direct sunlight and keep it cool until you need it, popping it in the fridge if required.
Fixing Uneven Distribution
If you’ve finished decorating your cake and your sprinkles aren’t quite evenly distributed, it can be a tough one to fix. Removing sprinkles from overly decorated areas is difficult without ruining your icing, so it’s best to apply more sprinkles to the sparse areas to even it up.
Professional Sprinkles for Cakes: What the Experts Use
From colour-fast sprinkles for your next funfetti bake to delectable fudge pieces to complement a ganache-covered masterpiece, we’ve explored the various sprinkle options available and how to choose the best one for your cake design.
At OV, our sprinkles come in a delightful array of shapes, colours and flavours, from strands and nonpareils to crispies and chocolate chunks – adding flavour, texture and colour to your cake creations. Our confectionery, ingredients and decorations are trusted across the food industry and used by leading manufacturers, quick-serve restaurants, retailers and wholesalers. Browse our product range now for inspiration, or contact our dedicated team today to see how we can enhance your sweet treats.
