Homemade vegan sprinkles made from coconut and colored completely naturally. This easy recipe has all your funfetti needs covered without any sugar or food coloring!
I’ve been wanting to post a funfetti something for forever. The fun part is easy. Cupcakes, cookies, milkshakes–all plenty of fun. But I was missing the fetti.
Confetti. Sprinkles. Birthday specks. Hundreds-and-thousands. Glitter of the edible world.
Sure there are vegan organic sprinkle brands out there, but where’s the homemade messy kitchen fun in that?! Nowhere to be found. What you will find is sugar and artificial colors usually. Not to mention a very small bag of sprinkles inside that $3 box.
You could make your own with confectioners sugar and a piping bag, but why bother with all that when shredded coconut is already the perfect shape, size, and neutral color for the job!
Coloring the homemade vegan sprinkles
These Homemade Vegan Sprinkles are dyed completely naturally with colors from fruits and few health food powders…
Pink > raspberries
Yellow > turmeric
Purple > blueberries
Green > spirulina
drying the homemade vegan sprinkles
Many coconut sprinkle recipes call for a dehydrator. If you have one–great, that’ll work. But if you are without, I have tested an oven and no-bake option too…
Oven (fastest!) – Set your oven as low as it can go and bake them for about 1 hour. Check them for dryness, and if they aren’t quite there then leave them for another 15 mins. In my oven at 170F it took 1 hour and 15 mins. You don’t want to bake them at a higher temperature or they will toast and turn brown.
No-bake (easiest!) – Just spread them out very thinly on a pan or plate and leave them in a dry spot in your house. Check them after 24 hours. If they aren’t quite dry then leave them out until they are. Evaporation–it will happen eventually.
Dehydrator (if you have one!) – Probably the most even drying thanks to the screen trays that allow air on all sides. And more energy efficient than the oven too. It will take longer than in the oven, about 2-3 hours.
Sprinkles were always my least favorite ice-cream topping actually. With cookie dough on one side and chocolate chips on the other why on earth would I choose those near flavorless little rainbow flecks?? But sprinkles in cake…that’s a whole different story. (Hint, hint. Nugde, nudge. Coming later this week!)
Homemade vegan sprinkles! A rainbow of topping flecks without sugar or food coloring >>> Click To Tweet Print
Prep Time:
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PinIngredients
- Pink
- 1/4 cup frozen raspberries (or for an even brighter pink, pitaya puree)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- Purple
- 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- Yellow
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp water
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- Green
- 1/4 tsp spirulina
- 1 tbsp water
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- b]Blue [/b] (pictured [here)
- 2 tsps Homemade Natural Blue Food Coloring
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- b]Orange [/b] (pictured [here)
- 1–2 tbsps carrot juice
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions
- For the pink and purple: Microwave the berries to defrost.
- Press through a sieve to get out the juice.
- Add the coconut. Mix to coat.
- Spread on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- For the yellow and green: Mix the spirulina/turmeric with the water.
- Add the coconut and stir to coat.
- Spread on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Bake on your oven’s lowest temp for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins. Or see alternative dehydrator and no-bake options in the post.
- Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Haha, need to trick my dad into switching to these sprinkles 😉 He has such a sweet tooth, but could really do with cutting on sugar 🙂
Haha good luck with that one! Hey maybe if he likes coconut he will like these even better 🙂
What a perfect idea! Plus, I love coconut, so this is like two great things in one . . . or maybe many depending on how many different colours I make!
The subtle coconut flavor is like an extra bonus! Lol it could be a rainbow of great things in one 😀
This is a genius idea, Natalie! I’m always missing the fetti, too! I hate all the junk that’s in store-bought sprinkles. I have these on my list! They look beautiful!
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Thanks Melissa! I know right, even the healthy-ish sprinkle brands are still really just overpriced sugar lol. And if you like coconut then these actually taste better too 🙂
Oh these are too cute! Love this idea of homemade sprinkles <3
Thanks Rachel 🙂
Oh, my goodness!!! What a fun and genius idea! Never crossed my mind to turn coconut shreds into delightful little sprinkles!! Love this so much. And I love the ingredients you chose for coloring the coconut!! Hahaha! They were my least favorite ice cream topping, too…I was all about the chocolate or caramel sauce…or cookie crumbles. Now I want a bowl of ice cream with all the toppings! And these sprinkles! Can’t wait to see this cake recipe <3
Now I need a pretty pink cake like Willow’s b-day cake to put them on, they would be perfect! As for ice cream toppings, I would still go for the chocolate chips or cookie pieces for flavor, but sprinkles are a classic for the sundae look…so both, all of the above, pile on the toppings 🙂 I’m actually out of frozen bananas right now, so just the thought of that topping-loaded nicecream bowl is very very tempting lol! Thanks Mandy <33
Oh my gosh this is absolutely gorgeous!! And genius!! You said “rainbows” would be coming and I’ve been wondering what it might be… But I didn’t expect this! So beautiful!
Lol that rainbow teaser was quite an odd cliffhanger wasn’t it 😀 Well it’s almost a rainbow anyways, we just need some blue! I still need to try the red cabbage trick. Thanks Laurina <3
This is so clever, and they came out beautifully!
Thanks Becky! I was afraid they would be dull after baking, but they did stay nice and bright 🙂
Ok, I’m feeling totally excited…. first Harriet’s homemade rainbow coconut sprinkles and now yours, it’s like a big celebration of sprinkles everywhere, hahaha! These are so pretty Natalie! I loved that you both did different flavorings! I must admit, although I know they aren’t healthy, I love classic sprinkles because they are crunchy and sweet and look so beautiful in baking. I hardly ever use them, maybe once a year, if even that?? So, I don’t stress over the fake colors when it’s so rare, in fact, I literally JUST received a giant tub of sprinkles last week from this girl I found on Etsy who makes the most beautiful sprinkles I’ve ever seen and are vegan! I made a Funfetti cake using them and when I post the recipe, I will totally link to your blog for these as an option for those who don’t want to use the traditional kind! I imagine these are much less sweet, but still super delicious! Love them girl!
That’s so neat, I never thought to check Etsy for those sorts of things! I definitely don’t stress over that stuff either, it’s just fun see what can be done without food coloring. Nope these aren’t sweet at all, just there for color. I was never a sprinkle fan though, so I guess I don’t miss it. There does seem to be a party theme going on. When I saw Harriet’s I was like OMG we are totally in sync with the birthday vibe! I can’t wait to see your cake, funfetti just makes me happy and excited too 🙂
Oh, I love yours, they are gorgeous!! It’s a great idea and super awesome way to avoid the food coloring and make something so pretty. I bet these would look awesome on your nice creams!!
These are the cutest 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’ve only ever tried pink ones, but now I MUST HAVE ALL THE RAINBOW COLORS!!!!! I really love the pics, you make these tiny sprinkles look like funfetti super models. And of course I really love the healthiness factor here – no added sugar. Will definitely try these!! And will definitely sprinkle them on every food we eat. Kids will love me and nominate me the best cook ever, I’m sure 😉
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“Fufetti super models” LOL That’s exactly what I was going for, I’m so glad it came through 😀 You are so funny, I always love your comments! Well it seems I have a special love for the pink kind as well, seeing as I already made another batch–all pink this time. Certain recipes just call for all pink toppings. And some look better with a rainbow on top 🙂 Let me know when you get the nomination so I can vote for you, because I certainly think you deserve that award!
You are a genius, Natalie!!! I am in love with these. Will DEFINITELY be trying this!
Yay! They would look so cute on top of your fabulous cakes and cupcakes 🙂
Oh my goodness, Natalie. Wow! Just wow. I love this recipe + recipe idea so much, I don’t even know where to start! Everything about it is awesome–vegan, homemade, naturally dyed. Um… and the best part: FUN. The different colors of sprinkles are so unbelievably pretty. Plus, my constant yearning for homemade goodness has pretty much gone into overdrive here. Just sayin’. The video: lastly (then I promise to stop gushing like a dork), I just about swooned when you synced up the beats to the graphics. Oh my! The part of me that just LOVES Adobe Premiere just got all goofy seeing that! Okay, I’m done… I know where the door is. 😉
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Hahaha you crack me up! Speaking of Adobe Premiere, I really need to learn that program and upgrade from iMovie. Anyways, yes yes yes–everything homemade! Half the fun is making it, and then getting to eat the products of your labor is like the icing on the cake (pun sort of intended :D) Thanks for stopping by Demeter!
So pretty. I think you definitely brought the “fetti” to the party 🙂 I’ve seen some colored shredded coconut DIY-type things before, but this is a whole new level of pretty — all my favorite colors, all natural. You are brilliant. And so is your funfetti! <3
I really should’ve planned this around a birthday or something, it would’ve been so fun to throw up in the air and let rain down mouth open wide 🙂 Yes I’ve seen it done before with food coloring too, but the all natural colors challenge was fun. I have to say after being mixed in the jar for a while turmeric definitely wins. They all have a slight yellow hue now, especially poor purple lol!
Haha! I didn’t think about that. But yes, turmeric is rather “sticky” … I was making some experimental cookies with some the other day and I couldn’t get the yellow from under my nails for days ?
This is SO cool! I was actually looking for vegan sprinkles the other day for a sponge cake recipe I had in mind, but I was put off by all the additives in them! These would be a perfect alternative! Thank you!
Hi Katie! It is hard to find a good clean store-bought sprinkle! But these are really easy to make, especially if you go with the overnight no-bake option. I find myself making a custom colored batch for all sorts of things now 🙂 I hope they work perfect for your cake recipe!
how would i do a red color for christmas cookies and do they taste like spiralina and turmeric?!
No, you don’t taste the turmeric/spirulina at all, it’s such a small amount! And red is hard, it always comes out pink😬 Beet powder would be my best recommendation!
I really love this idea. My husband just made pink for my little girl who has asked for sprinkle cookies for Christmas. I only have one question, should I apply the sprinkles before I bake the cookies or after? I am scared if the sprinkles are added before they might turn brown and lose their pink color.
Hmm yes I’m afraid the coconut will get too toasted if you put them on before, but if you put them on after they might not stick😕 It may be best to frost the cookies first like this: https://www.feastingonfruit.com/almond-flour-sugar-cookies/
Thank you so much!
I’m allergic to coconut. is there anything I can replace it with?
Um you could try hemp seeds maybe! They should absorb the color the same way, but I haven’t tested it personally to say for sure 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion!
I’m so glad to find this! I needed something fun to top my favorite dairy free, egg free cupcakes.
These will be cute and colorful and perfect for that purpose🥳 Can’t wait for you to try them!
As you know, the inspiration for me to make these came from your delectable, dreamy Cosmic Brownies 🌈😍 but these sprinkles are so good that I had to drop a comment on this site just to say… GENIUS! So fun and so easy with a dehydrator too. Rest assured that the remainder of these sprinkles will find their way onto cupcakes, donuts, all manner of frostings, spoons… EVERYTHING!
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Hehe thanks for popping in to comment on these colorful little things too💗 Great idea to speed it up with a dehydrator, I wish I still had mine sometimes. Happy weekend to you, I hope it involves something sweet and sprinkle-topped and delicious!
I just made these with my little one today. He had so much fun. Can I store these all together? Do they need to be stored separate by color?
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YAY!! I am so happy you guys tried them🤗 And I usually store them altogether, although after a week or two I find the yellow does start to seep into the others a bit so they will retain their colors best separate!