Are Sprinkles gluten free? Most sprinkles are gluten free because they don’t include wheat or other ingredients with gluten, but is it safe to eat by people with Celiac – that’s another question.
Every birthday is the same deal. If you’re a parent to a kid with Celiac, you worry that your kid will not be able to enjoy the birthday cake like most of the guests.
You need to make your own, or simply don’t eat it. Most cakes have sprinkles on top because it makes the cake look better, and then the question comes to mind, are these sprinkles gluten free or not? Let’s find out in this post.
Gluten Free Confidence Score of Sprinkles
We score sprinkles with a 6/10 because the ingredients of sprinkles do not contain gluten most of the time, and there are a lot of brands that clearly state their product is GF, however some brands do not, and also we do not know the manufacturing process.
What are Sprinkles
Visually magnetic and delicious, sprinkles are small pieces of confectionery that go wonderfully well with cupcakes, cakes, ice cream, donuts, and any other sweet treats you can think of.
If you are a person with celiac or suffer from gluten intolerance, you must keep in mind that, even though sprinkles are usually made from gluten free ingredients, cross-contamination during manufacturing is a matter of concern.
They are produced in a wide variety of colors and flavors. As their name suggests, they are sprinkled randomly over sticky surfaces (e.g. ice cream, frosting, etc.)
How sprinkles are made
The first step is to mix sugar, cornstarch and an emulsifier until a doughy paste is obtained.
Then the paste is pushed through an extruder with small holes and then falls on a vibrating conveyer belt that breaks sprinkles into the right size.
In order to harden them and make them durable, colorful, and shiny, sprinkles are spray-coated in the desired colors and then coated with sugar glaze.
Ingredients for sprinkles
Sprinkles are usually made from:
| sugar | corn syrup |
| artificial coloring and flavoring | food-grade wax |
| cornstarch |
As you can see, sprinkles are usually made from gluten free ingredients. However, cross-contamination may occur during manufacturing and ingredients may vary, so we recommend caution.
Known brands for GF sprinkles
CakeCraft
CakeCraft produces a wide range of certified gluten free products, ranging from cake mixes to sprinkles, food colorings, and frostings. Here you can find all their available gluten free products.
Free From: gluten, GMO, preservatives, hydrogenated fat, dairy, artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors. HALAL & KOSHER CERTIFIED
Sweetapolita
Sweetapolita claims to use only premium ingredients and manufacture its products in facilities that comply with the highest quality and food safety standards.
All the products they label as gluten free do not contain wheat and the trace amounts are below 20 parts per million.
You can check out their gluten-free sprinkles here and gluten free + vegan here.
Cake Mate
Cake Mate offers a wide range of gluten free cake decorating products that are manufactured in a gluten free facility.
You can check out their products range here. You can find more useful information on allergens and the manufacturing process here.
Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker produces a wide variety of sprinkles. Even if their products are not labeled as gluten free, they do not directly contain gluten and are considered ‘safe to eat’ by many gluten-sensitive consumers.
However, they are packaged in a facility that also processes wheat, peanuts, coconut, and milk, so cross-contamination is likely to occur.
If you have celiac or suffer from severe gluten-intolerance, we strongly recommend that you look for other alternatives.
What to look out for
Even though sprinkles are usually made from gluten free ingredients, cross-contamination may happen if they are made in a facility that also processes gluten-containing products.
If you want to play safe and stay on a gluten free diet, always read labels carefully, even if you have already consumed the product before and you consider it gluten free.
Sometimes manufacturers change the ingredients in their products. We highly recommend that you always check labels carefully and opt – if possible – for products labeled as gluten free.
To sum up
Sprinkles not only make desserts look and taste better, but they also bring fun to our sweet cravings!
Even though sprinkles are usually made from gluten free ingredients, they may still be subject to cross-contamination and ingredients changes.
If you have celiac or suffer from gluten intolerance, make sure to take your time and always check labels carefully. It is the only way to avoid unpleasant surprises and know exactly what you are about to use.
