Learn more fun facts on the National Sprinkle Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 23
- Holiday emoji:
- ✨
National Sprinkle Day brightens our calendars every July 23, celebrating the tiny, colorful sugar flecks that bring joy to desserts worldwide. From ice cream to cupcakes, sprinkles elevate any treat with a burst of color and fun. Get ready to explore new sprinkle varieties, bake up a storm, and share your most vibrant creations!
Want to sponsor National Sprinkle Day? Learn how
Expected National Sprinkle Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows National Sprinkle Day often brings sweet deals. Expect major ice cream chains like Baskin-Robbins and Dairy Queen to offer free sprinkle toppings or discounted sundaes. Local bakeries, including Crumbl Cookies and Nothing Bundt Cakes, might feature sprinkle-laden specials or limited-edition treats. Even grocery stores like Whole Foods Market and specialty baking suppliers such as Wilton could run promotions on baking ingredients and sprinkle varieties. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 23 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Sprinkle Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalSprinkleDay. Share vibrant photos of your sprinkle-covered desserts and creative baking projects.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalSprinkleDay. Film fun tutorials for decorating with sprinkles or showcase your favorite sprinkle-packed recipes.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalSprinkleDay. Post polls asking followers about their favorite sprinkle type or color.
National Sprinkle Day Hero
Augustus Jackson
History of National Sprinkle Day
Sprinkles can be dated back to, at least, the 18th century when they were referred to as Nonpareils. The idea of the modern sprinkles dates back to 1913 when Dutch confectionaire, Erven H. de Jong created something by the name of ‘hagelslag.’ The latter was intended to be used as a topping for bread and butter, of all things.
Hagelslag eventually made their way to the New World, to the Tri-State and New England region by the 1930s. This was the beginning of their rainbow-colored fame. Hagelslag received a facelift for the American public. Known as ‘Jimmies’ in the US, they began being used as a cake topping. There began to spring up, however, feuds over the true ownership of the creation. A Pennsylvanian factory, for instance, began claiming that it had invented America’s beloved Jimmies. Sprinkles began their career as an ice cream topping in the 1940s. The first use of sprinkles as an ice-cream topping has been traced back to Dr. Edward Bringham. He began offering rainbow sprinkles as a topping option for ice cream cones, charging an additional penny to raise money for The Jimmy Fund.
Today, sprinkles can be found all across the globe. They are called ‘hagelslag’ in The Netherlands, Jimmies in Boston and Philadelphia, meses in Indonesia, and ‘muizenstrontjes’ (‘mouse droppings’) in Belgium. Regardless of the name, sprinkles have become an inseparable part of the modern palette.
National Sprinkle Day timeline
Nonpareils are eaten by people.
Dutch confectionaire Erven H. de Jong invents the hagelslag.
Jimmies are used as a cake topping.
Sprinkles are used as ice cream toppings.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Sprinkle Day
Local bakeries and ice cream parlors can host ‘decorate your own’ sprinkle stations, offering a variety of sprinkle types and colors for customers to customize their treats. Coffee shops could introduce sprinkle-topped lattes or specialty pastries for the day. Retailers selling baking supplies can offer discounts on sprinkles, frosting, and decorating tools. Restaurants might feature a special dessert menu with sprinkle-themed creations, encouraging social media sharing with unique hashtags like #SprinkleSquad.
National Sprinkle Day FAQs
When is National Sprinkle Day?
National Sprinkle Day 2026 is observed on Thursday, July 23, inviting everyone to add a little sparkle to their favorite desserts. It’s the perfect mid-week treat!
What are the different types of sprinkles?
Sprinkles come in many forms, including jimmies (rod-shaped), nonpareils (tiny spheres), sanding sugar (larger crystals), edible glitter, and shaped sprinkles (stars, hearts). Each type offers a unique texture and visual appeal to desserts.
How many sprinkles are consumed annually?
While exact global figures for sprinkle consumption are hard to pinpoint, the confectionery market, which includes sprinkles, is a multi-billion dollar industry. Millions of pounds of sprinkles are produced and enjoyed worldwide each year, especially on holidays like National Sprinkle Day.
What is the origin of sprinkles?
The exact origin of sprinkles is debated, but similar confectionery decorations have existed for centuries. Modern sprinkles, particularly jimmies, gained popularity in the early 20th century, often attributed to American candy makers.
National Sprinkle Day Activities
Eat sprinkles with ice cream
Start your celebration by eating sprinkles with ice cream! There’s nothing better than an added dose of sweetness!
Eat sprinkles with cake
If you have a sweet tooth, eat more sugar by consuming cake with sprinkles! Not only is it tasty, but it’s pretty to look at!
Eat ‘fairy bread’
Try the Oceanic delicacy fairy bread, which is bread, butter, and sprinkles. This is the closest you’ll get to what sprinkles were actually intended for.
5 Interesting Facts About Sprinkles
Ingredients
Sprinkles are made of sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, shortening, wax, and coloring.
Popularity
Sprinkles are one of the most popular ice cream toppings.
Dietary restrictions
Sprinkles are not vegan.
Hundreds of thousands
Sprinkles are also referred to as ‘hundreds of thousands.’
Gelatin
Sprinkles may also contain gelatin.
Why We Love National Sprinkle Day
Who doesn’t love sprinkles
Sprinkles are so very joyful. We love Sprinkle Day because it celebrates such delightful confectionery.
It’s an excuse to eat sprinkles
The point of Sprinkle Day is to eat sprinkles. What’s not to love?
It’s an excuse to get someone to try sprinkles
For everyone who knows someone who’s never tried sprinkles, today is the best day to get them to try them! They also come in a variety of colors, so try them out today as an appealing aesthetic for your cakes!
Social Media Tips for National Sprinkle Day
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