The history of sprinkles
- Genevieve Deetsch
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
The confetti confectionery of sprinkles is beloved by many, but do you ever find yourself wondering how the rainbow candy was created? The history of sprinkles is fun, controversial, entertaining, and a perfect story for a boring Sunday afternoon.
The concept of sprinkles was first created in ancient civilizations when Egyptians and Romans would dust spices and seeds on top of their food. However, the modern confectionery version seen in pop culture was not created until the 18th century, by French chocolatiers. As sugar became more easily accessible, candy makers began to experiment with various shapes and colors. The current favorite rainbow rectangles were not perfected until the year 1936 by the Dutch confectioner Erven H. de Jong.
Since their creation, sprinkles have sparked global controversy over their name. Although the topping is popularly called “sprinkles” in the United States, it also is fondly known as “Jimmies” and “hundreds and thousands” in places like the United Kingdom and Oceania. However, various names for sprinkles also prompts questions about the past of the desert.
Although the most believed narrative of the creation of sprinkles is their origins in France and the Netherlands, some think a worker at Samuel Born’s Brooklyn-based candy, Just Born, named James “Jimmy” Bartholemew created the confectionery. It is likely that the nickname “Jimmies” originated from this worker and his help operating the company's machinery, yet he is not responsible for creating the beautiful topping.
It is undeniable the global popularity of this confectionery treat. From ancient Egypt to Jimmy in Brooklyn, sprinkles have spread across the globe and lasted through centuries of confectionery confinement. So next time you reach to put sprinkles all over your favorite ice cream, remember that the ancient Romans were doing the same thing.
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