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    Home » Desserts

    Updated: Jan 30, 2025 · Published: Jan 22, 2022 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy

    Jump to Recipe

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy is a homemade confection made up of rich chocolate discs with a rainbow nonpareil sprinkle coating on one side.  Not to confuse from the start, but the term, nonpareil, can also be used to refer to a confection: a chocolate disk dipped in, well, nonpareils. That is what we are making today, chocolate-dipped candies. They are small sweet bites that you can pop in your mouth.  

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy two small bowls filled with the candies

    This colorful and fun candy is a delight.  In one tasty bite, you have creamy milk chocolate and a crunchy sweet pop of flavor.

    Nonpareil sprinkles are a must for this recipe, not just any sprinkle will do. The crunchy rainbow sprinkles are also used on my fun Sprinkle Sugar Cookies recipe.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Why is it Called a Nonpareil? 
    • How to Make Homemade Nonpareil Chocolates
    • Enjoy the Homemade Candies
    • Storing & Freezing Homemade Nonpareils Candy
    • Holiday Tips & Gift Giving
    • Chocolate Nonpareils Candy

    Ingredients

    It only takes 2 ingredients for this sweet confection.  Wilton sprinkles & a good quality chocolate is important.

    What are NonPareil Sprinkles? 

    This does not work with just any rainbow sprinkle. They need to be nonpareils which are very tiny in size & are amazing in my Easy Shortbread Bites.

    The small rainbow sprinkles are small round dots made of sugar and starch which gives them that familiar crunch.  They're also known as "Hundreds and Thousands", and are used as decorative confectionery on all sorts of desserts. 

    There are all TYPES OF SPRINKLES but make sure you use the classic nonpareils for this homemade candy recipe. Here are the two ingredients needed for this recipe.

    • MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS -   10-11 ounce bag of your favorite
    • NONPAREIL RAINBOW SPRINKLES - 4 ounces is enough to cover the bottom of a rimmed baking sheet

    Why is it Called a Nonpareil? 

    In short, it is because this kind of sprinkle is so awesome and delicious.  There is nothing like the firm texture and flavor that the little candies give. 

    The name actually refers to the small candy balls and is from the French word for "without equal."  I agree, there is no better rainbow sprinkle than a nonpareil so when you add discs of chocolate to them - the candy is special and has no equal. 

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy ingredients

    How to Make Homemade Nonpareil Chocolates

    The first step is to prep the surface area where the candies will be made and set to harden.  You will need a rimmed baking sheet.

    You want it to be rimmed because these tiny balls will roll everywhere and try and get away if you don't contain them.  You will end up with a mess, a pretty & tasty mess but a mess nonetheless. 

    Spread out the Sprinkles

    To your rimmed baking sheet, pour on enough of the sprinkles to coat the bottom of the pan.  You will want one even layer.  I used about half of the 7.5oz container of Wilton Rainbow Nonpareil Sprinkles.  

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy pouring nonpareils on a baking sheet

    Melt Chocolate in a Double Boiler

    Once the sprinkle layer is on the baking sheet, it is time to melt the chocolate chips.  In a double-boiler, simmer about an inch of water in the lower half. In the top half add the chocolate chips.  Over low heat, slowly stir the chocolate chips until they are melted and smooth.   

    No Double Boiler - No Problem! You can still melt chocolate and make candy even if you do not have a double-boiler. I actually do not own one and for decades have fashioned my own out of two everyday pieces of kitchen equipment.  It is so easy to do and you do not need to spend the money or use the kitchen space for a double-boiler if you don't want to. It is so easy to use a double boiler substitute.

    I use a heatproof glass mixing bowl on top of a pot of simmering water.  The key is to make sure the bowl sits just barely into the pot so that the bowl is a few inches above the simmering water.

    You also want to make sure the bowl doesn't slip around too much or let steam or water bubble up the sides. It is a hazard that could cause burns but also any steam or water into melting chocolate will ruin it. 

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy melt chocolate in double boiler

    Squeeze the Chocolate onto the Sprinkles

    Once the chocolate is smooth and melted, it is time to start making the candy discs.  You do not need a fancy pastry bag for this recipe.

    If you do have one use it but a Ziploc bag works just fine too. Spoon the warm chocolate into a Ziploc bag and seal it tightly.  Then cut a VERY SMALL tip off the bottom corner. 

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy melted chocolate in a Ziploc bag with nonpareils spread on a baking sheet in the background

    How to Make Candy Discs

    Now that the chocolate is ready to work with, it is time to make the candy discs.  To the tray of nonpareil sprinkles, slowly make 1" in diameter discs of chocolate on top of the round sprinkles.

    To do this, gently squeeze the bag and either make small circles around & around to make a rippled-looking disc. Or you can squeeze in one spot and let it spread in a circle. A very small cut works best for the circular look and a bigger slit works best with the one big dot look. 

    The image below is with the circular system.  The one after it shows a close-up of those I did with a bigger corner and one big squeeze. 

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy squirting chocolate into circle on the nonpareils

    Let the Chocolate Set

    Once all the chocolate has been dropped into disc shapes on the baking sheet, the candies are ready to cool. 

    To set the chocolate, place the baking sheet carefully into your refrigerator.  It takes 1 hour for the nonpareil chocolates to harden.   

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy full baking sheet covered in nonpareils with chocolate dollops cooling

    Enjoy the Homemade Candies

    After an hour in the refrigerator, the chocolate discs should pull up off the baking sheet easily.  Simply grab each one off and place them in a bowl or on a plate to enjoy.   

    There will be a lot of leftover sprinkles on the baking sheet that didn't get any chocolate, that is fine - they are still good to use next time. Place them back into the container or make a batch of my Easy Funfetti Shortbread Bites.

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy ready to eat with a hand holding one

    Storing & Freezing Homemade Nonpareils Candy

    It is important to store these candies in a cool dry place. The best place is to store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.  If stored properly they will last for 3 months in the refrigerator. 

    You can freeze nonpareil candy also for up to 5 months. Keep in mind that chocolate that has been melted then frozen tends to get a white finish on them once defrosted to eat. It does not change the flavor or safeness of the candies but may change the appearance. 

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy closeup of a bowl filled and a few candies to the side

    Holiday Tips & Gift Giving

    Since this candy stores so well, it is a great make-ahead recipe.   The rainbow sprinkles are fun for birthdays, Easter, or Christmas candy.  You can buy nonpareil sprinkles in orange and white for Halloween or just green for St. Patrick's Day. 

    These small morsels of chocolate with the nonpareil coating are great additions to throw into Easter baskets, Christmas cookie trays, or birthday goodie bags.  So much to love and a lot of great ways to share them. 

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy overhead photo of a bowl filled with candies and a few on the table to the side
    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy recipe card overhead of bowl filled with candy and blue and pink napkins

    Chocolate Nonpareils Candy

    Angela
    Chocolate nonpareils candy is a homemade confection made up of rich chocolate discs with a rainbow nonpareil sprinkle coating on one side.  They are small sweet bites that you can pop in your mouth with a crunchy bottom and creamy chocolate top.  
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American, French
    Servings 80 pieces
    Calories 29 kcal

    Equipment

    • rimmed baking sheet

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 bag milk chocolate chips 10-11 ounces
    • 1 container Wilton Rainbow Nonpareil Sprinkles 7.5 ounces
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • To your rimmed baking sheet, pour on enough of the sprinkles to coat the bottom of the pan.  You will want one even layer.  I used about half of the 7.5oz container of Wilton Rainbow Nonpareil Sprinkles.  
    • In a double-boiler, simmer about an inch of water in the lower half. In the top half add the chocolate chips.  Over low heat, slowly stir the chocolate chips until they are melted and smooth.   
    • Once the chocolate is smooth and melted, transfer it into a pastry bag with a tiny tip or a Ziploc bag.   For a Ziploc bag, make sure to seal it tightly.  Then cut a VERY SMALL tip off the bottom corner. 
    • To the tray of nonpareil sprinkles, slowly make 1″ in diameter discs of chocolate on top of the round sprinkles.   To do this, gently squeeze the bag and either make small circles around & around to make a rippled-looking disc.  Or you can squeeze in one spot and let it spread in a circle. --- see above for more information and images.
      Leave a little space between each morsel. On my baking sheet, I got 10 rows of 8 for a total of 80 candies.
    • To set the chocolate, place the baking sheet carefully into your refrigerator.  It takes 1 hour for the nonpareil chocolates to harden.   
    • After an hour in the refrigerator, the chocolate discs should pull up off the baking sheet easily.  Simply grab each one off and place them in a bowl or on a plate to enjoy. 
    • LEFTOVER STORAGE -
      There will be a lot of leftover sprinkles on the baking sheet that didn’t get any chocolate, that is fine – they are still good to use next time. You can put them back into the Wilton container for the next dessert decorating recipe. 
      The best place is to store them in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.  If stored properly they will last for 3 months in the refrigerator.  You can freeze nonpareil candy also for up to 5 months

    Notes

    STORING:
    • Make sure to store in a cool dry place. They can be refrigerated and frozen to enjoy later.
     
    NUTRITIONAL NOTE: The calories, carbs, etc will vary based on how big the candies are and the brands/ingredients used. The below information is an estimate. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 29kcalCarbohydrates: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPotassium: 12mgSugar: 4gCalcium: 3mg
    Keyword 2-ingredient, anniversary, birthday, candy, christmas, Easter, easy, egg-free, Halloween, holiday, no bake, nut-free, small plate, treat, valentine's day, Xmas
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Did you make this The Short Order Cook Recipe?

    Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter). 

    I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.

     

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Liza says

      January 26, 2022 at 4:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was a cute and fun recipe to make with the kids. They each got a bag of chocolate to squish. They were not very round but we had fun making and eating these.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

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