What on earth are jimmies? 

Jimmies are small confectionery candies used mainly as decorations on top of cakes, cup cakes, doughnuts, and ice cream.  Some popular alternative names are sprinkles, hundreds and thousands, or ants.

I grew up understanding that “sprinkles” are a multi-colored version of the candy, while “jimmies” specifically meant chocolate sprinkles.

Chocolate sprinkles were invented by a Dutch company in 1936.  Many Dutch children will put chocolate sprinkles on top of buttered bread for a tasty after school snack.
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