Coloring Icing
When it comes to coloring icing, there are several options. However,
understanding the various types of food coloring can be a little bit
confusing. First, I want to explain the difference in each of the types
of coloring. After that, we will learn just how to color the icing.
What to use to Color your Frosting
Types of Food Coloring
There are five different types of food coloring you can purchase. They
are:
- Paste Food Color
- Gel Food Color
- Powder Food Color
- Liquid Food Color
- The stuff you buy in the grocery store. You know the stuff in the
little teardrop droppers.
Paste and Gel Color

Paste and Gel colors are a concentrated food
color. This basically means that a little bit of color goes a long way.
These colors come in small tubs or tubes. I use either one of these to
color most of my icing. They come in just about every color you can
think of and work great. The only time I do not use a gel or paste
color when coloring icing, is when I need to make red, black, or a dark
blue.
Powder Food Color

This brings us to Powder Food Color. Powder color is the best type of
color to use for dark or hard to get colors. Once again, colors like
red, black, or dark blue. The gel or paste colors will give you a nice
dark pink or dark gray for instance. The powder color gives you a
perfect red or black or blue every time. Also, when you try to get a
dark color using a gel or paste you have to add a lot of it! This can
make your icing taste kind of bitter. Powder color has no taste, no
matter how much you add.
Powder color is a little more expensive than a gel or paste color. A
little trick that I have learned is to use your gel or paste color and
get your icing a little pink or gray (or whatever color you're mixing)
first. Then add a little bit of your powder color. You will still get a
nice dark color without the taste. This also makes your powder color
last longer because you do not have to use as much of it!
Liquid Food Colors

Liquid food colors are the other type of coloring available.
There are two types
of
liquid food coloring available: Concentrated
liquid and the stuff you buy in the grocery store. The concentrated
liquid is great. It works very similar to a gel or paste color. These
are also great for coloring the cake batter too. Because the liquid is
concentrated, you do not have to use a lot of it.
Food Dyes
I know that everyone has seen the food dyes in the grocery
store. You can pick up a pack with every color for very cheap. Do
not let this fool you! When it comes to cake decorating, these are a
waste of time and money. This food coloring has so much water in it
that actually getting the color you want is almost impossible. You will
use the entire tube and by the time it's gone you might have the right
color! When it comes to coloring icing, stick to a concentrated color
that will give your icing a nice color without a bitter taste and will
last you for many years.
How to Color your Icing
Coloring icing is actually very easy. The main thing you want to
remember is to be sure to color enough icing for your needs. This way
you will not have to try and match the color again later. Even if you
mix too much it's always better to have to much than not enough!
If you are using a
liquid or gel coloring in a tube or bottle,
simply squeeze a few drops in your icing and stir. Remember, these
colors are very concentrated so just start out with a little bit!
You
can always add more color, but you can't take away! Add a little at a
time until you get the color you need.
If you are using a
paste color in a tub it is a little
different. For these colors you want to use a toothpick. Simply dip a
clean toothpick into the color and then swirl it into your icing. Once
again, start out with a little and go from there. It is important to
always use a clean toothpick. Do not put the same toothpick back into
your color after it has been in the icing. The grease from the icing
will break your color down and you will not be able to use it again!
That's it! Using icing color is very simple.