The Ultimate Guide to Food Colourings for Cake Decorating!

• Lynsey Macdonald

When it comes to colourings, the cakey world has A LOT of options. From dusts to gels, it can be overwhelming when you're starting out! So, with the help of our friend Sarah from @bake.works, we've put together the ultimate guide to food colourings for cake decorating!

Whatever your project, there's a perfect product just waiting to be discovered. From pops of bright, bold colour to pretty pastels, the sky's the limit!

Already a pro? We see you! You can shop our entire range of colourings here.

Before we dive in, it's worth noting. These products can all be used with a range of ingredients, from buttercream and ganache, to sugarpaste and modelling paste. What "works best" is what works best for you. Every cake maker has their own personal preference! So play around with different options until you find your favourite combinations.

Contents:

  • Dust Food Colourings
  • Gel Food Colourings
  • Oil Based Food Colourings
  • Lustre Dusts
  • FAQs

Dust Food Colourings

One of the most versatile options is a trusty dust colour. These pigmented powders are perfect for colouring sugar flowers or models, and adding pops of colour to dry ingredients such as marzipan or sugarpaste.

But make no mistake - they're not just for dusting! Mix or knead into pastes, batters, buttercream and icings, adding a little at a time until you reach your desired shade. Here, Sarah shows how beautifully this Carolina Blue Dust from Fractal Colors works in white chocolate or candy melts.

Dusts can also be used as an edible paint - simply add rejuvenator spirit, lemon juice or clear alcohol (such as vodka) and mix well.

Click here to see how easily Sarah colours her white chocolate with this dust.

Shop our collection of dust food colourings from Fractal Colors, Sugarflair, Rainbow Dust, FunCakes and more.

What is the difference between Gel and Oil-Based Food Colourings?

Gel colourings and oil-based colourings differ in terms of their solubility. Gel colours tend to be water based and this makes them suitable for different types of bake then oil-based colours. Let's break each of them down to find out where they thrive!

Gel Food Colourings

Keen to make your vibrant shades as vivid as possible? A highly concentrated gel colour is what you need!

From sugarpaste, royal icing and marzipan, to modelling paste, frostings and even piping gel, these colours pack a punch! They are seriously cost effective too - start with just a tiny drop, you'll be surprised how far it goes! To deepen the colour add a little more at a time using a cocktail stick, and mix thoroughly.

Watch Sarah colour THE SUGAR PASTE in white using the beautiful Menthol shade from Fractal Colors Full-Fill Gel collection in this video here!

Shop our collection of paste and gel food colourings from Fractal Colors, Sugarflair, Magic Colours, Rainbow Dust, Wilton and more.

Oil Based Food Colourings

Adding colour to a cakey ingredient with a high fat content, like buttercream or ganache? Oil based food colourings are your best friend!

Because water repels oils, using a colour with oils instead helps to achieve really intense and consistent colour payoff. The colour will be vibrant and less likely to fade. While high fat content ingredients are what these colours are specially designed for, you can also use them in other products like flower or modelling paste, royal icing, piping gel, marzipan and more.

Here, Sarah used the famous Colour Mill oil based colour in Orange. Again, simply add a couple of drops at a time and mix thoroughly, building until you reach your desired shade.

Watch Sarah work the Colour Mill magic on her buttercream in this video here.

Shop our collection of oil based food colourings from Colour Mill and Sugarflair.

What is Lustre Dust?

Looking to add a beautiful shine to your creations? That's where lustre dusts come in. These beautiful pigments make a stunning finishing touch. Simply dust/brush on to your cake tiers, cupcake toppers or candies to add an eye catching shimmer.

These dusts can add a subtle or a bold shine depending on what the project calls for - just add more as you go to intensify. Make sure to work on or over a clean plate, buffing the dust in circles; that way you can collect any excess to use on the next section/item! Or, like the earlier dusts, mix with alcohol or rejuvenator spirit to create a paint.

Here, Sarah has added a pretty pink dust from Faye Cahill to a cakesicle - watch here to see how completely the lustre transforms it!

Shop our collection of lustre dusts from Colour Mill, Sugarflair, Fractal Colors, Sweet Sticks, Rainbow Dust and more.

Food Colourings FAQs

Now that you know the main differences between the types of colouring, it's time to answer a few frequently asked questions!

How to get food colouring stains off skin

There are a number of methods you can use to remove food colouring stains from your skin - many of which you'll have around the house already!

Before jumping into anything more intense, try just washing your hands with warm water and soap. That is often enough.

If the stain isn't budging from your skin, you can try using rubbing alcohol or even hand sanitiser. The alcohol should help lift it.

And in the case of a truly stubborn food colouring stain, a paste made of baking soda and water can be the secret weapon to help get rid of it!

How to get food colouring stains out of clothes

A good quality washing detergent may manage to remove a food colouring stain on its own. Apply it directly to the stain, rubbing it in to work it into the stain. Then leave it to soak in for 15 to 20 minutes before popping it in the washing machine and washing as normal.

Alternatively, for a more intense stain, you might want to soak the item in cold water and apply a heavier duty stain remover before washing as normal.

Or, much like stained skin, a paste made from Baking Soda and water can work wonders in removing food colouring stains from clothes.

Can you use out of date food colouring?

Ever wondered - "does food colouring ever go off?". It's a good question!

Food colourings do come with a best before date. However, unlike food like meat that will very obviously go off, there aren't really any ingredients in food colourings that "expire". The given dates are linked more to when the colouring will be at its best in terms of quality, intensity and consistency. Typically, these products are fine to use after the best before date, as long as they are tightly sealed.

Just test a little before colouring your bakes with it, to check for any unusual consistency, loss of vibrancy or unusual smell. If you notice any of this, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Can you use food colouring with white chocolate?

Yes. You can absolutely colour your white chocolate with food colouring. Choose an oil based colour for best results! And just be sure to check that the individual brand you pick up states that it works with chocolate.

So there you have it - our guide to food colourings for cake decorating, plus a handy FAQ! We hope you found that useful and would love to hear what some of your favourite colours are! Drop us a comment below, and don't forget to follow us (and Sarah!) over on instagram.

Looking for more inspo?!

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