Natural food coloring?!

Frosting Coloring Tips
Source: Diane Hartman, Jay Berger, Various Internet Groups


Note: Color outcomes are based on dyeing white foods; final colors will vary (based on original food product color & amount of coloring agent used (e!.g!. yellow cake + pomegranate juice will turn more orange than red)!. Some colors (or amts!.) may affect final flavor!. Puree & drain fruits of seeds before use & account for added liquid in the recipe!. For richer colors, use thawed (frozen) or concentrated juices of fruits & veggies!. Or avoid coloring completely & use plain white icing & colorful, plastic
toys for decoration!.

Blue: blueberries
Blue-Purple: blueberries, purple grape juice, blackberries, & blackberry
juice!.
Brick red-orange: paprika
Green: pureed, cooked spinach (thawed frozen spinach works great)
Lavender: grape juice!. For darker lavender use 4 cups frozen or fresh blueberries
Pink: cranberry juice, raspberries, red currants, strawberries
Red: pomegranate juice, or dried, powdered, boiled, unsalted red beets (ground in the blender or food processor-won't effect flavor)!.
Rich brown: instant coffee granules
Yellow, gold, & orange: small amount of turmeric powder, yellow mustard powder, curry powder, annatto powder, & carrot juice (final color depends on amount used)!.

Decorating Tip: Sprinkle shredded coconut over frosting before it hardens to create a realistic looking Santa's beard, lamb or other animal fur, etc!.

Egg Coloring Ideas
Source: Diane Hartman


These are things I have used to color Easter eggs: If you are using the dyes to make colored icing or dry items like play dough, omit the vinegar!.

Dried powdered spinach will make a yellowish green!. Add 1 teaspoon vinegar to 2 tablespoons powdered spinach and 1 cup boiling water

Dried dark red beets will make a red or pink shade(depending on how much you use!.) You can use them in the wet form, if you smash them, and strain the juice thru cheese cloth!. You can also use dried red beets to make a great pink or red icing(perfect for valentines day) it does not effect the flavor!. Strawberry juice or jam also work well for a flavored red or pink icing!.


Red onion skins use very little water, boil and then strain thru cheese cloth

Yellow- turmeric(for Easter eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric + 2/3 cup boiling water and 1/2 teaspoon vinegar

Brown dyes- 1 tablespoon instant coffee(or loose tea) 2/3 cup boiling water 3/4 teaspoon vinegar tea and coffee produce different shades of brown, so you might to experiment with this one!. For an even different color(darker) brown use, but use cocoa powder instead of coffee

red cabbage juice makes a bluish color

Blackberry juice- reddish blue dye

Blueberry juice- bluish grey dye

Violet dyes:
1/2 cup violet blossoms(can be found in the spring)
1 cup boiling water Allow to stand for three hours, and then strain thru cheese cloth!. This will make a purple-blue dye

Lavender- add 1/8 cup lemon juice, it will cause some type of chemical reaction and make lavender color

Green: Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and the dye will turn green, and if you allow it to stand for several hours to overnight, it will turn a dark yellow or orangeWww@FoodAQ@Com

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Natural food coloring how tos:
Using about 1/4 cup of vegan buttercream icing as a base for each shade, I came up with 4 shades: yellow, mint green, blush, and raspberry!. I wanted to add as much color as possible without altering the flavor!. You'll need to double or triple the recipes and experiment with the intensities, depending on the quantities of and types of food you want to color!. Mix in the coloring well to avoid streaking!.

Yellow: Add 1/4 tsp and a large pinch of stale turmeric to the icing!. Turmeric is often used to give vegan puddings and tofu scrambles that "eggy" shade!. This is a good use for turmeric that's past its prime, since stale turmeric is fairly flavor neutral!.

Blush: Using a sieve, mash the juice from 3 fresh or thawed frozen raspberries directly into the icing!.

Mint green: With a fork, mash 1/4 of a small avocado until creamy!. Mix this into your icing!. [The avocado makes your icing thinner, but in a fluffy, pleasant way!.]

Raspberry: Using a sieve, mash the juice from 6 fresh or thawed frozen blueberries and 6 fresh or thawed frozen blackberries directly into the icing!.

This list is certainly not definitive!. Other natural sources of color include carrots [orange], annatto [yellow], beet juice [pink to red] and chlorella [green]!. Experiment and color your world! And if you don't have time to make your own food colorings, please be safe and buy all-natural versions!.
Www@FoodAQ@Com

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When I make icing for cakes I color them with jams!. It adds interesting flavor to cakes, but these are lighter colors!. For dark, more intense colors I always use the regular cake decorator's color paste!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

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