Posted by Akhileshwari Anand Raj
- Aug 4, 2020
- 1680
- 0
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj
How to use food colouring to get ANY colour that you need!
Food colouring is a great ingredient in baking - it makes everything come to life, and in the best way possible! Right from your base cakes in a rainbow cake, to colouring your buttercream for ombre or pastel effect, colouring agents are really important. However, some colours are very easy to achieve and some are elusive. Light pastel colours are very easy to achieve since a little bit of colour goes a long way. Deeper colours are a huge problem - getting the perfect black is an art itself. Red which is commonly used in red velvet is also hard to achieve. The biggest problem, however, is when you need a colour for which food colours are not commonly manufactured. Think skin tones, colours that are not primary colours, and certain specific shades of uncommon colours.
This is where the good old Colour Wheel comes into play. Colour wheels and colour charts are not just for art; they are of great use when you want to get a particular colour that you can’t find easily in stores, or even when you want a small batch of it. Food colouring can be mixed in different proportions for different results. This article will deal with how to colour both fondant and buttercream, to help decorate your cake in a whole new way!
Let's quickly talk about the medium of food colouring. In baking, there are three commonly used kinds of food colouring - liquid, gel and powder-based colours. This article is going to work only when you are using liquid or gel/oil-based colours. The powder as a medium is challenging to work with as it is, and trying to mix it will not yield any worthwhile result.
How to start mixing?
Always start by looking at a colour chart to figure out what your exact proportions of colour have to be. It is definitely a good investment to purchase one to keep in handy. You could also print one off the internet, but make sure that it is reliable. Start with the colour with a higher proportion in your mixture, and then add the other colour in smaller quantities. If you are trying a particular colour for the first time, it is always better to try it in smaller batches and to go slow. Ensure that you take the liberty to experiment - results may vary from brand to brand and it is best to find what works perfectly for you! To keep things very accurate, you could use a kitchen scale to measure out how much of each colour you have added. This will help you in the future to recreate the same colour.
How to use this effectively for decorating
Once you are sure of the proportions that work for you and the colours that you have to use, use this to create a much larger batch. The reason why? It is very hard to recreate a colour by mixing, so it is better to make a large batch. Make sure that it is enough to decorate your cake or cupcakes (or any other bakes).
For both fondant and buttercream, mix in the colour a day before you use it if you want the pigment to be richer and darker. This works best for many dark colours but isn’t the best for pastel colours. Colours like black are best mixed a few days ahead of use as it will intensify over time. When you are going to let the icing sit, make sure you don’t over- colour the icing before storing it overnight or for a few days.
For buttercream - make sure that you finish decorating your cake with the mixed colour on the same day because the remaining colour will darken if you let it sit overnight. Then there will be the issue of different shades on the same cake.
This colour chart below is comprehensive and use this as a reference to get started! (credits - Sweet Sugar Belle).


Use this article as a primer into your world of colour mixing, and explore your own methods and proportions. Hope this helps you! If you are interested in starting your own home baking business or want to learn more about the different strategies that go into it, check out our article on how to become a home baker.
Post your Comments
Cancel reply
Post your Comments
Recommended Posts
- Jul 7, 2021
- 823 read
5 Chocolicious Recipes - Powered by Mona Lisa and Dezaan India ...
Read Article- Mar 27, 2021
- 1299 read
The dates for the India Bake Show Virtual Cake Competition has moved...
Read Article- Feb 12, 2021
- 3469 read
Nutty Buddy Cookies by Chef Anip Kumar - Powered by NatureFresh Professional...
Read Article- Jan 16, 2021
- 2693 read
Eggless Double Chocolate Muffins by Chef Shweta Dutta Nath - Powered by...
Read Article- Jan 1, 2021
- 9320 read
For the second consecutive year, HomeBakers.co.in has revealed India’s & City's Top...
Read Article- Dec 23, 2020
- 3907 read
Eggless Cocoa Pista Biscotti by Zulekha Badar - Powered by Van Houten...
Read Article- Dec 16, 2020
- 2731 read
Mississippi Mud Cake by Megha Kwatra - Powered by Van Houten Professional...
Read Article- Dec 2, 2020
- 2142 read
Eggless Apricot Chocolate Cookies by Deepali Sawant - Powered by Van Houten...
Read Article- Nov 27, 2020
- 1683 read
Eggless Christmas Plum Tart by Chef Nidhi Chadha - Powered by Nature...
Read Article- Nov 25, 2020
- 2005 read
Sugar-Free Chocolate Sponge Cake by Anna Gigi Joseph - Powered by Van...
Read Article- Oct 9, 2020
- 2243 read
Chocolate Truffles, Bars, Rocher & Fudge by Chef Sweta Dutta Nath ...
Read Article- Aug 26, 2020
- 5029 read
Most of us love the rainy season. It brings some reprieve from...
Read Article- Aug 26, 2020
- 21987 read
The most commonly asked question in the baking community is about pricing...
Read Article- Aug 25, 2020
- 2871 read
Our masterclasses are all currently being held online, and we have brought...
Read Article- Jun 29, 2020
- 1462 read
Preparation Time - 15 mins BakingTime - 15 mins Number Of Servings...
Read Article- Jun 20, 2020
- 1569 read
Kesar Pista Ice Cream This recipe for brookies is by Chef Shalini...
Read Article- Jun 9, 2020
- 1309 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 20 mins Baking Time -...
Read Article- Jun 7, 2020
- 1573 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 10 mins Baking Time -...
Read Article- Jun 7, 2020
- 1223 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 60 mins Baking Time -...
Read Article- Jun 6, 2020
- 229 read
Would you like to try making big, thick, chewy, soft cookies loaded...
Read Article- May 25, 2020
- 1324 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 15 mins Baking Time -...
Read Article- May 20, 2020
- 3860 read
INDIA BAKE SHOW (VIRTUAL) 2020 INDIA BAKE SHOW IS GOING VIRTUAL!!! HomeBakers.co.in...
Read Article- May 18, 2020
- 1612 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 20 mins Baking Time -...
Read Article- May 18, 2020
- 1756 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 20 mins Baking Time -...
Read Article- May 12, 2020
- 1496 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 15 mins Baking Time...
Read Article- May 10, 2020
- 1929 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 30 mins Baking Time...
Read Article- May 10, 2020
- 2270 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Preparation Time - 20 mins Baking Time...
Read Article- May 5, 2020
- 2024 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj Marshmallows are universally liked, right from little...
Read Article- May 5, 2020
- 2827 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj As the world has been staying indoors...
Read Article- Apr 30, 2020
- 3710 read
As bakers, whether hobby bakers or professionals, we all like to experiment...
Read Article- Apr 29, 2020
- 2945 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj The caking world has grown from simple...
Read Article- Apr 14, 2020
- 1362 read
Looking out for easy appetizer recipes? Try this simple and easy to...
Read Article- Apr 14, 2020
- 3615 read
Homebakers.co.in, in collaboration with Anybody Can Bake, has launched , a 60...
Read Article- Mar 15, 2020
- 3465 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj Social media is the ‘new’ medium of...
Read Article- Mar 8, 2020
- 3266 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj Holi is a widely celebrated festival in India,...
Read Article- Mar 3, 2020
- 3229 read
Register NowJavascript on your browser is not enabled. THE GREAT DELHI BAKE...
Read Article- Feb 26, 2020
- 3197 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Theme cakes are always in trend, and cupcakes...
Read Article- Feb 26, 2020
- 230 read
By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Flowers have always been a beautiful way to...
Read Article- Feb 10, 2020
- 2189 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj February is the month of love, and you...
Read Article- Feb 9, 2020
- 9629 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj is a multi-award winning cake artist who...
Read Article- Feb 4, 2020
- 1199 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj The Great Bengaluru Bake Show was held...
Read Article- Jan 3, 2020
- 4120 read
Register NowJavascript on your browser is not enabled. The Great Pune Bake...
Read Article- Dec 31, 2019
- 3598 read
The Great Bengaluru Bake Show 2020 The Great Bengaluru Bake Show 2020,...
Read Article- Dec 25, 2019
- 1684 read
The first-ever list of India's Top 100 Home Bakers, City's Top 25...
Read Article- Dec 20, 2019
- 5058 read
How to register for the Cake Competition? Read the rules for the...
Read Article- Oct 13, 2019
- 2550 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj is a dentist by education, but she left...
Read Article- Oct 12, 2019
- 4331 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj Diwali is coming soon, and it definitely...
Read Article- Oct 9, 2019
- 2697 read
is the founder of Cook and Bake with Deepali Culinary and Patisserie...
Read Article- Oct 5, 2019
- 2572 read
Meet Shikha Reema Aggarwal, the Director at Magic Colours® India. Magic Colours®,...
Read Article- Oct 4, 2019
- 3552 read
by Akhileshwari Anand Raj is a pastry artist based in Bangalore....
Read Article- Sep 20, 2019
- 4518 read
Meet Sulakshan, the man behind “Ossoro”. Ossoro is a premium food flavour...
Read Article- Sep 2, 2019
- 3567 read
Get FSSAI Registration for Home Bakers easy and quick Advice on FSSAI...
Read Article- Aug 28, 2019
- 1913 read
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj is a cake artist from Bangalore. She...
Read Article- Aug 28, 2019
- 3047 read
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj With social media making the world...
Read Article- Aug 22, 2019
- 2725 read
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj is a homemaker and home baker from...
Read Article- Aug 16, 2019
- 3124 read
-By Akhileshwari Anand Raj is the founder of Choc-O-Lock Culinary Art....
Read Article- Aug 15, 2019
- 3694 read
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj , a home baker from Hyderabad and...
Read Article- Jul 27, 2019
- 4268 read
Do you enjoy baking? Are you looking forward to becoming a home...
Read Article- Jun 23, 2019
- 20646 read
How to register for India Bake Show 23 (Bengaluru) Competition? Read the...
Read Article- Jun 23, 2019
- 9786 read
Register NowJavascript on your browser is not enabled. The Great India Bake...
Read Article- Jun 20, 2019
- 4365 read
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj Chef Bhakti Arora Manekar is one who...
Read Article- Jun 19, 2019
- 45826 read
Register NowJavascript on your browser is not enabled. There’s a lot of...
Read Article- May 31, 2019
- 15689 read
- By Akhileshwari Anand Raj The Baking world has been taken over...
Read Article- Mar 14, 2019
- 7497 read
- By Rima Chakraborty With spring just around the corner, all I...
Read Article- Mar 13, 2019
- 5801 read
- By Rima Chakraborty Ms Subhashini Ramsingh is a renowned cake artist,...
Read Article- Feb 3, 2019
- 6574 read
Official press release by - Rima Chakraborty Let me be honest,...
Read Article- Dec 8, 2018
- 6663 read
Kids and Baking! How cute does that combination sound to you? Well,...
Read Article- Nov 23, 2018
- 6020 read
Official Press Release, By Rima Chakraborty, 18 November 2018 HomeBakers.co.in announces its...
Read Article- Nov 19, 2018
- 16982 read
Home Baker Registration: Go to Click on “Register as a Baker”...
Read Article- Sep 21, 2018
- 5482 read
Hi everyone. We keep on celebrating a lot of occasions like mothers’...
Read Article- Sep 21, 2018
- 6216 read
We all enjoy cakes, especially the icing on cake takes our heart....
Read Article
1 comments