Instructions, Recipes & Tips

Person decorating a pink cake with green grapes on a wooden table.

Instructions

Color Garden® pure natural food colors bring fun and creativity back to baking without the worry that comes with using synthetic dyes.They can be used right out of the box to naturally color icings, butter cream, sanding sugar, or even batters when baking (see helpful hints).

Each individual packet delivers enough color to frost one medium-size cake, or about 1 dozen cupcakes. The unopened packets do not need refrigeration. Once you open a packet, you should use it immediately. These packets are designed to be used in their entirety when opened. However, if you have leftover color, close the packet with a paper clip and store in the refrigerator to extend the life of the color.

Please also know that warm colors (reds, yellows, oranges) prefer an acidic environment, so you may want to add lemon juice. Cool colors (blues, greens and purples) prefer an alkaline environment. Consider adding some baking soda.

Colorful layered cake slice on a wooden board with a blurred background

Helpful Hints

When working with natural colors, keep in mind that they are sensitive to heat and pH. Most natural colors are not bake stable. However, yellow and orange do bake well. Here are some things you can do to improve your chances of baking with natural color:


1. Try lowering the oven temperature to 250° F.
2. Increase bake time when lowering the temperature.
3. Bake cakes in thinner layers, this allows them to bake in less time.
4. Natural colors are somewhat of a science experiment, so be creative and have fun.

Cupcakes with white frosting on a wooden surface with a green curtain in the background

Recipes

Butter Cream Frosting
• 4 oz. softened unsalted butter
• 1 lb. confectioners’ sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 packet Color Garden® natural color

Add butter to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment beat butter and gradually add in sugar until well combined. Stop mixer and scrape down sides of bowl, then add in vanilla and cream. Mix again until well blended. Stop mixer. Add in color and mix until well combined. Mix with spatula to ensure even disbursement of color.

Person decorating a cake on a kitchen counter with ingredients around

Cream Cheese Frosting
• 8 oz. softened cream cheese
• 4 oz. softened unsalted butter
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 packet Color Garden® natural color

Add softened cream cheese and butter to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment beat cream cheese and butter together and gradually add in sugar until well combined. Stop mixer and scrape down sides of bowl, then add in vanilla. Mix again until well blended. Stop mixer. Add in color and mix until well combined. Mix with spatula to ensure even disbursement of color.

When using BLUE color add in 1 tsp. baking soda to achieve proper color.

Whipped Cream Frosting
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 packet Color Garden® natural color

Add heavy cream to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add in sugar gradually. When thickened to stiff peaks, add in vanilla extract and color. Mix until color is well incorporated

Whisking cream into a green bowl on a white background

Royal Icing
• 2 egg whites
• 1 lb. confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 packet Color Garden® natural color

Separate egg whites and add them to the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment beat egg whites until they begin to froth. Gradually add sugar a little bit at a time until all the sugar is incorporated and the icing thickens. Stop mixer and scrape down sides with a spatula and mix again. Stop mixer. Add in vanilla extract and color. Mix with spatula until color is well incorporated.

When using colors YELLOW, PURPLE, PINK, and LIGHT GREEN add in 1 tsp. lemon juice at end to deliver proper color.

Coloring Easter Eggs
For best results follow these steps:
1. Place 5 fl. oz room temp water in an 8-10 fl. oz cup, or enough water to cover egg.
2. Add entire packet of desired color, mix well.
3. Soak white eggs until desired color is achieved. A minimum of 30 min to 1 hour is suggested, but the longer the better. Some colors will color a white eggshell better than others. Our standard colors Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue have the strongest color strength.
4. Remove the egg WITHOUT touching it. We suggest using a slotted spoon. DO NOT TOUCH THE EGG. Color must dry on the shell before it can be touched.
5. Set wet egg on a paper towel to dry, do not handle until egg is dry.
6. When dry, use as desired but keep dry and away from water or liquids.

Child playing with water and toys in a portable bathtub outdoors.

Other Fun Uses

Try Color Garden® natural colors in water, white wine, clear sodas, cocktails, homemade lemonade, rice, sauces such as curry, ice cream, temporary tie-dye for tee shirts, washable hair color for kids, edible and non-edible slime, play dough, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese or any white sauce.