Are you wondering What Food To Make that’s both visually appealing and naturally vibrant? Ditch the artificial dyes and embrace the beauty of natural food coloring! This guide provides tips and recipes for creating stunning and delicious treats using ingredients from your pantry and fridge.
Pro Tips for Natural Food Coloring
Creating natural food coloring is easier than you might think! Here are some essential tips to guide you.
1) Choosing Your Natural Color Sources
The beauty of natural food coloring lies in its simplicity. You can find vibrant color sources almost anywhere! Many are likely already in your kitchen. Here are some excellent options for different colors:
- Pink: Strawberries, raspberries
- Red: Beets, tomato
- Orange: Carrots, paprika, sweet potato
- Yellow: Saffron, turmeric
- Green: Matcha, spinach
- Blue: Red cabbage + baking soda
- Purple: Blueberries, purple sweet potato
- Brown: Coffee, tea, cocoa
- Black: Activated charcoal, squid ink
2) Considering the Flavor Profile
Unlike artificial food coloring, natural options have flavor. This is because the color derives from real food. While this adds to the experience, it is essential to consider the impact of that flavor on your recipe. The more color you add, the more pronounced the flavor. This may be ideal for ingredients already commonly used in baking like fruit, matcha, coffee, or cocoa. However, use caution with ingredients like squid ink and spinach.
3) Managing Expectations for Color Intensity
It is important to be realistic about the color intensity. Natural food colorings are not as vibrant as commercial options. Expect softer shades and unique tints. The most vibrant colors come from concentrated bases. The goal is to make them as opaque as possible from the start.
4) Powdered Bases vs. Liquid Bases: What’s the difference?
There are two main types of DIY food colorings: powders and concentrated liquids.
Powders are the easiest to use because they dissolve readily and are already fairly concentrated. This leads to more intense colors. You can purchase many fruits and vegetables in powdered form, or you can make your own by buying freeze-dried fruits and vegetables and grinding them into a fine powder using a food processor or spice grinder. Spices, cocoa, coffee, and tea are naturally in powdered form. You can add these directly to frosting. If the ingredient is clumpy, dissolve it in a small amount of liquid first.
The other option is to make a concentrated liquid. You can use juice, strained purée, or even a water-based infusion. If you have a juicer, use it to produce the purest liquid. Pureés are a great option, although they may contain solids. Strain them to get a thicker liquid. For ingredients that need to be infused, such as saffron, use warm water.
Reducing the liquid is a must. This evaporates the water, concentrating the color and preventing excess liquid from affecting your recipe. Reduce the liquid until you reach about 1/4 cup.
5) How Heat Impacts Natural Food Coloring
These natural food colorings are perfect for frostings, icings, and glazes. However, heat can alter many of these colors, making them duller or browner if you use them in baked goods. Also, allow the food colorings to cool completely before adding them to any recipe.
6) Adding Your Natural Food Coloring to Frosting
Once your food coloring is ready, gradually add it to your frosting or icing until you get the desired color. Powdered coloring can be added in larger quantities than liquid coloring without affecting the recipe’s consistency.
For example, use these natural colorings to tint royal icing for decorating cookies. Use the flooding technique to add a layer of icing. Decorate with dots or stripes while the icing is wet for a flat appearance or when dry for a textured effect. For a more advanced effect, try marbling techniques.
Natural Food Coloring Recipes
Here are some simple recipes to get you started:
Pink: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of strawberry powder per 1 cup of royal icing. Dissolve the powder in 1 to 2 tablespoons of water first to prevent clumps.
Red: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of beet powder per 1 cup of royal icing. Dissolve the powder in 1 to 2 tablespoons of water first to prevent clumps.
Orange: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of carrot powder per 1 cup of royal icing. Dissolve the powder in 1 to 2 tablespoons of water first to prevent clumps.
Yellow: Simmer 1 cup of water and 1/8 teaspoon of saffron threads over medium heat. Remove from heat and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and reduce to 3 to 4 tablespoons, then cool. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of royal icing.
Green: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha per 1 cup of royal icing. Dissolve the powder in 1 to 2 tablespoons of water first, if desired.
Blue: Simmer 2 cups of shredded red cabbage and 1 1/2 cups of water over medium heat for 15 minutes. Strain and reduce to 3 to 4 tablespoons. Add a small pinch of baking soda to turn the color from purple to blue, then cool. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of royal icing.
Purple: Simmer 2 cups of blueberries and 1/4 cup of water over medium heat until the berries burst. Mash and strain the liquid. Reduce to 1/4 cup, then cool. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 1 cup of royal icing.
Easy Desserts to Enhance
Natural food coloring can brighten countless desserts. Start with baked goods that call for a simple white frosting, such as royal icing or buttercream, or add your own. You can also add color to whipped toppings and plain ice cream.
Sugar Cookies With Buttercream Frosting
Skip vanilla to make the buttercream even brighter. The color you pick will stand out even more.
Sweet-Cream Ice Cream
Skip vanilla and extract to create a blank canvas ice cream for color. This is especially fun for ice cream cakes.
Chocolate Donut Holes
Try a cocoa or coffee glaze for moodier donut holes. Matcha would also be delicious.
Yogurt Whipped Cream
Improve almost any dessert with a dollop of yogurt whipped cream. Turn it pastel pink, orange, or green!
Saffron & Chocolate Tea Cake
Opt for a saffron, turmeric, or carrot-powder glaze to double down on the sunny color of this tea cake. These savory flavors offer a delightful contrast to sweet chocolate.
By using natural food coloring, you can elevate your baking. So, the next time you’re wondering what food to make, try these options! They are creative, delicious, and naturally vibrant. These creations are bound to impress your family and friends.
