Birthday season is upon us. For the last couple years I've been saying that I'll buy natural food coloring so I don't have to add junkie chemicals to the boo's birthday cakes. Then I forget about it again until the cake is cooled and I've got the piping bag out to scribe "happy birthday Boo" on the cake. At that point I have a cake to decorate and no natural food coloring.
So, I just walked into the kitchen and threw out all my traditional food coloring bottles, and any other colored sugar decorating items. This way I can't possibly condone consumption of traditional food coloring again this year. Now I HAVE to solve the problem a better way.
I've considered these by Nature's flavor, but they are pricey! Maybe I'll just get a couple colors?
And these by india tree, more reasonably priced. If I order in the next day or so, they might arrive in time.
Also, I bought some annato seed at Georgia's, which might do for orange? Although I've never used them for coloring stuff, I bought them so I could. I know annato is used to dye cheddar cheese orange. I wonder if it has a taste in icing or if it can even be used for icing??
I'm looking for reader recommendations. Do you have experience with either, or know of another brand and where to order online, or buy retail? Click through, leave a comment and let me know! Thanks in advance!
Also, stay tuned tomorrow for a review of Kids' Kitchen, a recipe box set for kids and a chance to win this product. Tuesday is Big Words Little Foodies, a weekly blog event where you can read a collection of stories from other bloggers about the funny things kids say about food. See you there!
Happy Valentine's day :)
Big Boo hasn't decided what kind of cake he wants. Last year I made chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for big boo, carrot cake for little boo and hubby, and whole orange fudge frosted cake for my dad. We'll see if any new creations appear this year...
I was interested too since my daughter's bday is coming up. I found this article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ehow.com/how_2302808_make-natural-food-coloring.html
And this one has been in my reader for ages, I'm sure it can be adapted somehow:http://weelicious.com/2009/04/10/naturally-dyed-easter-eggs/
Good luck!
I've tried the Nature's Tree ones (bought them at Whole Paycheck) and was really disappointed. Not vibrant, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteIndia Tree colored sugars are great, so I'm intrigued by their palette.
For pink, saving beet juice when you make beets has been my best bet. Green I've used pureed spinach in frosting (cmon, with confectioner's sugar galore who'd notice?). Turmeric is super potent color wise but might have too much flavor?
Good luck! Last year I made my daughter's rainbow cake by using fruit on white frosting. Spelling out names with icing alternatives is always an option (choc chips, berries, whatever you can think of).
In general I've been disappointed by natural dyes for both baking and Easter eggs. Good luck + please report!
Turmeric and beet juice both work really well - turmeric adds a touch of flavor, but if you're just doing accents of yellow, it will be fine. I've used a touch of avocado to get a nice pale green color. I find I just have to reconsider cake designs, as you just can't get the same effect with natural dyes. I am not a big fan of the India Tree dyes - the red turns brown so quickly after you buy it, and you can't achieve nearly the colors they promise on their site.
ReplyDeletei think you guys have talked me out of buying natural food colorings. i'll probably go with jesstrev's idea and using stuff to write number "six" on the cupcakes. or using turmeric, beet juice, avocado to make colors. thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteanother site to purchase natural colors and other decorating supplies - http://www.chocolatecraftkits.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=74
ReplyDeletei ended up having big boo build lego letters for each friend's first initial, and that was the cupcake decoration.
ReplyDelete