Okay, so I’m diving into the world of royal icing. You know, those super smooth, perfectly decorated cookies you see all over Instagram? Yeah, that’s the goal. First things first, I needed to figure out what food coloring to use. I did a bit of digging, and it turns out the key is water-based coloring. Oil-based? Apparently, that’s a royal icing disaster waiting to happen.
The Great Food Coloring Experiment Begins
So, I grabbed a few different types of food coloring. I had some of those liquid gel colors, the kind you get at the grocery store, and I also splurged on a set of Americolor gel paste. I’d heard good things. I also had some Wilton gel colors lying around. Time to put them to the test!
- Liquid Gel Colors: I started with these because they were easy. A few drops, mix it in, bam – color. The problem? I noticed the icing got a little thin, and it took a LOT of color to get a decent shade. Not ideal.
- Wilton Gel Colors: These were better than the liquid gels. The color was more concentrated, so I didn’t have to use as much. I mixed it in and was happy enough.
- Americolor Gel Paste: Okay, these were the game-changer. Seriously. A tiny dot of color, and the icing transformed. Plus, the consistency stayed nice and thick. This is what all the cookie decorating pros use, and now I see why.
The Results are In!
After playing around with all of them, Americolor definitely won. The colors were vibrant, the icing stayed the right consistency, and I didn’t have to use a ton of product. Wilton was a solid second choice, especially if you’re just starting out. But those liquid gels? I think I’ll stick to using them for, like, frosting or something. Definitely not royal icing.
My Royal Icing Food Coloring Tips (Because I Learned a Few Things)
- Start Small: Seriously, a tiny bit of gel paste goes a long way. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away!
- Mix Thoroughly: Make sure the color is fully incorporated. Nobody wants streaks of food coloring in their perfectly smooth icing.
- Let it Rest: Sometimes the color deepens a bit after the icing sits for a while. Mix your colors ahead of time if you can.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it. My food coloring journey. I’m still a royal icing newbie, but I’m learning, and the right food coloring makes a HUGE difference. Now, I just need to work on my piping skills… Wish me luck!
