Making all natural food coloring is easy and a fantastic alternative to store-bought dyes. One of the biggest advantages is that you know exactly what goes into these colorings, unlike the often mysterious chemicals found in commercial food dyes.
You can picture a delightful cooking scene where you and your kids gather around the kitchen, laughter filling the air as you mix and match colors. Everyone can take part, from squeezing fresh juices to stirring vibrant powders into the icing, creating a rainbow of hues that reflect the joy of the season.
Look around! The first step in creating DIY all-natural food coloring is to explore your pantry and fridge for vibrant powders and liquids. Give your best creative self a chance to shine!
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DIY Food Coloring Guide
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20-30 minutes
- Total time: 30-40 minutes
Ingredients:
- Fresh fruits or vegetables (such as beets, carrots, spinach, berries)
- Water (if needed)
- Saucepan
- Blender or food processor
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Steps:
- Select Your Fruits or Vegetables: Choose vibrant fruits (like berries) or vegetables (like beets or spinach) for the best color. Freshly juiced produce will yield more color than store-bought juice.
- Juicing or Pureeing: If using whole fruits or vegetables, juice them using a juicer or blender. If using a blender, you may need to add a little water to help with blending. For purees, puree your chosen produce in a blender or food processor. Add a small amount of water if necessary to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Strain the Mixture: Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the juice or puree, separating the liquid from any solids.
- Concentrate the Color: Pour the strained liquid into a saucepan and simmer over low heat. Reduce the liquid until you have about a quarter of the original volume. This will intensify the color.
- Cool and Store: Allow the concentrated liquid to cool before adding it to your recipes. Store any leftover coloring in an airtight container in the refrigerator for future use.
Tips:
- Start with small amounts of your powdered or liquid coloring and gradually add more to achieve your desired shade.
- Store your prepared colors in sealed containers, refrigerating any made with fruits or vegetables. Your homemade food coloring will last for a few weeks, so be sure to test for freshness before use.
Surprisingly, plant based food colouring is not difficult to make at all; they're also cost-effective and safe! Follow this guide, and you’ll be able to create beautiful gel food coloring you never thought possible. Make cooking an ease with So Damn Delish!
PrintHomemade All Natural Food Coloring in 5 Steps: Starting from Scratch
Description
Got time for a little fun experiment? How about you create vibrant food colorings at home without using artificial dyes? Let's get creative with So Damn Delish!
Ingredients
- Fresh fruits or vegetables (such as beets, carrots, spinach, berries)
- Water (if needed)
- Saucepan
- Blender or food processor
- Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Instructions
Select Your Fruits or Vegetables:
Choose vibrant fruits (like berries) or vegetables (like beets or spinach) for the best color. Freshly juiced produce will yield more color than store-bought juice.
- Juicing or Pureeing:
For Juices: If using whole fruits or vegetables, juice them using a juicer or blender. If using a blender, you may need to add a little water to help with blending.
For Purees: Puree your chosen produce in a blender or food processor. Add a small amount of water if necessary to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Strain the Mixture:
Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the juice or puree, separating the liquid from any solids.
- Concentrate the Color:
Pour the strained liquid into a saucepan and simmer over low heat. Reduce the liquid until you have about a quarter of the original volume. This will intensify the color.
- Cool and Store:
Allow the concentrated liquid to cool before adding it to your recipes. Store any leftover coloring in an airtight container in the refrigerator for future use.
Notes
- Start with small amounts of your powdered or liquid coloring and gradually add more to achieve your desired shade.
Store your prepared colors in sealed containers, refrigerating any made with fruits or vegetables. Your homemade food coloring will last for a few weeks, so be sure to test for freshness before use.