Edible Food Colors and Coloring Tips

One of the most important elements when making a flower cake is color. Once you begin practicing flower piping and start seeing the shapes come together, the next thing many people consider is color.

Unlike paints, the color of buttercream can change as it sits, so it's important to check the color while piping to ensure it matches what you want.

Adjusting Color Intensity

For Lighter Colors: Start with a very small amount of food coloring and add more gradually if needed. Lighter colors can naturally fade or become duller, so it's best not to add too much color at the start.
For Darker Colors: If you want a darker hue, you'll need to add more color. However, be careful not to add too much, as it can affect the texture of the buttercream. It's also helpful to let the buttercream sit for a bit to see if the color deepens over time.

Color Mixing and Gradients

Creating Natural Colors: Mixing colors can help you achieve more natural tones. For example, when creating roses or flower petals, you can mix pink and red to make a more realistic intermediate shade. Using various shades of pink on the petals can add depth, making the design appear more lifelike.
Monochromatic Effect: Using different shades of the same color (like light blue to dark blue) can create a beautiful gradient effect, adding dimension and elegance to your design.

Choosing the Right Type of Food Coloring

Gel Food Coloring: Gel food coloring mixes easily into buttercream and provides strong, vibrant colors, making it ideal for when you need bold, intense shades. However, be careful not to use too much, as it can alter the buttercream's consistency. Adjust the amount to ensure the buttercream remains smooth and easy to pipe.
Powdered Food Coloring: Powdered food coloring is less likely to thin out your buttercream, making it a good choice when you need a stable texture for detailed work or when you want a more natural, soft color finish. It’s perfect for achieving a smooth, refined look without compromising texture.

Recommended Basic Food Colors

The type of food coloring I typically used for flower cakes is gel-based food coloring.

I use Wilton and Chefmaster food colors. Chefmaster can mostly be purchased online, while Wilton can be found both online and in stores like Michaels and Walmart.

When I first started, I was curious about different colors, so I bought several color sets that were easily available on Amazon and experimented with them (since the colors I wanted weren’t all in one set, I ended up purchasing multiple sets). For those curious about different colors, purchasing small-sized sets and experimenting with them can be a great way to learn color mixing.

However, some colors are rarely used, and there’s a lot of overlap in my collection as well. So, instead of buying a lot of colors initially, it might be more efficient to start with the basic colors and add more as you need them.

The following recommendations are based on Wilton, but you can also buy similar shades from Chefmaster.

The recommended colors are a bit different from the basic three primary colors on the color wheel (red, yellow, and blue), right? Typically, with just these three primary colors, you can create any color. However, color mixing for buttercream is a bit different from mixing paint.

Based on my experience, starting with the basic colors listed above should allow you to achieve most of the essential flower colors.

Experimenting with colors and seeing how they work with different flowers can be a fun process!

Yellow/Green
These are perfect for bright, cheerful flower petals and leaves. Yellow, especially, is commonly used in flowers like roses and sunflowers, while green is great for creating vibrant, fresh-looking leaves.
Red/Orange
These colors are perfect for when you want bold, vibrant flowers. Red and orange are often used for flowers like roses, tulips, or when creating a combination of fruits and flowers. Orange is made by mixing red and yellow.
Pink/Purple
These are some of the most commonly used colors in flower cakes. Light pink and purple shades are ideal for flower petals, giving a soft, delicate look.
Blue
While not used as frequently in flower cakes as other colors, blue can be helpful for creating subtle variations in flowers or adding a calming effect.
Burgundy/Brown
Many food colorings tend to have bright, almost fluorescent tones. These deeper shades like burgundy or brown are great for toning down the brightness and adding more muted, sophisticated hues.