In the colorful world of baking and cake decorating, the choice of colors plays a vital role in creating visually stunning treats.
There are various types of colors used in this creative realm, each serving a specific purpose.
Understanding the different types of colors used in these crafts is essential for creating eye-catching treats.
- Liquid food colors: These are pre-mixed liquid food colors that are versatile and easy to use. They are perfect for coloring cake batters, frostings, and other liquid-based recipes and can usually be found in the baking aisle of your local supermarket or store.
- Gel colors: Gel colors are thick, highly concentrated colors that come in small squeeze bottles. They are great for adding vibrant colors to icing, buttercream and fondant. Gel colors have a high color concentration, so a little goes a long way.
- Paste colors: Similar to gel colors, paste colors are highly concentrated and have a thicker consistency. They are particularly useful for creating deep, intense shades without altering the consistency of the icing or batter. For this reason they are particularly useful for coloring gumpaste but can be used for coloring all frostings and fondant also.
- Oil-based colors: The newer to the market oil-based colors are concentrated liquids or gels that are dissolved in oil and therefore love the fats and oils in your baking.They dye and disperse their colouring using these oils, allowing you to achieve a rich & vibrant result. They are commonly used to color baked goods, chocolate or candy melts, as they are oil-based themselves. Utilizing modern formulas and processes, oil based colors which outperform conventional gel colouring for cake batters, buttercreams, cocoa butter, ganache. Can also be used to color fondant and royal icing.
- Aqua colors: Aqua blend colors are pretty new to the market as well and are perfect for colouring oil & fat sensitive products that are best enjoyed dry. For instance they can be used to colour royal Icing, macarons, meringue, fondant, jellies and beverages.
- Airbrusing colors: These are water-based colors specially designed for airbrushing machines. They provide a smooth, even coverage and are ideal for creating vibrant, gradient effects on cakes and decorations.
- Dust colors: Dust colors are dry, powdered colors that are typically used for adding subtle shades and shimmer to cake decorations. They are often brushed onto dry surfaces, such as fondant or gum paste, for a delicate touch of color. Or they can be mixed with clear alcohol or lemon juice to make an edible paint to apply to fondant or gumpaste for deeper color.
- Petal dusts: Petal dusts are specifically formulated to add realistic color to sugar flowers and other delicate decorations. They are finely ground and can be blended to achieve various shades.
- Luster dusts: Luster dusts are edible powdered colors that add a pearlescent or metallic finish to fondant, gum paste, or chocolate. They are often used to create a shimmering effect on wedding cakes or other elegant designs.
- Disco dusts: Disco dusts are ultra-fine, edible glitters that add sparkle and shine to baked goods. They are commonly used on party cakes or desserts to give a glamorous, festive look.