What do you do when your son is allergic to red food dye and red is his favorite color? Well, you spend a couple of weeks trying to make natureal food coloring out of various fruits and veggies. Here’s what finally worked for me.
Directions:
Start with one can of beets (sliced or cubed).
Put in a sauce pan (you may need to add a little water, just enough to submerge the beets) and heat on medium heat for 20 minutes or so.
Don’t let it boil. The goal here is just to get the beets nice and soft.
Remove from heat and use a potato masher or fork and mash up the beets.
Put them back back on the heat for another 10 or 20 minutes. Again, don’t let them boil.
Remove from heat and strain (I used cheese cloth).
Toss the beets and put the liquid back in the sauce pan.
Turn heat up to a boil. Boil down until you get a thin syrup (I ended up with about 2 tablespoons of liquid).
DO NOT take your eyes off the pan.
Stir constantly or swirl liquid in the pan. It will cook down very quickly once it starts boiling and if you take your eyes off it, it will burn to your pan quickly.
I put mine in the fridge overnight, but you really just need to let it cool down to at least room temp before using.
Just add to any frosting to make the bright red color (use less if you want a bright pink color).
I used a marshmallow fondant. Looked and tasted great. You can’t taste the beets at all.
Good luck, and happy natural food dying.
Perfection Is My Enemy 
Really comes out that red?
Would be awesome!
What about the flavor, don’t want a cake that tastes like beet juice?
Yes, it really does come out the red. And no, it doesn’t taste like beets at all. I feed it to the kids and when they are done I ask them, “Did you guys all like the cupcakes?” I hear cheers and YES! Then I say, “You just ate your vegetables today!” And the kids all yell, “NO WAY!” and “We don’t beleive you!”
Did you make your fondant? Or use prepackaged? How much fondant was color that vivid with one can of beets?
I made the fondant. I used a package of natural marshmallows, some butter, and powedered sugar. One can of beets made plenty of dye to get the batch of fondant that red.
Did you buy the marshmallow fondant or make it? Thank you so much for expertise!
I made it with all natural marshmallows from the health food store.
Great recipe! I tried it and used the color to dye cookie glaze in different shades of pink and red.
Glad it worked out well for you. I’m sure it would make the best pink, but I have all boys, so no pink in my house. I’d love to see pictures. 🙂
Hi,wondering if fresh beets would do the same thing? I stay away from canned food because of the BPA in the can!
I’ve used both and they both work equally well. It just takes a little longer with fresh because you have to peel them.
Actually turns out a deep red. But add the frosting to the dye and mix a little at a time so it doesn’t come out too diluted of color. Has a slight taste compared to without the dye, but I don’t think it tastes “beety”. Thanks!
Does it stain or wash out easy?
Unfortunately, it does stain. But, so does red #40.
Did you drain the canned beets then add water to cover, or did you use the entire contents of the can and then add additional water? Lastly, most canned beets are salted; did you use an unsalted canned variety? Thank you!
I used unsalted and just dumped in the entire contents of the can.
how about juicing fresh beets
I’ve never tried it, but I would think it would be too chunky. I liked making a syrup of color.
Are the canned beets pickeled? I’ve see jars of pickeled beets am I looking at the wrong thing? Trying to make a lady bug. I hope it turns out.
NO PICKLED BEETS! Oh my, I can’t even imagine what that would taste like. You should be able to find canned beets (not jars) that aren’t pickled.
Pretty bummed. I boiled two cans down to syrup (following instructions here) and the best I could get was pink. A little bummed I couldn’t get the bright red talked about here for a Mickey cake.. Back to the drawing board…
I’m bummed for you. Was the syrup pink or
red? I wonder if it was not enough syrup for the amount of frosting?
Can you use this to dye buttercream?
I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not. You should be able to use it to dye anything.