Natural Food Coloring

Use Natural Food Coloring made by plant extracts to create beautiful colors without all of the harmful side-effects found in artificial ones.

How to Make Natural Food Coloring

The possibilities are endless when trying to obtain colors from nature! Below are some ideas for various colors.

Don’t Have Time to Make Your Own?

Buy all natural versions to have on hand.

Colors from Nature

RED

• Pomegranate juice

• Red Onions Skins (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Canned Cherries

• Raspberries

• Cranberries (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Red Grape Juice

• Beets (canned or add water and boil, strain juice)

PINK–just add less red

ORANGE

• Carrot juice

• Yellow Onion Skins (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Carrots (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Paprika

YELLOW

• Annatto

• Orange or Lemon Peels (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Carrot Tops (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Celery Seed (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Ground Cumin (add water and boil, strain juice

• Ground Turmeric (better stale as it doesn’t add flavor)

PASTEL GREEN

• Avocado- mash until creamy and mix in (best used for frosting)

GREEN

• Spinach (puree thawed or frozen)

• Liquid Chlorophyll

BLUE

• Canned Blueberries

• Red Cabbage Leaves (add water and boil, strain juice)

• Purple Grape Juice

PURPLE

• Blackberries (blend & add or push through a sieve for juice)

BROWN

• Cocoa powder • Coffee grounds

TIP:

Taste as you color to find a balance between color and a neutral flavor. You don’t want your St. Patrick’s Day sugar cookies to taste like spinach!!

Ideas for All Natural Food Coloring

Cupcakes/Cakes/Cookies

Prepare your favorite frosting recipe and divide it into small portions to add natural food coloring. One idea I found (but have not yet tested) is using jarred organic baby food to add color to frosting. Try carrot (orange), spinach (green), blueberry (blue/purple), and squash (orange).

Use to frost cupcakes, cakes and cookies!!

Sprinkles

Buy all natural colored sprinkles or color organic sugar crystals to sprinkle on cupcakes, cakes & cookies.

Play Dough

Use all natural coloring to color your child’s play dough red, yellow, green & blue!

1 cup flour

1/4 cup salt

2 tbsp cream of tartar

Mix right in saucepan and add:

1 cup water

Natural coloring

1 tbsp oil

Stir constantly over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until dough comes away from side of pan.

Turn onto floured surface and knead until no longer sticky. Keep covered in an airtight container and it will last for months.

Dye Easter Eggs

• Hard boil eggs

• Make a cup of natural food color using list from above add 2-3 teaspoons of white vinegar for each cup of strained dye

• The longer you soak the eggs in the natural food coloring, the more intense the colors will be.

Draw Shapes

• Use a crayon or a piece of wax to draw shapes, or words on the eggs and then dye the eggs as usual.

Tie Dyed Eggs

• Wrap rubber bands, one at a time, around the eggs leaving some of the egg exposed to be dyed. Wait until the egg is dried completely before pulling off the rubber bands.

Too Much work?

Whole Food Markets/Health Food Stores carry Easter Egg Coloring Kits!!