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How to Color Fondant

10th September 2008

How to Color Fondant

posted in Baby Shower Cakes, Cakes, How to make fondant, Wedding Cakes |

Many of my readers asked me how to color fondant after reading my post Fondant Recipe for the best Fondant Icing

There are two main reasons to color fondant:

  1. To color fondant so the cake looks just like you want it to
  2. To color fondant as the cake itself is too dark that it “shades” the white fondant color

This post is entirely about how to color fondant, if you want to make the fondant from scratch, read my previous post describing how to make Fondant Recipe

I hope this post answers how to color fondant, and I’ll do my best to answer any future questions you have.

So, How to Color Fondant:

  1. Roll the fondant into a ball on your counter and smash it out a bit until it’s soft and pliable
  2. Make a pit in the fondant, and using a toothpick add dots of icing color into the pit (use a clean toothpic each time you dip it in the color).

    The important thing is to add just a little of the concentrated icing color at a time and then knead it over and over until you get an even spread of the color
  3. If the fondant is still too pale, use the same procedure to add in more color, but make sure you use a fresh toothpick every time you dip it into the color
  4. Once you finish to color the fondant, shape it to the shape of disks, wrap each fondant disk in plastic and place in an airtight container so the fondant keeps soft

How to Color Fondant – Tips:

  • Wear All-Purpose Gloves on youe hands before you start to color fondant, so you your hands stain-free
  • To color fondant, use Gel food color and not the liquid drops that you get from the grocery store.
    Liquid food colors will make the fondant too wet and will not give the same intensity.
    (The only exception to this rule is if you’re using an airbrush, as airbrush food colors are water based. When using an airbrush you’re not brushing and the spray is so light, it won’t hurt the fondant)
  • Remember that it is easier to add color to the fondant than take it out, so start with a little amounts of color and add more as you need to
  • When you come to color fondant, color more Fondant than you’ll need as it’s nearly impossible to match the color again if you need a little extra fondant
  • Note that the fondant colors will darken slightly overnight and will fade if Fondant is left in the light for a long time

Happy Cooking J

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 at 9:42 am and is filed under Baby Shower Cakes, Cakes, How to make fondant, Wedding Cakes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

85 Responses to “How to Color Fondant”

Pages: [1] 2 » Show All

  1. 1
    Fondant Recipe – How to make fondant Says:
    September 10th, 2008 at 11:40 am

    [...] But first, if you want to take your fondant recipe to the next level, you’re welcome to visit my post How to Color Fondant [...]

  2. 2
    lisa Says:
    September 11th, 2008 at 5:14 am

    thanks for that its my daughters 3rd bday next week and i wanna make a pretty pink cake for her ill let u know how it goes

  3. 3
    mufasa Says:
    October 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 am

    this so cool. thanks

  4. 4
    Eugene Says:
    November 1st, 2008 at 5:39 am

    Nice article. Thanks. :) Eugene

  5. 5
    LILLY Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    LOVELY CAKES, THERE IS RECIPE USING MARSHMELLOWS THAT LOOKS MORE EASY, HAVE YOU TRY IT YET?

  6. 6
    rebecca Says:
    November 19th, 2008 at 11:13 am

    can you tell me if corn syrup can be substituted with some other ingredient???

  7. 7
    cosmas Says:
    November 24th, 2008 at 5:31 pm

    thanks ma alot for the teaching about fondant well am new to baking and i will like to know how to prepared spring roll and samosa all this i want you to help me send to my mail add on cosmus4red@yahoo.com
    thanks
    cosmas

  8. 8
    Emmy Says:
    November 30th, 2008 at 3:30 am

    Hey, by the concentrated icing color, do you mean food coloring? Thanks, seems like a great recipe!

  9. 9
    Dev Says:
    December 8th, 2008 at 7:31 pm

    Hi, I was wandering where I could get gel food coloring, and if there are any big name stores that carry it? thank you.

  10. 10
    Jenny R. Says:
    December 10th, 2008 at 2:44 am

    I was looking for blog ideas to add to my site and I found your site. I like what you have done and will be sure to check back for updates.

  11. 11
    Jodi Says:
    December 11th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    I just want to say I have been searching for a FONDANT recipe and your is the by far the best and easiest! For a first timer I THANK YOU!

  12. 12
    TheCookDuke Says:
    December 12th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    No Jodi, thank you! :-)
    I’m truly happy you found this fondant recipe helpful.

  13. 13
    marmoura Says:
    December 18th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    what is vegetable shortning?

  14. 14
    TheCookDuke Says:
    December 23rd, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    Hi Marmoura
    Vegetable Shortening is a solid fat made from vegetable oils, such as soybean and cotton seed oil.Vegetable shortening is virtually flavorless and is used as a substituted for other fats (such as butter or margarine) in baking of pie pastry, cookies, and cakes. Shortening is ideal for pastry, since it blends well with the flour. It can be stored at room temperature for up to a year.

    BTW - if you were looking for instructions regarding how to color fondant, you can easily do it without Vegetable Shortening :-)

  15. 15
    dawn Says:
    December 27th, 2008 at 12:52 am

    i have never made fondant before im hopeing i can do it.

  16. 16
    Rosana Says:
    December 28th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

    I’m a designer & never made a cake before. Can’t wait to start but I can’t seem to find Glycerin anywhere. Any ideas on where to get it? In case I can’t find it, what does the fondant do without it?

    One more question: What happens if I add food coloring to the liquid mixture instead of the already done fondant? I only need one color here for my cake.

    I will take pics and send them to you as soon as I get all the ingredients. Very excited!

    Thank you so much for your site.
    Rosana Modugno
    “Art Menace”

  17. 17
    TheCookDuke Says:
    December 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm

    Hi Dawn

    When you first try to make fondant you just don’t believe how easy it is.
    Did you see the post called “how to make fondant” at http://www.thecookduke.com/fondant-recipe ?
    You can check the comments to understand how easy it is to make fondant

    Happy Cooking :-)

  18. 18
    TheCookDuke Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 8:23 am

    Hi Lilly
    I did try the Marshmallows fondant, but I must admit I prefer this form of fondant much better.
    You wrote that it seems that the Marshmallows fondant is easier to make, I think that when you try to make fondant following my recipe at http://thecookduke.com/fondant-recipe/ you’ll be amazed when you realize how easy it is to make fondant :-)

  19. 19
    Colombia Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    Thanks for the great info ABOUT HOW TO COLOR FONDANT. I hope you?ll follow this with some more great content.

  20. 20
    susie Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 1:05 am

    theres these things now called color mist from wilton. and im wondering if ir will be the same has air brushing or it will damage my fondent. this the website i found it on wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30CC9B-475A-BAC0-5F9882E09D5A7630&killnav=1

  21. 21
    jordan-alice Says:
    January 15th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    thank you so much. i’m 15 and i’m making a pig cake for my bestie for her birthday and i’ve been looking for fondant. and i needed how to colour it too because well it’s a pig. so all my thanks and this looks great and easy to make can i flavour it? instead of almond extract i think it was on the other page could i use something else? say vanilla?

  22. 22
    TheCookDuke Says:
    January 15th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Hi Jordan-Alice
    I’m happy to have you on my site.
    There’s no problem to replace the almond extract with vanilla, it works just as well.
    I believe you saw the other post called “how to make fondant” I’m sure you’ll do great!
    You are more than welcome to send me pictures of the pig cake when it’s done and I’ll post it here

  23. 23
    karla Says:
    January 18th, 2009 at 12:55 am

    tryin fondant for the first time making my mom birthday cake in april (PRAY FOR ME)let you know how it turns out

  24. 24
    Trisha Says:
    January 19th, 2009 at 7:49 am

    I enjoy baking and am always experimenting w/various cookie recipes. But I’ve been thinking of trying to do a great cake (design). Thanks so much for the fondant recipe and coloring tips. My question is what’s the difference between using fondant and gum paste? Is one better than the other or are they just for specific uses? Thanks for your help and your great website!

  25. 25
    KAMMiTAH Says:
    January 21st, 2009 at 2:50 am

    CAN YOU EAT FONDANT?

  26. 26
    Mzzkim Says:
    January 23rd, 2009 at 5:51 am

    Hello Sir. I am so good with the box cakes and only prefer to use that type… would it make a difference if I wanted to decorate with fondant…and also is there a special icing color to make gold

  27. 27
    Cassi Says:
    January 27th, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    I’m trying to make a cake for my sister’s baby shower, and I’m wanting to use fondant. I’m really good at making cakes an icing them, but I’ve never even attempted fondant, but I heard that buying the kind in the store pre-made tasts horrible! I’m hoping this will be easy!!

    BTW, what is glycerin??

  28. 28
    Sarah Says:
    January 29th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    Hi,

    Is it true you cannot freeze a fondant covered cake? Also, when making a cake for a special occasion, can you freeze it a couple of weeks before and then thaw and decorate it? If you make a cake a few days before do you keep it in the fridge or on the counter before decorating?

    Thanks,
    Sarah

  29. 29
    shelley g Says:
    January 30th, 2009 at 5:54 am

    I bought some glycerin from the drugstore. It doesn’t say anything about being safe for consumption. Is glycerin safe to eat? Is there a certain kind you should buy to cook with, or is it all the same?

  30. 30
    Dante Says:
    January 30th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Hi Im do glad i found you website! Im a cook/wedding planner and ive always orderd caked for brides, well my recent client has asked me to prepare her cake just like the pros for her big day. I am honord and nervous! but thanks to you easy recipe I think I can pull it off!

  31. 31
    TheCookDuke Says:
    January 31st, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Hi Dante
    I’m happy you’ve decided to give it a try, I’m sure it’s going to turn out just great!
    Did you see the “how to make fondant” post on http://thecookduke.com/fondant-recipe ? I think that’s where you should start…

  32. 32
    Melissa Says:
    January 31st, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Hi,
    I was wondering if you have a recipe to make chocolate fondant? Getting ready to make your fondant in a few hours, but would like to use chocolate if there is such a recipe. I am making wedding shower cakes that look like presents. (In black and white). The shower is tomarrow. Thats the theme.

    Thanks for your help,
    Melissa

  33. 33
    TheCookDuke Says:
    February 1st, 2009 at 8:26 am

    Hi Melissa
    You dont have to make a chocolate fondant for that, that’s why we color fondant :-)
    What I do is follow this fondant recipe and color it to suit my needs.
    BTW - did you see my post about how to make a gift-wrapped cake?
    I think you’ll find it handy - http://thecookduke.com/gift-wrapped-cake/

    Happy Cooking :-)

  34. 34
    TheCookDuke Says:
    February 1st, 2009 at 8:57 am

    Hi Shelley
    Usually the glycerin from the drugstore is safe to eat, BUT I would ask at the drugstore where you bought it just to make sure.
    I bought mine in a drugstore many times, and even I knew it’s safe, whenever buying in a new drugstore I asked again, as better sefe than sorry :-)

  35. 35
    TheCookDuke Says:
    February 1st, 2009 at 11:21 am

    Hi Rosana (comment 13)
    Sorry for the late reply…
    I wouldn’t recommend to make fondant without the Glycerin, you can find it on amazon as well as in most drugstores and pharmacies.
    As for the color, although you only plan on using a single color, it’s much better to add the color once the fondant is done.

    I hope you send me your pics although it took me so long to respond.

    Happy cooking :-)

  36. 36
    TheCookDuke Says:
    February 1st, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Hi Dev (comment number 7)

    Gel food coloring is found on amazon.

    Happy Cooking :-)

  37. 37
    TheCookDuke Says:
    February 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Hi Emmy (comment 7)
    Yes, it is a food coloring

  38. 38
    Niche Marketing Says:
    February 7th, 2009 at 4:33 am

    Excellent content here and a nice writing style too - keep up the great work!

  39. 39
    Adam Says:
    February 8th, 2009 at 1:38 am

    Well i very much want to make a fondant cake now, i have been watching the show Ace of Cakes on the Food Network and really want to make cool cakes like that, thanks, this will help a lot!

  40. 40
    Julie Says:
    February 9th, 2009 at 7:55 am

    I have the gel food colorings but Ive tried looking for specific colors like turqouise or fuschia and i cant find them in any store. Can you tell me which colors to match inorder to create those colors? Thanks

  41. 41
    julie swartzlander Says:
    February 11th, 2009 at 1:01 am

    Where should we send cake photos?

  42. 42
    haylie Says:
    February 15th, 2009 at 5:37 am

    Does it really matter if I use gel coloring or the drops? I only have the drops and I don’t know where to buy the gel and I need to make the cake soon. Will the drops really ruin the fondunt?

  43. 43
    TheCookDuke Says:
    February 15th, 2009 at 7:51 am

    Hi Haylie

    I usually use coloring gel, but coloring drops should be good as well.
    I wouldn’t delay making any cake because of that, use your coloring drops to color your perfect fondant.
    Looking forward for pictures of the fondant you made.

    Happy Cooking :-)

  44. 44
    Ashleigh Says:
    February 21st, 2009 at 10:26 pm

    I’m looking forward to trying this recipe for my niece’s first birthday cake next month! I’ll send pictures if it turns out okay!
    BTW-you can get glycerin at Hobby Lobby!

  45. 45
    Alli Says:
    March 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Hi!
    I was wondering if fondant is okay to use with regular store bought boxed cakes. Or should I make it from scratch?

  46. 46
    TheCookDuke Says:
    March 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 am

    Hi Alli

    It’s perfectly fine to use fondant with regular store bought boxed cakes, although making it from scratch is much more fun…

    Happy Cooking :-)

  47. 47
    Vin David Says:
    March 8th, 2009 at 5:22 am

    Glycerine used for fondant is edible and so are food coloring gels and the fondant itself. Why would anyone dress a cake with fondant that is inedible and then have to peel it off before eating it :)

    The easiest place to buy glycerine is Walmart in their Pharmacy OTC remedies area and the food gels can be found in tubes in the cake decoration isle. A lot of big name supermarkets also carry the gels which are a lot better than the liquids. The good part is that the gels can be used wherever liquid drops are used but not vice-versa…

  48. 48
    TheCookDuke Says:
    March 9th, 2009 at 10:11 am

    Hi Julie

    I don’t mix colors, you can find both turquoise or fuchsia on amazom.

    Happy Cooking :)

  49. 49
    TheCookDuke Says:
    March 9th, 2009 at 10:40 am

    Hi Cosmas

    Your wish is my command ?
    Added 3 Samosa Recipes just for you:

    http://thecookduke.com/samosa-recipe/ - Vegetarian Samosa Recipe

    http://thecookduke.com/samosa-recipe2/ - Meat Samosa Recipe

    http://thecookduke.com/samosa-recipe3/ - Fish Samosa Recipe

    Happy Cooking :)

  50. 50
    Curlie Says:
    March 10th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    I am going to try your fondant recipe tomorrow and color it too. Can’t wait to get started.

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