8 Ways To Make Organic Food Coloring

The 21st century world is a very unnatural time to live in. And for the most part, that’s just peachy keen. The Internet, for example, is one modern invention I’m pretty fond of. And I’m glad we have, you know, like . Yes, postmodern living has its perks. But there’s a dark side, too, in this hyper-processed wonderland. Medicine is fine and dandy and robots are just plain awesome, but what about eating,

What the heck has happened to our food, The truth is that synthetic replacements just can’t stack up the real thing, and science doesn’t always have the answers. That’s probably why we’re seeing a widespread resurgence of natural living; a return to a holistic lifestyle. All of our needs can be met using real, ground-grown produce instead of laboratory engineered products.

For example, take food dyes. Artificial colorings have been linked to brain tumors and bladder cancer, and affect everything from allergies to attention span. They’re wreaking havoc on our kids, and yet they’re totally unnecessary. So the next time you find yourself reaching for that little bottle of food coloring, why not try some of these alternative ideas instead, Every single one of them is baking-friendly, so your birthday cake will be just as beautiful, and your body will really thank you.

You can use any number of options, but for a ton of color with almost no flavor, beets are your best bet. Use the juice from the canned kind, or make your own by either boiling or juicing the raw vegetable. Learn exactly how to make frosting colored by beets from Joy the Baker. Alternately, you can also use any red fruit, like raspberries or pomegranate.

Just know that these may change the flavor - which can be a great thing! Lemon cupcakes with real raspberry-infused frosting just so happen to be a favorite around these parts. To procure your dye, pulverize the berries in a food processor or blender, then strain out the colored liquid using a mesh sieve or cheesecloth.

Carrots are your best bet for achieving a perfectly peachy tint. Citrus may seem promising, but it doesn’t lend much color. Stick to carrots and you’re sure to be pleased. Just juice them (or buy fresh carrot juice), and don’t worry about the flavor. Carrots are naturally sweet! Itsy Bitsy Foodies offered asuper tutorial on how to make food coloring from carrots.

For yellow you’ll need to hit the spice rack. Both saffron flowers and turmeric powder will create that sunny, summery hue. These are each intensely-colored spices, so a little goes a long way. Still, be careful, start with very small amounts, and taste as you add. I recommend these two recipes for yellow food coloring: Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy published an awesome recipe for making icing colored with saffron.

Nouveau Raw published a delicious recipe for raw vegan frosting colored with turmeric. Check them out and then tell me how yellow and delicious they were. Are you forever trying to find ways of getting greens into your kids, Well, how about . That’s right, a little spinach will work like a charm, and doesn’t impart any flavor at all (PROMISE!).

You can use juice, or you can even use the whole leaves. I recommend that you try The Edible Perspective’s recipe for Green Monster Wipped Green Frosting, which includes two cups of spinach leaves. Another option for that emerald tone involves a “health food” supplement called chlorophyll. Liquid chlorophyll is available in most alternative markets (co-ops, Whole Foods) and is quite inexpensive. Besides it’s purported health benefits, it’s a great option for natural food coloring.