How to get vibrant colours for birthday cake icing

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

I have a question for the cake decorating gurus out there in Bubhub land......I'm planning on doing a JoJo's circus cake for my DD's birthday in November but haven't decided whether to use butter icing or Royal Orchid icing.
I want the icing colours to be vibrant and rich.
Do I just use normal liquid food colouring or do I need to purchase something else from a cake decorating place?

[au01]

I use food dye in a butter cream icing.
Just use more dye for more colour.

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

Thanks! I know November is still months away, but I want to get myself organised so I can start experimenting.

[poshBecks]

I use food dye in a butter cream icing.
Just use more dye for more colour.

Yeah you just keep adding the colour until it's bright enough :) (just check there aren't any kids who are allergic to colouring :cool: )...

[zada]

I use that ready made icing that you roll out and add food colouring to that (just knead it in) then use butter icing for the details on it :)

[m0nal1sa]

If you are going with a JoJo theme, this site had some interesting ideas, including cake ideas:

http://www.boardmanweb.com/party/circus.html

I was looking to see if the Playhouse Disney website had cake and party ideas for their characters like Nick Jr does. http://www.nickjr.com/party/index.jhtml. Unfortunately Playhouse Disney doesn't.

I'm thinking of doing a Dora or Wow Wow Wubbzy party for DS who turns 3 at the beginning of November.

cheers
m0na

[tootiredtosleep]

I made DD a lady beetle cake for her 1st b'day, it was meant to be black and red.

I made butter cream icing and bought black food coloring paste from a cake decorating shop - they told me there that liquid stuff wouldn't give a vibrant color. After using almost half the pot, I got a nice black.

I used normal red liquid coloring from the supermarket and the icing went hot pink, no matter how much I put in. I think that I needed paste for that too.

So if you decide on butter cream, go for paste!

[pookiesossige]

I use the Betty Crocker (or whatever brand it is) ready-made frosting that is available in tubs.

The icing I make myself NEVER seems to stick to the sides of the cake that I've shaped or cut. It just drops off and sticks to the knife...mega frustration and very upsetting :banghead:

But the brought stuff is perfect... spreads like a dream :yes:

Anyway, to get rich colours, I just use the Queen's food colouring that is available everywhere, and keep adding it until I get the colours I want!
I mix colours to get ones not available- such as purple.

Cake with deep colours inc. purple (not as flash as the sort of cake you plan on making though!):
CLICK (http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/pookiesossige/ChooChoooo.jpg)

CLICK (http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/pookiesossige/Ronans3rdbdaycake.jpg)

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

Thanks for the tips ladies!

[Milliner]

I would go for the paste too. It is more expesive but the colours are much better.

[Sazeby]

I use the Betty Crocker (or whatever brand it is) ready-made frosting that is available in tubs.

The icing I make myself NEVER seems to stick to the sides of the cake that I've shaped or cut. It just drops off and sticks to the knife...mega frustration and very upsetting :banghead:

But the brought stuff is perfect... spreads like a dream :yes:

Anyway, to get rich colours, I just use the Queen's food colouring that is available everywhere, and keep adding it until I get the colours I want!
I mix colours to get ones not available- such as purple.

Cake with deep colours inc. purple (not as flash as the sort of cake you plan on making though!):
CLICK (http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/pookiesossige/ChooChoooo.jpg)

CLICK (http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m312/pookiesossige/Ronans3rdbdaycake.jpg)


That cake is one awesome cake.. :thumbsup:

[pookiesossige]

That cake is one awesome cake.. :thumbsup:

Ooo fanks... it was fun to make! Lots of food colouring in that icing! Glug, glug, glug, in it went! :laughing:

[SairBear]

i had trouble making the red colour for spidermans face on DDs cake last week.. it kept turning pink . i was using betty crocker instant frosting. was that the problem?. is there a secret to getting it red? or do u just have to buy red tubes of icing or make homemade icing to get it that vibrant red..

[au01]

pookiesossige- what an awesome job..looks fantastic!!

[spunkyboysmum]

Hi:)

I just thought Id let you all know how I got Red Icing for my sons Birthday cakes.

Last year we did Elmo and this year I did a Cars cake and I went to my local cake shop and asked them. You need to use a special Icing called Ultra-Light (a really white Icing) which you can buy at the cake shop and a Gel colouring to get red as far as I know any other Icing or colour does go Hot pink no matter how much colouring you add. I was surprized that the stuff from the cake shop was a good price too.

For the other colours I used normal food colouring and the Ultra light Icing and It looked great:)
I also Did a frog head on a cake for my nephew using the Green gel color and It turned out really bright and looked awesome:)

Hope I helped:fingerscrossed:

[spunkyboysmum]

I have attached a Pic of the Cars Cake I made for my sons Birthday:)

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z109/kelliegee_photos/IMG_0030.jpg