How to Colour Sugar

In this post I’ll show you how to colour sugar and I’ll share all the tips I know. Coloured sugar is a popular decorative ingredient used in a variety of desserts, baked goods, and drinks.

You can use it to rim the edge of your drink glasses for a festive and colourful touch. You can sprinkle it on top of frosted cakes and cupcakes to add a pop of colour and a bit of texture.

Coloured sugar can also be used to decorate sugar cookies, shortbread, and other types of cookies. It can be sprinkled over the top of the cookie dough before baking or applied to the surface of the cookie after baking.

Ingredients

white granulated sugar
gel-based food colouring for more intense colours
liquid food colouring – it’s easier to blend in but you have to add a lot more to achieve a vibrant and intense colour
natural food dyes like beet powder, spinach powder, turmeric, or matcha powder + a bit of clear alcohol like vodka

Here are some more differences to consider when using gel food colouring vs. liquid food colouring:

Color intensity: Gel food colouring is typically more concentrated than liquid food colouring, so you’ll need less of it to achieve a vibrant colour. This means that you may need to use more liquid food colouring to achieve the same colour intensity as with gel food colouring.
Consistency: Liquid food colouring can sometimes make the sugar too moist or sticky, which can cause it to clump or stick together.
Storage: Because gel food colouring is more concentrated, it can be easier to store than liquid food colouring. You can keep gel food colouring in an airtight container at room temperature for a long time without it losing its potency. Liquid food colouring may need to be refrigerated or used up more quickly to prevent it from drying out or losing its colour.

Directions

Food Colouring Method

Place granulated sugar into a plastic container with a lid (or a ziplock bag).

Add a few drops of food colouring into the sugar, place the lid on the plastic container and mix well by shaking it.

Continue adding food colouring until you reach the desired colour intensity.

Spread the coloured sugar out on a flat surface and let it dry completely before using or storing it.

Natural Dye Method

Use natural food dyes like beet powder, spinach powder, turmeric, or matcha powder to colour your sugar.

Mix the natural dye with a small amount of water or a clear alcohol like vodka to make a paste.

Add the paste to the granulated sugar and mix well until the sugar is evenly coated with the dye.

Spread the coloured sugar out on a flat surface and let it dry completely before using or storing it.

Note: When using any of these methods, it’s important to make sure the sugar is completely dry before storing it, as moisture can cause clumping. Store the coloured sugar in an airtight container at room temperature.