How To Make Colored Sugar

Learn how to make vibrant-colored sugar with this easy DIY recipe. Perfect for decorating cookies, cakes, and more. Add a splash of color to your baking today!

These old (50+ years) step-by-step instructions are a fun way to learn how to make your own colored sugar. Colored sugar is an inexpensive and easy-to-make cookie decoration. This is an easy tutorial on how to make colored sugar!

How To Make Colored Sugar

My mother had us decorating cookies from when we were very young. She also made up sanding sugar… before it was called sanding sugar. She made these instructions on homemade colored sugar along with Kris Kringle cookies. The frosting was made the day we frosted the cookies, as it does get crumbly and hard.

When my siblings and I were very young (so, a long, long time ago), we used to LOVE decorating Christmas cookies. By the time we got to our preteens, we thought of any excuse to head out and avoid Christmas cookie decorating duty.

Alas, my mother was having none of that. She firmly believed in child labor, and so for a few years, we made a slapdash effort at it. And, we would have to do it all over again to her satisfaction. My mother was undefeated when it came to having things her way. Once we got into our late teens, we were baking, coloring sugar, making buttercream frosting, and on decorating duty, so it was a matter of pride that they tasted and looked good.

When we got jobs and moved out, my mother was on her own. I do not think she has ever bought decorators’ sugar; she has always made her own colored sugar.

Colored sugar is a simple yet versatile ingredient that can add a pop of color and visual interest to a variety of baked goods and desserts. Whether you are looking to decorate sugar cookies, rim cocktail glasses, or add a touch of whimsy to your homemade treats, learning how to make colored sugar is a handy skill to have in your culinary repertoire.

If you are looking for an easy way to make colored sugar, follow these step-by-step instructions as it is an easy process. This is a great way to keep down costs for cookie or cupcake decorating this holiday season and make custom food colors for your culinary creations.

Tips and variations for making this colored sugar:

● Always work with dry utensils and strainers. Change your strainer out for each color. Do not reuse your blue strainer for yellow coloring without washing it first, otherwise your yellow will have a blue tinge, or possibly green!
● The amount of sugar you use will always start with how many cookies you wish to frost. Start with a pound of sugar and divide into ¼ pound portions to color sugar.
● How many drops of food coloring you use depends on how eye-popping you would like your vibrant colors.
● Gel food coloring can be used, but it is more difficult to spread out than food coloring, although not terribly so. Gel colors will result in much more vivid sanding sugar colors.
● You can make any color of the rainbow using the back of the box drop combinations. Your colors of sugar are only limited by your imagination.
● My mother always placed these in a cool room to dry. Out of the way is a good idea so no one tips over the tray. I keep them at room temperature.
● How to Color Buttercream Frosting
● Classic Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe
● You can try this on brown sugar, but I am not sure how well it will color. We always used regular granulated sugar. I see no reason this would not work on castor sugar. I believe in comments someone used a different type of sugar (confectioners’) but they never reported back how that worked out for them. Please let me know if you use a different type of sugar and how it works out!
● When finished, place sugar in an airtight container or a sealed ziplock bag until used.
● This recipe uses common ingredients found at your local grocery store.

Here are a few recipes where you can use your colored sugar:

● Grandma’s Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Recipe
● Christmas Butter Cookie Recipe
● Easy Halloween Rice Crispy Treats Recipe

How To Make Colored Sugar Ingredients:

● ¼ cup Granulated White Sugar
● Liquid Food Coloring

How To Make Colored Sugar Mise en Place:

● Dishes (bowls work well)
● Jelly Roll Pans (or another baking sheet with sides)
● Measuring Cup
● Spoons
● Fine Mesh Strainer(s)
● Sugar
● Wax Paper or Parchment Paper

How To Make Colored Sugar Directions:

1. Put a fine mesh strainer (sieve) over a bowl.
2. Place ¼ cup of sugar into the strainer.

3. Add 6-12 drops of food coloring to the sugar. The more you add, the richer and darker your color.
4. Scrape the food color into the sugar with a spoon. It will accumulate in the bowl beneath the strainer.

5. Set up a second bowl. Place the strainer over the second bowl.
6. Now place the sugar you just strained in the first bowl and pour it into the strainer again.

7. Again, scrape the color into the sugar.
8. You are going to do this over and over until the sugar is completely colored.
9. The colored sugar is damp. It needs to be dried out.

10. Spread the colored sugar in a thin layer over a wax paper-lined jelly roll pan.
11. Allow to dry.

12. Note: if you are making more colors make certain your bowls and fine mesh strainer are clean. Change out your strainer and bowls for each new color!
13. You will have to stir the colored sugar for a time or two to turn it, allow it to dry, and squash any lumps during the drying process. I do this overnight.

14. You can use the color chart on the back of the food coloring box to make colors other than the basic four colors inside the box.
15. Allow to dry completely before you use your colored sugar!
16. Store dried colored sugar in an airtight container.

Yield: 1

How To Make Colored Sugar

Print

How To Make Colored Sugar. Learn how to make vibrant-colored sugar with this easy DIY recipe. Perfect for decorating cookies, cakes, and more. Add a splash of color to your baking today!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Granulated White Sugar
• 6-12 drops Liquid Food Coloring

Instructions

1. Put a fine mesh strainer (sieve) over a bowl.
2. Place ¼ cup of sugar into the strainer.
3. Add 6-12 drops of food coloring to the sugar. The more you add, the richer and darker your color.
4. Scrape the food color into the sugar with a spoon. It will accumulate in the bowl beneath the strainer.
5. Set up a second bowl. Place the strainer over the second bowl.
6. Now place the sugar you just strained in the first bowl and pour it into the strainer again.
7. Again, scrape the color into the sugar.
8. You are going to do this over and over until the sugar is completely colored.
9. The colored sugar is damp. It needs to be dried out.
10. Spread the colored sugar in a thin layer over a wax paper-lined jelly roll pan.
11. Allow to dry.
12. Note: if you are making more colors, make sure your bowls and fine mesh strainer are clean. Change out your strainer and bowls for each new color!
13. To turn the colored sugar, stir it for a time or two, allow it to dry, and squash any lumps during the drying process. I do this overnight.
14. You can use the color chart on the back of the food coloring box to make colors other than the basic four colors inside the box.
15. Allow to dry completely before you use your colored sugar!
16. Store dried colored sugar in an airtight container.
    

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

13

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 15Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g

Note: for exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information provided is simply a guideline.

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