Make Your Own Colored Sugar

I haven't bought colored sugar crystals for decorating baked goods in a long time. I can't imagine spending around $1.50 for 4oz of sugar when it's so simple to color it yourself. You can color regular granulated sugar (which is what I do) or larger crystals if you prefer that look.

This is a ridiculously simple concept but it's a cost-saving effort that requires no special supplies and takes just a couple of minutes.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

You need:
Sugar
Food coloring
Fork
Bowl
Plate

You can use liquid food color, gel food color or paste food color. Liquid is the easiest to mix into the sugar and only slightly more is needed to get deeper colors. If all you happen to have is powdered food color, mix some powder with a few drops of alcohol such as vodka, and use as you would liquid food coloring.

Comments

[creativegirlz]

Heres how my colored sugars turned out! loved it!!!

[mzminty]

hi can somebody please help me!!!
im trying to colour 25kg of normal sugar without it getting wet. it has to be in 25kg batches.any help would be appreciated

[breumer]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-colored-sugar/

Nice colors!

[Celine1107]

Good idea! You can also put the sugar in a bag, with a few drops of the food colouring and shake it!

[Marions Creations]

Since I need larger amounts of sugar colored, I use my hand mixer and the balloon whisk with a 4 cup glass measuring cup (to prevent staining). Goes much faster, more even and absolutely no clumps. I also mix my dry flavoring right into because the moisture from the liquid color helps adhering the flavor to the sugar crystals! :-)

[Jomy600]

I have a question I just bought a cotton candy machine and it says in the instruction that I can u gradulated sugar or colored sugar can any one tell me if this is true and I wanted to know also has anyone tried to flavor the sugar ? Please help

[Marions Creations]

Yes you can. Use a finer sugar rather than coarse. I just made a batch for my cotton candy machine. Don't know about the kids machines, but my commercial machine is doing well with home made sugar mixes. If you are just beginning, use the pre flavored/colored "flossine" from Gold Medal. Th color and flavor is just right. It takes some experimenting getting the right flavor strength and color the "Home made" style.

[MsMissyG]

Thank you! I was thinking there had to be a way to do this without all the nasty additives they put in the kind you find at the store...like confectioners glaze.....that stuff is made from BUGS!
{if you don't believe me check out this blog on it, or Google it}
http://www.vegblogger.com/blog/2010/03/confectioners-glaze-theres-something-buggy-about.html

[Tiktaky]

Do you know how well the drying process works in high humidity?
would it dry faster if I put it in the oven with the fan on? (no heat) or do you think that will ruin the texture of the sugar.

[starshipminivan]

High humidity might be a problem. I do think it would help it dry faster in the oven with the fan and no heat, as you describe. I once tossed the sugar with a tiny bit of tapioca starch (my daughter is allergic to corn or I would have used corn starch) to prevent clumping. It sort of worked but left a slight haze on the sugar. However, you could try drying it as best you can and storing it with a bit of uncooked rice in a closed container to absorb excess moisture and prevent clumps. You can wrap the rice in cheesecloth or put it in a coffee filter tied off with twine to prevent grains from getting mixed in with the sugar.

[nowherian69]

Thank You, I was thinking about trying the colouring and then i saw you post and realise it works!!!!!!!!

[kersy]

Thank You so very much.. I have just made 6 different Coours using your method. I have saved so much money. The best thing is, that you can create your own shades to suit your own creations... You should have made this yourself when you discovered it and made some money from it. Thank You so Very Much for your wonderful outside the box thinking and sharing it with the world...... Ker. :-)

[XTL]

If I do this with very fine icing cugar - will it break up again to be very fine ?

[mictain666]

'm pretty sure you can dye the regular sugar and then just grind it up using a mortar and pestle.....it's how i made powdered sugar to make fondant ( it was a rainy day and i couldn't go out XD )

[starshipminivan]

Do you mean superfine sugar or confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)?
I suspect it will work for either but I have tried it with confectioners sugar and it does work with some cautions.

I let the sugar dry and then sifted it using a fine mesh strainer which left behind some small clumps. I tried breaking up the clumps with the back of a spoon but this ended up being a mistake because the clumps were actually a lot darker in color than the rest of the sugar. The clumps probably contained food color that didn't distribute through the sugar. So just leave clumps behind in the strainer. This would be great for dusting cakes, brownies, etc., especially with stencils.

[XTL]

I'm thinking to dye the very very fine sugar black - then use that in a 3D printer similar to the candyfab3000 (main site no longer online but some images can be found) but instead use a laser to heat the black sugar so it melts.
This would make for very fine detail and very cheap medium for large pieces. My 3D printer design is 1m cubed.
Thanks for your advice. I had thought of mixing something like toner with icing sugar but I had not thought this dyeing approach would work as the grains would all clump making it blobby and unven for heating.
But dyeing, drying, sifting looks very promising now.

[jdevlieger]

I have a small simple question... do you make this using the liquid style food coloring or the gel type??

[craig3]

I'm going to try this, i think you n use it to make coloured fairy floss. I have a mini table top one for home and if you use normal white sugar you get white airy floss so maybe this method will make multiple colours for it

[dragonsniper]

tell me the results on if it worked or not ,
i also have a couple of cotton candy machines and have been trying to find a way to color the cotton candy so if it works without making the machine all sticky please let me know!!!

[a918bmxr]

can this be used to make colored potassium nitrate smoke bombs kwestion mark.

[DrCoolSanta]

To color the smoke you need something that is volatile and does not burn easily. Possible but I doubt you can find any die that will do both.

[Father Christmas]

nope. i tried it a few years ago. it didn't have any noticeable effect.

[Jent13]

I was just wondering if u use colored sugar instead of regular white sugar when making rock candy (sugar crystals) would they be colored in the end or would the crystals be barely colored?

[DrCoolSanta]

barely or not coloured at all.

I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure that crystals are pure and thus can't contain a dye or food colouring.

[Thundertydus]

It's fine

[ANTQNUT]

Delishousness! :D 

[freckleface]

Well done! Simple yet overlooked concept, easy to follow directions and clear photos. :D My kids love colored sugar so I will be using this and sharing! Thank you!!

[opentoedshoesan]

I do alot of baking, and plan on trying this so that I can customize my colors. I have a boatload of Wilton gel food coloring. Think it would work?

[starshipminivan]

Sure. I've used gel before and it works fine.

[dchall8]

Why doesn't the liquid melt the sugar?

[starshipminivan]

There's not enough liquid to dissolve such a quantity of sugar. I use only about 20 drops of liquid coloring per 1/2 cup sugar. It takes even less paste or gel colorings to achieve the same depth of color.

[nancyta]

thanks, I'll try it soon

[DIYDragon]

I do this as well - However I put it in a ziploc baggie instead of a bowl. Fill the bag with sugar, add a few drops of color, and shake until it goes into the entire bag. Nifty decorating trick really. : D

[Dandeman321]

Good idea!