Food coloring in baking: a guide to proper use

Food colorings are indispensable in modern pastry making and cake design . They add character, personality, and distinctiveness to every creation, from macarons to sugar paste cakes. In this guide, you'll discover which types of colorings to use , how to dose them, and which recipes they work best with.

Types of food colorings

Pastry colorants are distinguished based on their solubility:

• Water-soluble colorants → perfect for water-based doughs, icings, creams and custards.
• Fat-soluble colorants → ideal for chocolate, cocoa butter and fatty preparations.
• Concentrated powdered food colorings → excellent for intense effects or for dry doughs (e.g. colored shortcrust pastry).
• Gel or paste food colorings → easy to measure and widely used in professional cake design .

How to use food colorings correctly

The secret is to add a little at a time and mix well. Always start with a small amount and gradually increase the amount until you achieve the desired shade. Remember that the color tends to lighten slightly during cooking.

Fat-soluble colorants must be dissolved in a small amount of fat (e.g. cocoa butter) before being added to the mixture.

Professional advice

• Use gloves and dedicated spatulas to avoid color contamination.
• For pastel shades, mix the food coloring with cream or white icing.
• For intense tones, choose powder or concentrated paste dyes.
• Avoid excess: too much coloring can alter the taste and consistency.

Colorings for decorations and chocolate

In cake design and chocolate making, fat-soluble colorants are essential: they resist heat and distribute evenly throughout the fatty compounds.

Discover the line of professional colorants and decorations available at Rondinella Market Napoli : products certified for food use, safe and ideal for pastry shops and laboratories.

Conclusion

Food coloring, when used correctly, can achieve extraordinary results, both in terms of flavor and appearance. Experiment, play with colors, and create unique cakes thanks to the professional products available from Rondinella Market .

Also discover the sections: Ingredients for Desserts , Cake Design & Decorations and Flavorings & Spices .