Colored Sugar

If you’ve been wondering how to make colored sugar, you’re in the right place. And if you’ve been wondering why you should make colored sugar, the answer is simple: fun. You can use colored sugar to add a pop of playful brightness to cakes, cupcakes, sugar cookies and more. The flavor will be the same, but the finished look will be a bit extra.

Learning how to color sugar takes just seconds, and the actual sugar coloring process takes just minutes, including the time it takes for the sugar to dry prior to use. The bit of excitement colored sugar can add to your home-baked goods will last, though, so let’s grab the food coloring and the sugar and spruce things up in the kitchen.

Colored Sugar Ingredients

• Sugar: You can’t have colored sugar without, you know, the sugar. Stick with a basic white sugar such as you’d use in everything from coffee to cakes to jams.
• Food coloring: An artificial food coloring will yield the brightest, best results when making colored sugar, and these products are safe to eat, though perhaps not ideal if used in every single dish you make. But today, we’re making a diversion into the realm of the playful.

Directions

Step 1: Combine the sugar and food coloring

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In a small resealable plastic bag, combine the sugar and a few drops of food coloring. Seal the bag and shake it to tint the sugar.

Step 2: Let it dry

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Spread the sugar out onto a flat surface, and allow it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes before using.

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Colored Sugar Variations

• Try brown sugar: It might take a few more drops of food coloring to create the hue you want, but you can color brown sugar using just the same method as laid out above—plan on a longer drying time too.
• Use natural food coloring: It won’t be quite as vibrant in color as dyed sugar made using artificial food coloring, but a natural food coloring, such as one derived from beets or turmeric, can be used to make colored sugar.
• Blend your own colors: No orange food coloring in your set? Mix red and yellow and make it yourself. Want purple sugar? Mix blue and red.

How to Store Colored Sugar

Provided you let the sugar dry fully before you place it in an airtight bag or other container, it will last indefinitely, as is the case with sugar in general. Store it at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, and use it as you please.

Colored Sugar Tips

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How do I keep colored sugar from clumping?

The only real mistake you can make with this colored sugar recipe is not fully distributing the food coloring throughout the sugar, letting thick clumps of sugar form where the drops of food coloring fall. Make sure to thoroughly shake the sealed bag, and work the sugar over with your fingers to break up and distribute the food coloring throughout the sugar.

What should I use colored sugar to bake?

Any cake, cookie, pastry or other baked good that’s not too dark can be made with colored sugar. However, something like red velvet cake or a chocolate cupcake will come out looking worse for wear if you try to use certain shades of colored sugar, so they are best left alone.

Does DIY colored sugar have a different taste?

Not at all. Any good-quality food coloring is entirely flavor neutral and will not change the flavor profile of the finished food.