To paint on a cake with food coloring, you need to create a paintable mixture using gel food coloring and a high-proof alcohol.
Making Food Coloring "Paint"
According to the reference provided, you can make your own edible paint specifically for use on cakes or other confections. The process is simple and effective.
Here's how to do it:
- Start with Gel Food Coloring: Gel food coloring is concentrated and provides vibrant colors suitable for painting.
- Add High-Proof, Flavorless Alcohol: Mix a drop of gel food coloring with a high-proof, flavorless alcohol. The alcohol serves a crucial purpose: it helps thin the gel food coloring to achieve a consistency that is easy to paint with.
- Mix Thoroughly: Stir the mixture until it reaches your desired paint consistency.
Why Use Alcohol?
The reference highlights the key benefit of using alcohol:
- Thinning: Alcohol helps thin the thick gel coloring into a smooth, paintable liquid.
- Evaporation: Alcohol evaporates from the cake, which is important because it leaves behind the pure color without adding extra moisture or flavor (especially when using flavorless alcohol).
Once your edible paint is mixed, you can use food-safe brushes to apply it directly onto your cake surface, whether it's fondant, buttercream (if crusted), or gumpaste.
