Does anyone know how to make red icing?

Question

I want to make a fire truck cake for my son's birthday but every time I use red food coloring in icing it just turns it pink. I've tried using a lot but that just turns it hot pink.

Answer 1

mix a little bit of black or brown food coloring in with a lot of red. that should make it darker

Answer 2

Unfortunately, I had the same experience. I made a cake for the end of a production at the theater where I volunteer and I wanted to make the theme of the cake to match that of the play. The play was called Polish Joke so I made the cake to look like a Polish flag which is half red. I added a whole bottle of red food coloring which not only changed the consistency of the buttercream frosting (it thinned and made the top cake slide off slightly) but only made it a dark pink. Maybe a drop or two of blue would help turn it more red. But just a drop or two or you'll get purple.
Of coarse you could always try the strawberry frosting in the cans... I don't know if it's red or not 'cause I've never used it myself but it looks red on the label!
Have a great day!!!

Answer 3

Why couldn't you make the icing with red food coloring (yes, I know it will be pink but work with me here) and frost the cake. Then get one of those inexpensive paint sprayers from a home or craft store. You know, the ones where you attach a compressed air can to it? Then take the red food coloring after the frosting has dried a bit and spray the frosting? I've bought those little sprayers for $4.95 from Home Depot.

After looking at some of the other ideas, mine looks like a real guy answer. Sorry

Answer 4

I agree with adding the darker food colorings to the red. However, have you tried looking in the cake decorating section, of say, a Walmart? They have coloring specifically for icing. Maybe, that will make a difference.

Answer 5

You need to use paste food coloring for strong colors like red (or black). It is available in baking supply and some craft supply stores. The liquid colors you buy in the supermarket won't work.

Answer 6

instead of using red liquid food coloring, try using the paste kind that comes in little tubs. they work much better and don't dilute the icing.

Answer 7

you can use a chocolate icing for base and add the red. Wilton no taste red food coloring is great...

Answer 8

yes make or buy white icing and add Wilton's red food coloring to the shade you want, can even get it at wal-mart

Answer 9

You need to buy the paste coloring. Get it as dark as you can and then let it sit. It will darken. The paste won't ruin your icing.

Answer 10

yes get the icing sugar and some red food coluring