How can I get the red color that I need for Elmo. I've never been able to get a true red buttercream!

To get a true red (Christmas red) first start with burgandy. After mixing in the burgandy, add no taste red. It takes a toothpick full of burgandy and a spatula tip full of no taste red, (sorry that's how I measured it lol). You will get a Christmas red. Remember to mix the day before and allow color to develop overnight to reach it's full color level.
HTH

I know a lot of people on Cake Central start off with either pink or orange and then add red. I made red one time and used Americolor orange and then added the red until I got the right shade of red. I asked my husband to taste to see if he could taste the food coloring ( I don't eat desserts) and he said he couldn't taste the food coloring.

Hope this helps.