Help! I know this has been asked before...but I need to make black buttercream. Is there an easy way? I keep getting dark gray, or I put so much black color in the icing that it tastes bitter. How do I get black without it being bitter??

Gotta use Americolor Super Black - you don't have to use a ton and it actually gets black black. (Americolor Super Red is great too - might as well get some of that too!)

Do you know if anyone around you carries it? Or do you have time to order online? It really is the best.

If you have to make do with what you have, I know that sometimes as colors sit, they can darken but maybe someone else has some other help.

When I need black icing I start with chocolate frosting and then add the americolor super black. The chocolate syrup frosting here is great!

I agree that Americolor Super Black is the way to go, but if you cannot get any, starting with chocolate buttercream is an easier way to get black without getting that nasty taste.

You could start out using chocolate frosting then add the black.... it seems to take better.....

Chocolate frosting. Even with Wilton color I'm able to get a nice glossy black

I wouldn't use chocolate buttercream unless there is chocolate in the cake also. Some people are allergic to chocolate, and would not expect to get chocolate if they ordered a white cake, lemon filling and white buttercream.

Thanks everybody! I'm not sure is anyone local carries Americolor, so I will be doing the choc buttercream! I need it by the weekend. Again, thanks so much!!

I start by coloring it using the americolor brown then use super black. good luck!

Technically you don't have to start with choc. icing. I just use my bc and add a little cocoa powder then the black color. Works great and you can barely taste the cocoa.

mdutcher...thanks! I think I will try that! Especially since I already have some bc. Thanks again everyone!