Ok, I'll start off by saying sorry to all who have seen this ? more than a few times. I can't get my royal frosting a dark enough red. I tried the americolor x-mas red which did actually do the trick! Unfortunately, it made the frosting too runny because I had to use so much of it. Isn't there a powder that might do the same thing w/out making the frosting slide right off my cupcakes!? Help!
I an curious as well....I had the same issues with my black. *shakes head* Everything looks hot pink or grey, lol.
Alas, the only advice I can give is to start with chocolate for the black. As for the red, purhaps you could add a touch of another color, like brown (just a touch) and see if that darkens it, I'd try a test sample, not the entire bowl of icing. The only other suggestion is to let it sit overnight and see how dark it gets, because it will darken. Sorry I can't offer any other help.
Mickig 
I had to make icing look like ketchup not too long ago and what I did was mix wilton no flavor very red with a touch of black and brown until I got the color I was looking for.
I dont know how much decoration you are going to do on the cake but maybe you can start with just red icing and then take red or burgundy dust mix with vodka and touch it up ones is dry on the cake.
I tried the x-mas red which did actually do the trick! Unfortunately, it made the frosting too runny because I had to use so much of it. Isn't there a powder that might do the same thing w/out making the frosting slide right off my cupcakes!? Help!
Just to clarify - you used the x-mas red and it did the trick? But because you had to use so much your frosting is really runny?
If that is the case, add more icing sugar to firm it back up!! more liquid from the colourings, necessitates the need for more icing sugar to absorb the liquid.
I do know there is powdered food colouring, but I am unsure of the usage since I've never used it before. Hopefully someone else can answer that question!
I an curious as well....I had the same issues with my black. *shakes head* Everything looks hot pink or grey, lol.
To make black from white, you have to add a little purple to it to get away from that nasty greenish color.
thanks everyone, more sugar, duh! That makes perfect sense and it worked! I tried one little drop of black to get a deeper red & it went too far. I'll try brown. Thanks again!
There was another thread on this exact question. I have used red cherry koolaid and just added it to the frosting while you are mixing it. It also flavors your icing. It's a bit tart, but a unique flavor and it gets the color bright red. Try this to see if it works for you. Good luck......
I have always used True Red from Chefmaster. It works well for me. I was told the trick to make any color bright, deep or intense was first to color a little of the icing adding a generous amount of color, then allowing it to sit while it deepens and after that adding more icing and food coloring according to the amount you need to do the job.
Thank you both, I will be trying both of your ideas! I just want to find the best way & stick with it always, ya know?
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