Newbie here once again. I really need your advise ladies. I have two important questions about red buttercream. I am going to try to make the cute turkey cupcakes. You know? The ones with the feathers? Well, I decided to prepare my buttercream today and color everything. First of all, my red is not red. I struggled so much and never got it red. I used the Wilton No Taste Red. I even tried adding brown color, but instead I got a pinkish-mauve color. Very pretty, but not what I expected. I'm a little disappointed. I'm still going to use it though, but I know it's not perfect anymore. What did I do wrong? Was I supposed to start with chocolate buttercream just like when you color it black?

My second question is the following. I'm also going to attempt to do the peppermint cany cake that is in the Christmas gallery. The one that looks like a big peppermint candy-red and white. Anyway, if I do have to start with chocolate buttercream in order to get it red, then this is going to throw off the recipe because the girl who made the cake told me that she made peppermint icing and added peppermint snow. If I do chocolate, then it will not taste the same. I love chocolate peppermint, but this is not what I have in mind either. Any suggestions? Please help!

Red has to deepen over time. It does take quite a bit of coloring but eventually it doesn't really accept more color. Americolor super red is the best red out there. Once your buttercream sets it darkens too.

HTH

Judi

Ok I hope that I can help...first off I hate red buttercream...it is a pain in the butt, and no matter what you use I think it always tastes like paste! I use Americolor super red, and that works great..! Although the trick I have found is to make your icing orange or pink first (pink works best) then make it red from there. It will also darken as it sets. I have never heard of using chocolate, I honestly don't think you will get red..more like a funky shade of brown?. Another idea I would suggest airbrushing red too, or using fondant. I hope this helps! Good Luck...!

Thank you both for your responses. I will keep your tips in mind, along with the colors you suggested.

Thank you both for your responses. I will keep your tips in mind, along with the colors you suggested.

I call this Mission Impossible.

I use Chef Master Red Red. I always mix my red icing a day before I want to use it, it really deepens in color after sitting. To me the "no taste red" is also the "no color red".

I have used the powdered red color and have had great results HTH

Ok I used to absolutely despise making red or black but I have got a trick for both. Discovered these tricks here but I don't know who it was from to give credit.

To make red start out with yellow - mix well, then add orange - mix well, then finally add no taste red.....works every time.

For black start out with juniper green - mix well then add plenty of black.
Make sure that the juniper is mixed to a dark green.

HTH.

I once tried to make a big batch for a large Elmo cake. I used TWO vials of the no taste red. One full one, and most of the other. I gave up in frustration and left the kitchen. It was a rosy color...not Elmo red at all. I came back in the kitchen about an hour later and BOOM...it was totally Elmo red. Red is mysterious. I agree w/ the other person, I don't think chocolate will ever get red. Good luck.

Thanks to everyone for your responses and suggestions.

When I need just a bit of red or black, I use a tube of Wilton's and if I need a lot I start by making my own and add a tube of Wilton/Betty Crocker to it to help speed up the process.

I dread making red and black buttercream!! But, through trial and error have found that Americolor super red works very well! You don't have to use very much and it doesn't have that wierd chemical taste. For black I also use Americolor super black. HTH

I made a red icing for a few of my cakes. I always start with dark pink first and add red from there. I use the Americolor red. Works really well. Plus, letting the icing sit for a while to allow the colour to darken is a good idea. I found when making my Coke cake that the icing was a bit pinkish putting it on the cake, and as has been mentioned, it darkened right up on its own as the cake sat there.