What is the best way to get black icing without using a jar of color dye? Does the wilton color spray work very well? I have a two tier over the hill cake to do and they have requested all black frosting. Thanks.

It doesn't take as much black coloring to get black icing if you start with chocolate icing!

I agree with pump_jc. If you start with chocolate icing... it won't take much at all. Good Luck!

Great question.
I started with the chocolate frosting for black and it does come out perfect, but what if you don't want the chocolate taste? I have americolor colors and the black gets bitter tasting to me. I have seen other posters suggest just buying the Wilton's black frosting. I will probably do that for now on but it makes you wonder how they get such good-tasting black frosting.

Does anyone have a good chocolate buttercream frosting recipe? I've made some buttercream and added cocoa powder with no specific amounts and it tasted horrible.. It even came out sort of crusty.. I am making a black and pink cake in a few weeks and chocolate is one of the frosting that they requested.. First they said brown and pink any flavor any kind.. NOW they say black and pink with at least one cake being chocolate.. Sooooo here I am trying to figure out how I am going to do this.. I first thought of all strawberry and adding a little bit of red dye to the cake mix to get a darker pink.. Then I was going to frost it all in buttercream icing dyed pink and use box fondant (now that we can get it already colored brown) decorations.. Now that I have to use chocolate icing I have to change my plans just a bit.. Thanks!

I don't care for chocolate icing, so when I make black, I start by coloring my white icing as dark brown as I can get it. Then I start adding black coloring.

Hope this helps.

Leily

I did a bowling ball cake and airbrushed the ball and gutters black. It was no problem to cover at all. I would think the Wilton spray would be just as effective. You can see the finished product in my photos.

I went to a restaurant supply wholesale store last night and found some coloring by ATECO. They are called spectrum colors. When I tried to make black icing for the mouth of a bear, it turned out wonderfully. Also, no bitter taste. If you can find them, they are wonderful colors to use.

jekizer - Did you start with white frosting when you made "black" with the ATECO? I'm on their website now. Thanks!

Joan

I use Dawn's buttercream icings. They are premixed and I really like the red and black. They don't have a bitter taste and I use them mixed with white to lighten the color for pinks and grays. I currently buy dawns at my local cake supply store.

I started with the white frosting. These colors worked wonderfully. I hope they work for you as well. Good Luck. Let me know how it goes!!!

Welcome VickiG! Glad to have you!

Hello VickiG. This is a terrific site with lots of great advice, tips, and help. I am pretty new to it but am addicted.

Joan

Is the ATECO coloring paste or liquid?

Thanks !

This is a wonderful site... the photos, the articles, and all the help ! amazing really.