I have used an entire container of Wilton's Red-Red along with a little Christmas Red and Burgandy. I can't get it past a dusty rose pink. Can I get to red from here? This is for a Lightning McQueen cake. Please help!

Thanks!!!
Shannpn

Have you let it sit for a while? I find that sometimes after I let my buttercream sit the color will get deeper. I actually just did some red today and I mixed some red in and let it sit, mixed some more in and let it sit then I finally reached the red I needed.

You can get icing colors specifically made in the CARS colors. They come in a pack of four. I`ve been told that colors you can get in these packs, is not sold individually though.

try a little orange in it

red always looks a little pale, after it sits for an hour or so it will darken right up.

I'm no expert....but if all else fails, why couldn't you cheat a little & spray it with that red aerosal can food color? I can't remember the brand. Is it wilton? Not sure. But, you can get it at the craft store in a handful of colors. One of them is red I think.

The bulk of the car is red? So, once you frost & let sit. Why couldn't you lightly spray & then let dry a layer of red. Then, after dry, add details? Would that work if you end up not happy with the final shade?

Again - I'm no expert! Just a thought ----

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! It has sat overnight and is still pink. I saw the Cars color pak, I think I will go get that today and try it. And I think I will pick up a can of red spray just in case!

When I saw this post I got all excited thinking you were making an Alexander McQueen cake for someone. hehe. Red is tough - I tried to get red yesterday as well - and I agree it is a bit darker today.

Have you tasted your icing? That much red (that is no-taste) usually leaves a bitter taste. To get a nice red, I always start with rose pink. Just a little then add a lot of no-taste red. I will then use some red-red, not as much as the the no-taste though, because I do not want the bitter taste. You do have to let it sit for a while. I make this icing the day before that way the color deepens.

Thanks for that heads up. I did taste it and it is okay so far. Unfortunately, I just added yet ANOTHER large container of Wilton gel No taste Red and it has progressed to fucia. It is a double batch of BC, but seriously?? Is my icing color resistant or does Wilton Red just really stink?

you just have to use a lot of red to get it that nice vibrant red color, i know i make a lot of red buttercream. seems that the hardest colors are always the most popular.

It's a hard color to get. The wilton instructor I had always said to use pink first get it as bright pink as you can then start adding the red. I have used that method and it did seem to take less coloring all in all than starting out with red from the get go.
Good luck!!

That is a lot of red for even a double batch of buttercream. I always use Wilton no-taste red and have no problem coloring buttercream. It always dries red even if it looks pink going on. Sitting in the bowl is not enough, you have to let it sit out and dry on the cake. To test this, put a small amount of icing on the back of a white plate and let it sit out for an hour or so, uncovered.