Purple Fondant- Why Does Mine Turn Blue?!
Decorating By Jolene5472 Updated 5 Jun 2014 , 3:47pm by indydebi
Im not sure what I am doing wrong, so ANY help would be appreciated!
I am looking to create a vibrant, rich purple colour for both buttercream and fondant. I have used Wilton's "Violet" gel colour and added it to my Fondx white fondant, only to have it turn a light blue hours later. So frustrating! 
I make my buttercream icing with butter, milk, and powdered sugar (amongst a couple other ingredients), and the purple colour also fades!
How do I achieve this rich, vibrant purple in fondant and buttercream that I am looking for?
Thanks so much in advance!
hmmm odd!!! I use Wilton's Violet and it seems fine BUT I rarely get the shade I want without adding red or pink. It never fades though so try that out for now.
I pretty much recommend moving onto a new purple colour! If it happens all the time it's probably just the jar of colouring itself: either that specific batch or their Violet in general.
it is not the coloring you are using. I had the same problem with gumpaste try adding a teaspoon of baking soda per pound of fondant and you will keep your purple without it turning blue 
it is not the coloring you are using. I had the same problem with gumpaste try adding a teaspoon of baking soda per pound of fondant and you will keep your purple without it turning blue
Thank you for the suggestions! I'll have to try them out! I do have one question though- if I need to cover the entire cake with purple fondant, won't the baking soda alter the taste? I'm looking for that bright grape purple colour.
Thanks again!
Invest in some Crystal Colors. I tested one of the purples last summer and it didn't fade. 
I read once that someone said they airbrush the more difficult colors like purple, red, or black. If you don't have an airbrush, I would think those Wilton Color Mist Food color sprays would work. I haven't used them to cover a cake yet, but I've thought about it.
I actually made the "grape jello" fondant, and added americolor burgundy to it--- very nice purple with zero fade.
Jewels710 is exactly right....Americolor Regal Purple will give you a better purple than violet..Violet will turn grey but the regal doesn't it stays a nice royal purple..Try that!!
I realize this is an old post, but wanted to share what I learned recently. I was at a cake supply store near Minneapolis, MN and was looking at their colors, also looking for a purple that would actually look purple. They had a sign up that said if you use MILK with your frosting the violet will turn blue. I haven't used it since seeing that sign, but have since stopped using milk and only use water with my frostings and seem to be getting a truer shade for other colors, too.
Here is a couple of links that explains why. It all has to due with the red fading (purple minus red = blue). Milk has some color in it (it's not a pure white .... seriously.) But I remember when the red dye issue happened and it caused havoc among us all.
Ahhh ... the advantage of being hold and having lived thru history! LOL!
http://cakecentral.com/t/661436/black-food-paste-turned-fondant-forest-green-twice
http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-653200-red.html+dye
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