How can I make red buttercream without it tasting bitter, but still be bright red? I have tried christmas red, red and no taste red with no luck. I ended up buying ready made red roses for a cake I made. Any suggestions? Thanks !

It helps if you start with pink icing, but it's pretty tough to avoid a funny taste.

I gave up trying for a good red and bought a bucket of it from the bakery at Sams Club. It'll last for months and I honestly don't think I could make it for what I paid for it. Tastes great too!

I have found the perfect way comes out every time. Use orange and rose and no taste red.

I agree with Molly_36 I don't bother trying make red or black icing anymore. It's too time consuming and uses too much color, leaving that funny coloring taste. I also buy pre-colored red and black icing. The stuff I use is from CK and I actually and some white buttercream to it before using it because the color is so intense straight out of the container. It lasts a long time.

Agreed- buy it pre-made. I have also bought the CK- and never thought to lighten it- it is intense/deep color-

Can you buy colored buttercream from the bakers counter at the discount stores??

I know Wilton makes a "no taste" / "no flavor" red. Not sure if that helps.

Chefmaster liqua gel color is the way to go. Highly concntrated, no bad taste and no waiting for it to intensify.

Any 'bold/deep/dark color is going to have an off taste
For red start with a *very dark/bright/deep* pink OR orange OR yellow. Then add some 'no taste' paste/gel color & UNsweetened KoolAid (such as black cherry or strawberry. This needs to be done at least 8-12 hours ahead of time so make it like the night before. In the am it might have some dark spots throught it but all you need to do is give it a good stir and they will disappear
Any paste or gel color that has 'super' as part of the color such as 'super pink' or 'super purple' etc will be stronger in color.
Another way if you only need a small amount is to buy one of Wilton's plastic tubes of red (Costs about $2.29). Cut the back off and scrape out the icing. Add that to about the same amount of your icing. It helps also if you use any of the colors mentioned above for red: pink, orange or yellow. Those tubes of colored icing are soooo very saturated w/color you can easily mix it and still have a nice red color. I also do this with blue, black and brown

I have also had good luck using a red "candy-n-cake" powdered food color...possibly a ck company product from my local cake supply store. I used that mixed with the wilton no-taste or Americolor Super Red. Good luck!

Thanks so much for all of the great ideas. You are all so kind to share your idea's.

I have found that the Americolor brand of gel coloring works great in red! It's the best if wanting to color your own buttercream red...

Look at the red on my candle cake in my photo gallery...it's right at the front. That is nothing but Americolor bright Red and buttercream. I didn't use that much and there was no funny taste either. I've used Wilton's but have to add twice as much and it DOES taste wonky. HTH.

I use Candy Craft powder red along with Americolor Red Gel. The powders do better for me if I am making a dark color. The only drawback, the icing needs to rest for a while before you use it just to make sure everything is mixed well.

I agree with grandmomof1, I've only been able to achieve a real red with the powder.

My advice--don't use Wilton! I have never achieved a true red with Wilton. It always looks a little too pink for my taste. I like Americolor super red as well, and make sure to make it at least a day in advance so the color can deepen as well.