How to Color Sanding Sugar

A bowl of sugar waiting to be colored

Sanding sugar offers a versatile option for decorating and designing on pastries, cakes, and cookies. Being able to color your own sanding sugar offers a convenient, economical, and personalized touch that can match your desired culinary needs. There are just a few simple steps to get you on your way to decorating your favorite treat.

Things You'll Need

• Sugar (coarse to fine, depending on preferance)
• Food coloring
• Resealable plastic bag or porcelain bowl and fork

Instructions

1. Pour the amount of sugar that you want to color inside a resealable plastic bag or a porcelain bowl. You can use coarse to fine sugar, depending on your culinary needs.

2. Squeeze a few drops of food coloring onto the sugar. Add 2 to 3 drops of food coloring for a lighter color, more if you want a richer, darker color. To design your own personalized colors, you can add a couple of different colors of food coloring and mix them together in the sugar.

3. Seal the plastic bag tightly, if that is your chosen container, and shake the contents to disperse the food color until the color is spread evenly amongst the sugar granules. Use your fingers to break up any lumps of sugar or coloring. If you are using a porcelain bowl, mix the food coloring with a metal fork until the color is uniform. Add more food coloring and repeat the process if you want a darker color.

4. Allow the mixture to dry in a bowl or on a plate for about an hour. Store in an airtight container until you are ready to use the sugar.

References

• Baking Bites: How to Make Your Own Colored Sugars