There are, by my count, at least seven levels of fried chicken. The worst of them is good; the best, which I waited forty-four years to find, led to what can only be called an out-of-body experience. Let’s start at …
How to Make Red Color Icing Without the Red Color
Adding red food coloring to white icing has a tendency to look pinker than you might like. The more coloring you add to the icing, the more the red rubs off on the skin of the eater. Artificial food coloring also has a slightly bitter or off-putting taste to some. Fresh beets turn ordinary white frosting into a bright red color that you can't achieve with regular red food coloring. Use the all-natural alternative to frost your favorite cake or cupcakes, even if you have red food coloring in the pantry. Add this to my Recipe Box.
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Things You'll Need
- Three beets
- Peeler
- Scrub brush
- Knife
- Pot
- Water
- Fork
- Two bowls
- Cheesecloth
- Toothpicks
- Covered container
Instructions
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1
Peel the outer skin off three large beets. The outer skin has a slightly bitter taste and may even detract from the natural red color of the beets. Scrub each beet with a scrub brush, removing any remaining pieces of peel or dirt on the surface of the beets.
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2
Cut the beets into small cubes, about one-inch in size. Toss the beets into a large pot and fill with enough water to cover the tops of the beets. Place the beets on low heat and simmer for at least 45 minutes. The beets are finished when a fork goes into the pieces and they feel soft to the touch.
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3
Turn off the heat and let the beets rest in the liquid for at least four hours. The natural red color of the beets slowly turns the water a bright red color. Cover a bowl with a piece of cheesecloth and drain the liquid, catching the beets on the cloth. Throw away the beets and reserve the red liquid.
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4
Pour the white icing into a small bowl and set aside. Dip a toothpick into the beet juice or liquid. Dip the toothpick into the frosting, transferring over a small amount of the red color. Use a fresh toothpick each time you add more color to the frosting. Stir the frosting with a spatula, adding more color until it reaches the red shade you want.
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5
Transfer the remaining beet juice into a covered container and store in the refrigerator. The mixture should keep for up to a week, if you need to make icing in the next few days.
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Tips & Warnings
Try experimenting with powdered beets, adding a small amount to white icing. The powdered beets turn frosting a bright red color, without the need to boil a batch of beets first.
