If you want to color your food with brilliant hues without using artificial additives, try making your own natural food coloring! Whether you’re baking a cake, decorating cookies, or making homemade playdough, these natural food colorings are easy to create and safe to use. Here’s a guide on how to make homemade food coloring using common kitchen ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Red: Beets
• Yellow: Turmeric
• Green: Spinach
• Blue: Red cabbage with baking soda
• Purple: Blueberries

Red Food Coloring

To make red food coloring, peel and chop a large beetroot and place it in a saucepan, covering it with water. Boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes until the beets are soft and the water is deeply colored. Strain the liquid into a jar, discard the beet pieces, and let it cool. Your red food coloring is ready!

Yellow Food Coloring

For yellow, mix a teaspoon of ground turmeric with half a cup of water in a small saucepan. Simmer on low heat for about 5-10 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool, then strain it through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solid particles. Now you have a bright yellow food coloring.

Green Food Coloring

To create green food coloring, blend one cup of fresh spinach leaves with half a cup of water until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to extract the liquid. Use it immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Blue Food Coloring

In order to make blue, chop half of a tiny red cabbage and boil it in water. When the water reaches a deep purple color, reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Once the liquid has strained into a jar, set it aside to chill. When the mixture turns blue, add the baking soda a pinch at a time while stirring thoroughly.

Purple Food Coloring

To make purple food coloring, place one cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen) in a saucepan and cover them with water. Boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes until the blueberries have released their color. Strain the liquid into a jar, pressing the blueberries to extract as much juice as possible. Allow the liquid to cool, and your purple food coloring is ready.

Tips for Using Homemade Food Coloring

Natural food colorings can vary in intensity, so if the color is too light, simmer the mixture longer to concentrate the pigment. Your homemade food colors will keep for approximately a week in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. Use these colorings just like you would any liquid food coloring; they are perfect for icings, doughs, and batters.

Making homemade food coloring is a fun and healthy way to add beautiful colors to your dishes. Plus, it’s a great way to avoid artificial dyes and chemicals in your food. Enjoy experimenting with these natural hues in your next culinary creation!