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I’ve been wanting to take my classic buttercream frosting recipe from my cookbook and color them completely naturally for so long now! We’ve finally done it and created five gorgeous naturally colored frosting or icing flavors that are super easy to make using DIY natural food dyes!
Naturally Colored Buttercream Frosting
Unfortunately, artificial food coloring is in so many food products these days. This is especially true in birthday cakes! At best, artificial food coloring is not good for you, and at worst it could be harmful. But who doesn’t like a brightly colored birthday cake on their special day?
There are some naturally colored dyes on the market that use spices and concentrated foods to color, but they’re unpredictable in strength and they can be pricey for a small amount! As LCK’s birthday approached we knew it was time to find an easy DIY way to color your cakes, cupcakes, and cookies with these fun frosting colors that you can feel good about eating!
We use a variety of powders to get 5 fun colors! The best part is most of these will keep for a while so you can always have them on hand when you have a celebration or birthday coming up that you want to make fun without using any artificial dyes!
How do you make colored frosting?
It’s simple! Start with our base buttercream recipe and add in the variety of colors!
- Spirulina = Blue
- Turmeric = Yellow
- Matcha = Green
- Freeze Dried Strawberries = Pink
- Freeze Dried Blueberries = Purple
Watch the video:
Use this naturally colored frosting on:
Naturally Colored Buttercream Frosting: 5 Ways
Ingredients
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups organic powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extra
- 1 to 2 tablespoons almond milk
- natural dye powder see instructions for approximate quantities
Natural Dye Powder Options:
- Green: Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Turquoise: Blue Spirulina Powder
- Yellow: Ground Turmeric
- Purple: Dried Blueberry Powder see note
- Pink: Dried Strawberry Powder see note
Instructions
- In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the powdered sugar and blend on low speed until well blended, then increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about another 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon of almond milk. Continue to beat adding the additional tablespoon of almond milk, or more, if needed for spreading consistency.
- Add the natural dye powders to color. If coloring a small amount start with 1 teaspoon for the fruit powders or 1/4 teaspoon for the matcha, spirulina and turmeric and increase to get desired color. To color a whole batch start with 2 tablespoons for the fruit powders, 1 tablespoon for the matcha and spirulina, and turmeric and increase for desired color.
Hi Lexi,
Thank you so much for this recipe,I can’t wait to try this for my daughters birthday cake, this Sunday!
Can you please tell me which brand of powdered spirulina that you used to produce that particular blue color?
Recommend saffron instead of turmeric for yellow food coloring!
Hi Lexi,
Just wondering. Will the food coloring add any flavor to the frosting?
Thanks for sharing they look awesome! I’m so excited to try.
Alicia
It depends how much you use – but I don’t notice it!
Love the gorgeous colors you were able to achieve Lexi!! They all look so good!!
Wow these look AMAZING!
What a great idea, and it’s so important to try to use natural ingredients now.
Debs
These are so pretty! Love that they’re all naturally colored!
Colors are nice but am I the only one to cringe at the idea of turmeric buttercream…?
You don’t taste it 🙂
Such a fun idea, and a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen too!
I love these colors 🙂
Well color me so happy! What a wonderful resource!
These are SO pretty! They remind me of Easter eggs and I love it!