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This Naturally Colored Buttercream Frosting is made with real ingredients to create five vibrant shades—no funky food coloring needed. It’s the perfect way to brighten up your cakes and cupcakes without artificial dyes. From bold pinks to earthy greens, we’re showing you how to make beautiful frosting perfect for any upcoming celebration.
Easy to make and delicious as ever, this dye-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free frosting is a recipe to save.
Why You’ll Love This Natural Buttercream
We’re all about clean swaps that still deliver big flavor and fun, and this frosting hits all the marks. It’s:
- Made with simple, real ingredients
- Kid-safe and allergy-friendly (no artificial additives!)
- Gorgeous and vibrant
- Perfect for piping or spreading
Whether you’re decorating Healthy Vanilla Cupcakes, delicious Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes, or topping Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies, these natural colors will take your buttercream to the next level—safely and beautifully.
How to Make Naturally Colored Buttercream
Start with your favorite base buttercream frosting. We recommend using the buttercream recipe that we have outlined below, and then mix in your natural coloring agents one at a time.
Pro Tip
Always start with a small amount of color and increase as needed. Natural pigments can vary in intensity.
Creating naturally colored buttercream frosting is a fun and easy way to keep your baking fun and clean. With just a few pantry staples, you can mix up a rainbow of colors without artificial dye. Whether you’re baking for a birthday or just baking for fun, this is a recipe you’ll come back to again and again when you want colorful frosting.
5 Ways to Color Frosting Naturally
These are our go-to real food ingredients to create beautiful hues:
1. Pink Buttercream
Ingredient: Freeze-dried strawberries
How to Use: Blend into a powder and sift before mixing in – *see note on the recipe card.
Color Profile: Bright pink, with a subtle fruity flavor.
Try it on: Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes for a spring-y vibe.
2. Yellow Buttercream
Ingredient: Ground turmeric
How to Use: Start with a tiny pinch and adjust as needed.
Color Profile: Sunny yellow
Flavor Tip: A little goes a long way—don’t overdo it, or the turmeric taste will be noticeable.
Try it on: Lemon Poppy Seed Bread for a twist.
3. Green Buttercream
Ingredient: Matcha green tea powder
How to Use: Sift and mix into the frosting slowly.
Color Profile: Soft to bold green, depending on how much you add.
Flavor Note: Matcha gives a slightly earthy, tea-like taste.
Try it on: Healthy Sugar Cookies for a festive vibe, or on my Matcha Cupcakes.
4. Purple Buttercream
Ingredient: Freeze-dried blueberries
How to Use: Blend into a fine powder and sift before adding – *see note on the recipe card.
Color Profile: Light lavender to deep purple
Tip: Add a splash of lemon juice to intensify the color.
Try it on: Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes for a vibrant frosting option.
5. Blue Buttercream
Ingredient: Blue spirulina powder
How to Use: Start with a small amount and build as needed.
Color Profile: Sky blue to deep aqua
Flavor Note: Nearly neutral in taste with just a hint of earthiness.
Try it on: The Best Gluten Free Birthday Cake for a pop of natural color, especially when piping!
Tips for Success
- Use powdered ingredients for the most vibrant colors without adding moisture to your frosting.
- Sift powders first to avoid lumps.
- Store extra powders in airtight containers for easy use next time.
- Want deeper color? Make your frosting a day ahead! Natural pigments can deepen over time.
Yes! In fact, natural colors can deepen and become more vibrant as they sit. Store the frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Let it come to room temperature and re-whip before using.
Some natural colorings, like matcha or turmeric, may add a slight flavor if used in larger amounts. Start with a small amount and taste as you go to keep the flavor balanced. Freeze-dried fruits tend to add a subtle, pleasant flavor.
You can, but liquids can thin out your frosting, making it harder to pipe or spread. For best results, stick to powders or reduce the liquids into a concentrated paste before using.
Use This Naturally Colored Frosting On:
- Classic Vanilla Cupcakes
- Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake
- Paleo Chocolate Cupcakes
- Chocolate Pound Cake
- Healthy Smash Cake
Watch The Video:
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!