How to Color Frosting Using Natural Ingredients

It is easy to color frosting naturally by using vegetables, fruits, herbs and organic powders. Not only is it fun to experiment with the rainbow of shades you can create with natural frosting, but you will also know exactly what ingredients are in the frosting and thus going into your body (unless you are not tempted by delicious buttercream frosting, of course)!

Skip artificial coloring; let’s look at some easy natural frosting dyes that are great when added to your favorite frosting. Use your favorite frosting recipe. Don't have a favorite? We suggest King Arthur Baking’s Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Recipe.

Pink Frosting Using Beet Dye

Try buttercream frosting naturally colored pink with beet dye! Fresh organic beets work great as natural food coloring by shredding the beets and squeezing out their dark red juice. Mix a little beet juice with white buttercream frosting to create the most beautiful natural pink frosting that is completely free of artificial food dye. To create dark pink or red frosting, add more natural beet juice. The taste from the small amount of beet juice needed goes undetected when mixed with frosting!

Pink Frosting

Start to finish: 30 minutes (20 minutes to pre-make frosting, 10 minutes to make it pink)

• 1 beet
• 1 1/2 cups white vanilla buttercream frosting

Using the large holes of a box grater, shred one large beet.
Transfer the shredded beet to a cheesecloth or paper towel and squeeze the juice into a small bowl. You should get about 1 to 2 tablespoons of beet juice.

If the frosting becomes too thin, mix in more powdered sugar. Beet juice will briefly dye your hands pink. When handling the beet, I recommend wearing gloves or washing your hands with soap immediately following.

Mix the beet juice with white buttercream, starting with a small amount and adding more as needed until you reach your desired color. For 1 1/2 cups of buttercream, a good starting point is 1/2 teaspoon of beet juice.

Alternative Natural Pink Dyes

Dried beet, strawberry or raspberry powder is a great alternative. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.

Naturally Colored Blue Frosting

Blue spirulina from spirulina algae works great as a natural dye to make blue buttercream frosting! The bright aqua-blue color of this nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich powder mixes well with white buttercream frosting to create a perfect, fun shade of blue frosting that is free of artificial food dye. The small amount of blue spirulina needed doesn't affect the taste or texture of the frosting.

Blue Frosting

Start to finish: 25 minutes (20 minutes to pre-make frosting, 5 minutes to make it blue)

• 1/4 teaspoon blue spirulina powder (more as needed)
• 1 1/2 cups white vanilla buttercream frosting

Mix blue spirulina powder with white buttercream, starting with a small amount and adding more as needed until you reach your desired color. For 1 1/2 cups of buttercream, a good starting point is 1/4 teaspoon of blue spirulina powder.

Green Frosting Using Matcha Powder

Frosting can be naturally colored green using matcha powder! Antioxidant-rich matcha green tea powder is a bright, vibrant shade of green that mixes well with white buttercream frosting. Together, the two create a gorgeous natural green frosting free of artificial food dye. The small amount of matcha powder needed doesn't affect the taste or texture of the frosting. But if you love the taste of matcha, feel free to add more!

Green Frosting

Start to finish: 25 minutes (20 minutes to pre-make frosting, 5 minutes to make it green)

• 1/2 teaspoon culinary-grade matcha powder (more as needed)
• 1 1/2 cups white buttercream frosting

Mix matcha powder with white buttercream, starting with a small amount and adding more as needed until you reach your desired color. For 1 1/2 cups of buttercream, a good starting point is 1/2 teaspoon of matcha powder.

Alternative Natural Green Dye

If you’re not fond of matcha, you can use spinach instead. Thaw about 1 cup of frozen spinach. Transfer it to a paper towel or cheesecloth and squeeze the juice into a small pan. Boil until reduced to about 1 to 2 tablespoons. Let cool, then mix with white frosting, starting with a small amount and adding more as needed.

The amount of spinach juice needed to dye the frosting green will result in a thinner frosting that more closely resembles the consistency of icing.

Make Purple Frosting With Berries

Purple food coloring is so beautiful when made with fresh blackberries! This fruit works great as an organic food coloring by pureeing the blackberries and using a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Mix the deep purple blackberry puree with white buttercream frosting to create an irresistible natural purple frosting that is completely free of artificial food dye. The small amount of blackberry puree needed does not change the flavor of the frosting.

Purple Frosting

Start to finish: 30 minutes (20 minutes to pre-make frosting, 10 minutes to make it purple)

• 1/2 cup fresh blackberries
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 cups white vanilla buttercream frosting

Using a small blender or food processor, puree the blackberries and water until mostly smooth.

Transfer the pureed blackberries to a fine mesh strainer. Using the back of a spoon, press to squeeze the puree into a small bowl, leaving behind the seeds.

Mix the blackberry puree with white buttercream, starting with a small amount and adding more as needed until you reach your desired color. For 1 1/2 cups of buttercream, a good starting point is 1 teaspoon of blackberry puree.

If the frosting becomes too thin, mix in more powdered sugar.
If you want the frosting to taste like blackberries, mix in more blackberry puree or even leave in the seeds, but keep in mind this will change the consistency of the frosting.

Alternative Purple Dyes

Dried blackberry or blueberry powder is a great alternative. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.

Natural Yellow Frosting

Dye frosting yellow using a pantry staple ingredient: turmeric powder! The golden yellow color of this anti-inflammatory spice mixes exceptionally well with white buttercream frosting to create a delectable shade of yellow frosting that is free of artificial food dye. The small amount of turmeric powder needed doesn't affect the taste or texture of the frosting.

Yellow Frosting

Start to finish: 25 minutes (20 minutes to pre-make frosting, 5 minutes to make it yellow)

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder (more as needed)
• 1 1/2 cups white vanilla buttercream frosting

Mix turmeric powder with white buttercream, starting with a small amount and adding more as needed until you reach your desired color. For 1 1/2 cups of buttercream, a good starting point is 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder.

Alternative Natural Yellow Dyes

Dried mango or pineapple powder is a great alternative. Start with a small amount and add more as needed.

King Arthur Baking Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Start to finish: 20 minutes
Servings: 22 (about 2 3/4 cups)

• 6 tablespoons (85 grams) room-temperature Organic Valley® Unsalted Butter
• 1/3 cup (60 grams) vegetable shortening
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 to 5 cups (454 to 567 grams) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup (57 to 78 grams) room-temperature milk or heavy cream

In a large bowl, beat the butter, shortening and salt until fluffy. Add about half the confectioners' sugar and beat slowly until well blended.

Add the vanilla and half the milk or cream and beat until fluffy.
Continue mixing in sugar and milk alternately until they've been completely incorporated.

(Recipe from King Arthur Baking Company)