If you’ve been looking for a fun and easy way to spice up your baking, then look no further! This recipe will show you how to make color sugar with nothing more than 2 simple ingredients. It can be done in under five minutes and is perfect for any occasion. Skip the expensive colored sugar at the store and make your own with what you have on hand.
How to Make Colored Sugar
Do you want to make your own colored sugar? Colored sugar is a great way to add some flair to your food and drinks. It’s also perfect for parties, weddings, or any other event where you’re looking for something special. You can use it as an accent on top of cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and more! And the best part is that it’s easy to make at home with just two ingredients.
Colored sugars are very inexpensive to make. I like making my own because I can color them anyway I’d like and I’m not limited to strictly red or green options and the sugar sprinkle options at the store.
Whether for a child’s birthday party or a special event, this colored sugar with just two ingredients will give you everything that you need so you can skip buying it at the store. It’s also great because it can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge.
If baking isn’t something that interests you, there are many other ways of using this delicious substance including on top of cakes, cookies, cupcakes or even pancakes! You could add it to drinks as a sweetener alternative or leave some out for guests at parties or dinner events. The sky is really the limit when it comes to how much fun we can create with our food by adding just one more ingredient – color!
What is colored sugar?
Colored sugar is a bright and colorful addition to pancakes, crepes, entrees, or even desserts. It’s actually plain white granulated sugar that has been tinted using natural ingredients such as food coloring or spices. This gives it a gorgeous shimmer and a beautiful hue. Even though you might think that it’s just for decoration purposes, colored sugars can play an important part in the flavor of your dish when sprinkled on top of your foods while they’re cooking.
How easy is it to make?
Making colored sugar is easy, at least when you know how to do it. The process consists of simply mixing white granulated sugar with food coloring until you get your desired shade. You can make as much or as little as you want to, and you can make any color of the rainbow that you want to.
What is the best way to store homemade colored sugar?
Storing colored sugar is easy because you can simply store it in an airtight container or resealable bag. The best way to store it is in a closed air-tight container away from moisture and heat. Store different colors of sugar in their own containers if you do not want the colors to mix.
How long does homemade colored sugar last?
Homemade sugar should last for at least a couple of weeks. For best results, store it in an airtight container or resealable bag and keep it in the fridge to prevent clumping. There is no real hard set time of expiration for homemade sanding sugar but there are a few things to look for when it comes to the freshness of the sugar.
- larger crystals – when the sugar starts clumping together you don’t want to use the large clumps, so remove the large clumps from the rest of the sugar.
- If sugar turns hard, there are crystals at the bottom of a container, or it is powdery and will not dissolve fully in water, it has gone bad.
- If there are any signs of mold in the decorating sugar throw the whole container out.
- Check the smell. If the sugar crystals have an off smell, a weird odor do not use it and throw it away and make a new batch.
- If you see any bugs in the sugar, toss the whole batch.
What are some ways that you can use homemade colored sugar?
Use your homemade colored sugar on top of cakes, cookies, cupcakes or even pancakes! Add it to the rim of a glass for special drinks and cocktails. You could also add a dash to your coffee as a sweetener alternative or leave it out for guests to sprinkle on their desserts at parties or dinner events. There are quite a few recipes that I have shared that use colored sugar that are some of our favorites.
- Easy King Cake Recipe
- St. Patrick’s Day Chocolate Covered Pretzel Sticks
- Cheesecake Cheese Ball
- The Fluffiest Homemade Blueberry Pancakes
- Chai Spiced White Chocolate Cocoa
- Sugar Cookies
How much does this recipe make?
That is going to depend on how much sugar you use. You can make this recipe is as little or as much as you want. I tend to make 1/2 cup at a time, but you can easily make more or less.
Why Bake the Sugar
Baking the sugar is going to give it a crunchy texture and make your colored sugar look even more appealing. I find that baking it to about 120 degrees will yield great results. You’ll want to bake your sugar for about 10 to 15 minutes. You want to keep an eye on it however to make sure it doesn’t scorch or start to melt.
Can I skip baking colored sugar?
Yes. If you do not want to bake the sugar when you are making colored sugar you don’t have to but it will take longer for the sugar to dry after you add the food coloring to it. Remember when using food coloring a little goes a long way.
Colored Sugar Ingredients
- Sugar
- Liquid food coloring
- Ziptop bag
How To Make Colored Sugar
Preheat your oven to120 degrees.
Place your desired amount of sugar into your ziptop bag.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the sugar.
Seal the bag and shake until well combined. If you need your color lighter you just need to add more sugar. If you need it to be darker with more vibrant colors just add more food coloring.
Place the sugar mixture in a thin layer onto a baking sheet pan by pouring it out of the ziptop bag and spreading it evenly on the tray. You can line the baking sheet with parchment paper if you want to.
Dry the sugar out in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, keep an eye on it because you do not want the sugar to melt.
Store in an air tight container.
How to Make Colored Sugar without an oven
Place your desired amount of sugar into your ziptop bag.
Add a few drops of food coloring to the sugar.
Seal the bag and shake until well combined. If you need your color lighter you just need to add more sugar and stir. If you need it to be darker just add more food coloring and stir.
Place sugar onto a baking sheet pan by pouring it out of the ziptop bag and spreading it evenly on the tray.
Let the trays sit out to dry for 2-3 hours.
Once dry put into air tight containers.
Easy Homemade Recipes
- Homemade Blueberry Syrup
- Homemade Pumpkin Spice Seasoning
- Homemade Taco Seasoning
- Fresh Pesto
- Homemade Pizza Sauce
- Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
How to Make Colored Sugar
Equipment
- Ziptop bag
Ingredients
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 drops Liquid food coloring
Instructions
How To Make Colored Sugar in the oven
- Preheat your oven to120 degrees.
- Place your desired amount of sugar into your ziptop bag.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the sugar.
- Seal the bag and shake until well combined. If you need your color lighter you just need to add more sugar. If you need it to be darker with more vibrant colors just add more food coloring.
- Place the sugar mixture in a thin layer onto a baking sheet pan by pouring it out of the ziptop bag and spreading it evenly on the tray. You can line the baking sheet with parchment paper if you want to.
- Dry the sugar out in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, keep an eye on it because you do not want the sugar to melt.
- Store in an air tight container.
How to Make Colored Sugar without an oven
- Place your desired amount of sugar into your ziptop bag.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the sugar.
- Seal the bag and shake until well combined. If you need your color lighter you just need to add more sugar and stir. If you need it to be darker just add more food coloring and stir.
- Place sugar onto a baking sheet pan by pouring it out of the ziptop bag and spreading it evenly on the tray.
- Let the trays sit out to dry for 2-3 hours.
- Once dry put into air tight containers.
Catrina Modawell says
Thank u for sharing
Julie says
So turn the oven off and let it cool down then leave the sugar in 10 minutes after the oven is cooled off??