Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Mix colors to make orange
• Necessities
• Mix colors to make orange
• Test the color
• Making orange food coloring with natural ingredients

Orange food coloring is great for making fall-themed treats or icing carrots for a carrot cake. However, most basic food coloring sets do not contain pre-mixed orange dyes. The good news is that whatever you need it for, you can make it by mixing different colors together or by using naturally colored ingredients. Whichever method you choose, you can easily get your icing or baked goods the perfect shade of orange.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Mix colors to make orange

1. Buy red and yellow food coloring. You have to mix red and yellow food coloring to make orange food coloring. Both colors are usually included in the standard food coloring packaging, but you can also get them separately. Red and yellow dyes can be purchased at the local supermarket, wholesaler, specialty store, or online retailer.
   • If you want to make dark orange, you will also need to buy brown or blue food coloring.
   • The food dyes are available in liquid and gel form. Both work to make orange food coloring
   • If you are concerned about the chemicals in the food coloring, you can also choose to buy natural food coloring from health food stores and online stores.
2. Choose the shade of orange you want to make. Decide how light or dark the color orange should be. For example, do you want bright orange food coloring to glaze a pumpkin cookie or do you want light orange food coloring to color some cupcakes? If you have the desired result in mind, you can mix red and yellow in the right proportions.
   • For a dark orange, use more red than yellow, and for a lighter orange, use more yellow than red.
3. Buy carrots, sweet potatoes, or squash as a natural food coloring. Go to your local supermarket or farmers market and buy the most deeply colored orange carrots, sweet potatoes or squash you can find. You only need 2-3 carrots, a large sweet potato, or a small pumpkin to make your own food coloring.
   • Carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes are the best products for making orange powders. All three are high in beta-carotene; that is the source of the orange color.
   • The natural sweetness of these vegetables is great for coloring desserts and sweet dishes.
4. Place the vegetable slices in a food dehydrator in a single layer. Most food dryers have shelves or racks that slide into the appliance. Arrange the carrot, sweet potato or pumpkin slices in a single layer with space between each piece. This way the air can flow evenly around every piece.
   • Consider the amount of space you have in your food dryer. If you have too many very thin slices, they may not all fit in at the same time.

   Tip: if you don't have a food dehydrator, you can dehydrate the vegetables in your oven on the lowest setting. However, this will take much longer and you run the risk of burning the vegetables before they are dried out.

   
   
5. Add the powder to the food you want to color. The amount you have to add depends on what and how much you give a color. For 250 ml of white icing, start with a tablespoon of orange powder. Mix well and then keep adding teaspoons until you get the color you want.
   • Keep in mind that adding a lot of the powder can change the flavor of the food you are coloring. This is especially true when coloring foods with delicate flavors.
   • These natural powders are best for creating subtle shades of orange, rather than a bright, vibrant orange.

Necessities

Mix colors to make orange

• Red food coloring
• Yellow food coloring
• Blue or brown food coloring, if needed
• Small glass bowl
• Small spoon or toothpick

Test the color

• Small glass bowl
• Large glass bowl
• Spoon or rubber spatula

Making orange food coloring with natural ingredients

• Carrots, sweet potato or pumpkin
• Paring knife
• Knife
• Mandolin, if available
• Food dehydrator
• Food processor or spice grinder
• Spoon