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How to Make Virtually Any Color of Frosting

Updated October 24, 2019
Frosting_Cookies
Baking cookies is always a good time. Decorating cookies is not always a good time. Let’s change that.
Let’s be honest, we all have a vision for how our Christmas cookies are going to turn out—in most cases, thanks to our holiday Pinterest boards. But when the cookies turn out nothing like the photo and our Christmas cookie dreams are crushed, we can quickly go from humming Christmas songs in the kitchen to using a few choice words that we’re not allowed to say on Tablespoon. This frosting cheat sheet is your best guide to make sure the color of your frosting turns out just right for your cookies this year. It puts you one step closer to a Pinterest-worthy cookie while saving your patience for untangling those Christmas lights.

You need to bookmark this page. Pin this article. Or print these charts. It’s going to make your holiday baking a whole lot easier—guaranteed! Whether you bake cookies from scratch or prefer to create cookie magic from a mix, this frosting hack is a time saver, a life saver and a total cookie saver! There’s nothing worse than baking the perfect batch of sugar cookies or cookie cutouts and having the final frosting touch fail.

We tested each one of these color combos ourselves, so it’s the real deal—you don’t have the time (or the patience) for anything less. To use this frosting guide, start with a 16-ounce can of Betty Crocker™ Vanilla Rich & Creamy Frosting and a box of Betty Crocker™ Classic Gel Food Coloring, Neon Gel Food Coloring and Bold Food Coloring. Each shade and color of frosting was created using a half container of frosting and the recommended measurement of food coloring.

½ container of vanilla frosting + recommended teaspoon amount of food coloring = a frosting color that turns out just the way you want it to!

Classic Colors Frosting Chart

How to Make Yellow Frosting

To make light yellow frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon of yellow gel.
To make medium yellow frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon of yellow gel.
To make yellow frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1 teaspoon of yellow gel.

 

How to Make Red Frosting

To make pink frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon of red gel.
To make light red frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon of red gel.
To make red frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 2 teaspoons of red gel.

 

How to Make Green Frosting

To make light green frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon green gel.
To make medium green frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon green gel.
To make green frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 2 teaspoons of green gel.

 

How to Make Blue Frosting

To make light blue frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon of blue gel.
To make medium blue frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon of blue gel.
To make blue frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1 teaspoon of blue gel.

Warm Colors Frosting Chart

How to Make Orange Frosting

To make light orange frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon of neon orange gel.
To make medium orange frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon of neon orange gel.
To make orange frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon neon orange gel and 1/8 teaspoon red gel.

 

How to Make Tan Frosting

To make tan frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon yellow gel, 1/8 teaspoon bold brown gel and 1 drop of red gel.

 

How to Make Burnt Orange Frosting

To make burnt orange frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon neon orange gel and ¼ teaspoon red gel.

 

How to Make Maroon Frosting

To make maroon frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 3 teaspoons red gel, 1/8 teaspoon blue gel and 1/8 teaspoon yellow gel.

 

How to Make Coral Colored Frosting

To make coral colored frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon yellow gel and ½ teaspoon neon pink gel.

 

How to Make Pink Frosting

To make pink frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon of red gel.
To make neon pink frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon neon pink gel.

 

How to Make Hot Pink Frosting

To make hot pink frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon neon pink gel.

Cool & Dark Colors Frosting Chart

How to Make Turquoise Frosting

To make turquoise frostings, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon green gel and 1 teaspoon blue gel.

 

How to Make Teal Frosting

To make teal frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon green gel and 1 teaspoon blue gel.

 

How to Make Kelly Green Frosting

To make kelly green frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon green gel and ½ teaspoon blue gel.

 

How to Make Purple Frosting

To make lilac frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ¼ teaspoon of neon purple gel.
To make lavender frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with ½ teaspoon of neon purple gel.
To make purple frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1 teaspoon of neon purple gel.

 

How to Make Dark Green Frosting

To make olive green frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 2 teaspoons of green gel and 1/8 teaspoon of bold brown gel.
To make dark green frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 2 teaspoons of green gel and ¼ teaspoon of bold black gel.

 

How to Make Brown Frosting

To make brown frosting, use chocolate! Or, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1 teaspoon bold brown gel.

 

How to Make Navy Blue Frosting

To make navy blue or dark blue frosting, mix ½ container of vanilla frosting with 1 ½ teaspoons bold dark blue gel and ½ teaspoon bold black gel.

 

How to Make Gray Frosting

To make gray frosting, mix ½ container vanilla frosting with 1/8 teaspoon bold black gel.

 

How to Make Black Frosting

To make black frosting, mix ½ container vanilla frosting with 1 teaspoon bold black gel.