How do you get black buttercream frosting to actually turn black? It always seems to turn out grey. Any ideas would be great. Thanks

Start with chocolate buttercream!

It'll taste better (ie: less bitter) and use less black color. Also, leave if for a day or two to darken over time, as most dark colors do

HTH!

Mirjana

Some people use chocolate frosting - I so at times. but I have some people who do not like chocolate. So, I make the frosting light brown, let it sit so the true color comes, if it needs to be darker brown then add a little. then I add the black a little at a time. the Longer it sits the darker it will get and you will not get that nasty taste. I use Americolor and I don't get any nasty taste from the black color.

Good luck in mixing. Just remeber when the frosting sits the color will get darker.

I use chocolate frosting. Or I color my white with brown and let sit and then color it with black

I recently had to do this for one of my cakes. I started with chocolate and added enough black (Americolor) to get the chocolate a dark grey. I started using the icing at that time. When I was finished doing the piping it had turned completely black.

I just use black and brown americolor. I did it last night as a matter of fact. I t did start out as a charcoal grey and I could actually see it change to black gradually. It was pretty cool. There was no weird taste, just wonderful tasting buttercream. Good luck.

Use AmeriColor Super Black gel food color. It is the only true black food coloring out there that I have found. It's not purple or gray but BLACK. Check out the black on this cake...

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&member_id=2150&cat=0&pos=8

That's AmeriColor Super Black! You should be able to find this at any quality cake decorator supply store or on-line.

Good Luck!

I just use the Americolor black and let sit for about a day. Always keep black on hand in freezer...just keep adding left over white icing and a touch of Americolor.

Patience is the name of the game for black (and red). You need to make it in advance, 1 - 2 days. I've had success with Wilton and Americolor. I had to use much more of the coloring when using Wilton though.

Look at my Mickey cake, red and black are both Wilton colors.

Your cakes are great!! I love the mickey ears!!! Sooo cute!!


Hugs, ~Denise

Thanks Denise. I've been doing cakes since I was 10, I just turned 40. I do them for fun and this was a freebie for my friend's hubbys 65th bday party. He's a total Mickey freak so I had fun with it. Most of my cakes are fun since they are for friends and family and I get free reign in design.

Thank you all so much. Let it sit got it. Easy enough. I will have to try the americolor, I have been using the wilton. Thanks again, you guys are great!