Seems no matter how much concentrated black dye I use to try to make pitch black royal icing (or buttercream), I cannot seem to achieve the full black color. I'm using wilton dyes. Any suggestions?

As far as making black buttercream, if it's a small amount I just add a lot of coloring to it until it's pretty black (it will darken after is sits) but for large amounts start with chocolate buttercream. It will take less coloring to make it black. For the royal, I guess just use lots of color. I made some black royal last week (colored half the batch black) and I just put a lot in until it was real dark grey and after it sat for a bit it darkened up.
I hope that helps,
HeatherMari

If you look in my pictures you'll see a black and white cake. I used the regular Wilton gel color but used a lot of it, probably 1/2 the container. I let the icing set for 1 day and the color deepened considerably. I hope this works for you! Good luck.

The only way I have gotten a true black is with Americolors Super Black -- can get that true black without too much coloring...good luck....

I also make my icing the day before because the black definitely darkens as it sits...

Lisanne

I will second the Americolor super black! I love the americolors. I'll never go back to wilton!

I Just recieved my Americolor can't wait to use them. Glad every one seems to like them. I have only done one batch of black buttercream and I started off with chocolate icing. It turned out ok. It was for Halloween. But I now buy the prepacked wilton tube for black and red buttercream. It just saves me the frustration of trying to get the perfect color. Good luck.

try taking the royal down as much as possible with black colouring - then AIRBRUSH - works like a dream - and uses a lot less colouring when airbrushed!!!!

I 3rd the americolor super black...i was so frustrated with wilton/black and the amount u have to use....

and if you have problems with getting your red..try out there super red.. good luck

I read somewhere about making dark chocolate then adding a little purple to it. I did the experiment with the outline for frozen buttercream transfer and it was black! Not sure if it would work on a larger scale or not.

yip, Americolor super black! the only one that's black and not grey or purple.