HI, I am new to this site, but already love it. There are so many talented people here, so I am hoping for some help. I purchased some fondant from a commercial bakery today, usually use Wilton, and tried to color it black. It turned dark green and I ended using almost a whole bottle of Wilton black coloring...any ideas? Thanks!

Welcome to Cake central. Black fondant is very difficult. It takes a LOT of color and you probably have to compensate for the extra moisture by adding cornstarch/powdered sugar so it isn't sticky.

Personally, I always by Black Satin Ice.

Did you use the gel colour? It happened to me once as well, when using the liquid colouring - turn to a dark sea-green , and I used the WHOLE bottle!!!
I found that using the concentrated powder colouring works best.
You do need a lot still, but defniteley not even half of the bottle!
I mix in the dry powder (although the instructions on the bottle says that you should wet it before mixing in), because it makes less of a mess on my hands! It turns a very dark - greyish, blue/brown colour. I put it in a airtight bag then, and let it sit over night. The next day it will be much darker, but will have little spots in it. You kneed it thoroughly, and whallah! Perfect black! If it is still not black enough to you liking, just add more colour and let it sit for a hour or so, and kneed through again, until you are satisfied.
It works for me - everytime!

Hi audreyMc!! I use to buy my black fondant before because I always had trouble getting a black fondant, and always turn dark green too, but what I do now is I make chocolate fondant or brown fondant first (wilton gel) and then let it sit for couple ours and then add black and it work really good, I am more than happy because I don't have to order my black fondant on the internet I just mix brown color or make chocolate and then color it with the black and get black, black, black fondant.

I hope this can help you if you have a ???? just PM

Frankyia

Hi audreymc

I also learnt the hrad way! add brown first and get it dark, ready for the black.

might suggest if you have it really dark green now, perhaps let it sit overnight and add more black tomorrow.

I've read heaps of times on CC that these colours develop overnight if you have time to let them sit.

I personally use Americolours, i've tried wilton and i found i used too much and never got the right colours anyway.

Hope that helps!

I forgot to tell you, If you allready have dark green fondant, add red.

Red neutralize green.

I knew I could count on fellow cake lovers to come through. It is still green as of this morning, so do you think I could add brown to it now???? I will try the couple of things mentioned here before I go buy some more....I am getting worried that my bow will not be dry by Saturday when the cake is due...any ideas on how to get it to dry faster???? Ever put it in from of a fan? I have never had problems with the Wilton premade turning the color I wanted, but it just tastes so bad!!! THANKS again! In His Grip, Audreymc

If you are concerned about drying time, add a little tylose or gum tex powder. (you can find them in most cake decorating areas of stores) This will help your fondant dry faster and more sturdy than regular fondant.

I would add some brown and knead it really well. Then, let sit for a couple of hours. Then add some more black. The taste is probably already way off (due to the coloring), so you might as well keep working it until you get the black. Besides, most customers do not eat the bow anyway. I always see them take them off to actually cut the cake!

HTH -
Mandi

THANKS

I would try mixing your black coloring with some clear alcohol gin or vodka and then paint the fondant. Try a small patch first untill you get the color deep enough. I paint a lot of my cakes now to get a good color with fondant, I always have trouble with red also. This always works for me I hope it helps.

I also use the black powder form of food color. I use the whole jar! I haven't tried letting it sit to see if it darkens more, so I end adding regular black food coloring to deepen it, but since I don't have much the texture of fondant doesn't get weird on me.

For bows, I always mix fondant with gumpaste to dry fast.