I have done several cakes on which I needed to paint with food color, but the gel colors (Wilton) never mix completely into the alcohol. I use lemon extract. I use a toothpick to put a couple of globs of color into a custard cup, then add a capful or so of extract and stir with my paintbrush or a spoon. The color stays in little globs or sticks to the bottom of the cup with the alcohol sitting on top. I wind up having color that is sometimes water color-looking and then some looks like pure food color - way too dark. Also, there are specks in the color like undissolved bits.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks in advance for your help!

I can't help you with the Wilton colors, but you can always paint by hand with airbrush colors and they are very inexpensive.

KoryAK,
Do you paint with the airbrush colors as is, or do you dilute them like the gel colors?

I use the wilton colors as well but i mix mine with vodka and have not had a problem. I've also used lemon juice and it mixes well. sometimes I have undissolved specks but I just assumed I didn't mix well enough or sometimes the gel colors seem to dry out. I thought maybe if they are older, they don't seems as gel like and don't dissolve as well.

cookiemama2,
Do you mean lemon extract? That dries much faster than lemon juice.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/7337751938/in/photostream

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yuma_couture_cakes/7584158298/in/photostream

Airbrush colors! Can't go wrong...and no you don't dilute them unless you want lighter shades. But you do have to be careful because they are very thin and will run. So knock off any excess color or you'll be in for hell with dripping and bleeding.

Okay, thanks a million for the responses! If anyone else has anything to add, please do. I'm trying to learn!

Ditto to the advice about airbrush colors, dilute with water or alcohol if you want them lighter (do not add white coloring) but other than that just paint away.

[quote="cookiemama2" No I used lemon juice, never thought of lemon extract! I was making cookies for my sons kindergarten class and I wasn't sure if I should use the vodka![/quote]

Vodka evaporates.... Alcohol will not remain on cookies.