I am making a cake for a ruby wedding anniversary. The couple really want a ruby red tier in the cake and I have two options - one is fondant in ruby red and the second is SMBC coloured red, but I am nervous to use that much red food colouring in the icing to get the right colour.

Any ideas please??

As long as you don't use wilton coloring (the red tastes bad) you should be ok. They also sell pre-colored red fondant (Satin Ice) that tastes great and it would be easy to tweak to get the ruby red tint. That's what I would do is the fondant.

Have you ever considered using red sugar crystals on the cake? along the line of how bakers are now using the multi-colored candies to cover cakes. Could come out sparkling like a ruby slipper

Thanks! I'll try the pre-mix red. I have the Americolor red, so hopefully I'll be ok ?

Hadn't thought of sparkles, I'll see if I can find some and try it out!  Thanks for the advice :)