Cake decorating involves a combination of colour and technique to make cake a piece of art. Properly colouring the icing is an important part in the decorating process. Colours add to the overall appearance and help the details to stand out. When creating a beer-inspired icing colour, specific colours and amounts must be added to achieve light or dark beer shades.

  • Cake decorating involves a combination of colour and technique to make cake a piece of art.
  • When creating a beer-inspired icing colour, specific colours and amounts must be added to achieve light or dark beer shades.

Prepare your buttercream icing per the recipe instructions or purchase a premade icing. Measure out the amount of icing to be dyed and add it to the bowl.

Dip a toothpick into Wilton's icing colour #175 until the tip of the toothpick reaches the bottom of the icing container. Place the toothpick into the icing and stir in the colour. Use a napkin to wipe the toothpick clean. Repeat this step two additional times. Continue on to Step 3 for a light beer colour. Skip to Step 4 for a darker beer colour.

Dip the toothpick into Wilton's icing colour #216 and add it to the icing, stirring well. Wipe the toothpick clean and repeat. This will produce a light beer colour. For a brighter beer colour, decrease the icing colour #216 to two times and add an additional toothpick coated with colour #175.

Dip the last toothpick into Wilton's colour #507 and stir into the icing. Continue dipping the toothpick into the colour and adding it to the icing until the desired level of darkness is achieved.

TIP

Use icing-specific dye. Using standard food dye will thin out your icing and when it is not constantly stirred, it will separate.

WARNING

The icing colours will stain your clothing and skin. Wear old clothes, and protect yourself by wearing an apron and gloves.