I have been decorating cakes, cup cakes, cookies and more for years. I was introduced to the Wilton Icing Colors when I took my first Cake decorating Class.
You can buy the colors separately, in packages of 2, 4, 6 and 12 with a good variety of colors.
Colors 1/2 oz. jar 1 of each: copper, royal blue, black, violet, brown, green, red, lemon yellow, burgundy, golden yellow, and Kelly green.
Now to work with these colors is not that difficult, but you need to know exactly how much to add. I was taught to use the very tip of a toothpick. The colors have a foil seal, so all I do is take my toothpick and poke a hole and widen it so it is a little wider than the toothpick. Then you dip your tooth pick in the color as to just get the end of the toothpick covered with the jelled color(years ago the colors were made more as a paste and took along time to blend). Then just add it on top of your frosting by wiping it across the frosting. Stir you frosting until the color is blended good with the frosting, if the color is too light then you do the same procedure with a clean tooth pick and do this until you have the color you want. Now if the color looks like it is almost what you want, stop right there, because when the frosting has sat for awhile the color will get a little deeper. For a deeper color of course you dip the tooth pick in about 1/3 of an inch and add more coloring until you achieve the color you are looking for.
The reason I only poke a whole through the foiled seal a bit bigger than the toothpick, is so the color will not dry out.
I originally use to use the 8 colored frosting package, it at that time had all the basic colors I needed. But, then I got into Christmas, Easter, Birthdays, decorating for others and my children wanted certain colors on their cakes. Now they have individual colors, 2, 4, and 12 in a set. So I went to the 12 colored set. Which gives me more to choose from. If I am making a special cake, I will purchase some colors separately.
The coloring does not have a flavor, so it will not affect your frosting taste.
You can use your empty cake decorating bag and take a knife and dip it in the color (make the opening larger), and make a strip from the tip you are using to 3/4 the way up the bag, this will give you edging 2 toned. You can also add a couple more colors if you are feeling real crafty.
When you are done decorating throw away your toothpicks, and make sure your jars are wiped clean and sealed tight. If you do not seal them tight they can dry out. I then store my colors back in the box they came with and put them with the rest of my cake decorating supplies. These colors if you use the method I was taught will last (depends on how often you decorate) for months to a couple of years.
Benefits: array of colors, easy to work with, colors are tasteless.
What I don’t Like: if not sealed properly can dry out, also can stain your hands for a couple of days. I hate it when it gets under my finger nails. But, just keep scrubbing, a finger nail cleaning brush works great). Will stain clothing, dish towels, etc.
