6 Natural Food Dyes for Decorating

Natural food colorings are a fun, simple alternative to artificial colorings, which some studies have linked to health risks.

To make a rainbow of natural food colorings, simmer 2 cups of water for 15 – 30 minutes with one of the following ingredients.

• Reddish Pink: 2 cups shredded beets
• Reddish Orange: 2 cups red onion skins
• Orange: 2 cups yellow onion skins
• Yellow: ¼ cup ground turmeric
• Green: 2 cups chopped purple cabbage and ¼ cup ground turmeric (two separate soaks)
• Blue: 2 cups chopped purple cabbage or 2 cups blueberries

You can also grind ingredients and add hot water to make a paste. Gradually add small amounts to your recipe.

Natural food colorings will add some flavor to the food, so choose your combinations wisely.

Experiment with other brightly colored ingredients, like freeze-dried fruits, vegetables and juices.