A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being one of the first to try out Color Right, Wilton's new line of food coloring. The idea behind this system is to help us decorators achieve the same exact icing color every time. It comes with a chart that tells you exactly how many drops of color you need to achieve a specific hue. I haven't gone so far as to make a color more than once to see if I could replicate it each time, but I have been able to get some really beautiful shades. You can find the Wilton Color Right system on Amazon.
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My favorite thing about Color Right is that it's really easy to get vibrant shades with a few drops of color. The chart calls for 2 cups of icing for each color, but I was only using 1 cup, so I cut the amounts in half. Since I was using only 1 cup of icing, I had to make pastels by using half drops (half drops aren't recommended, but sometimes I break the rules). To get a half drop, I squeezed the color out onto a spatula and touched the spatula to the icing. As you can see in the photo above, I was able to get some nice soft colors. You do have to be careful though, because the color is very concentrated, so it's easy to go overboard if you're not following the chart!
This pastel green is my favorite color of the shades listed in the chart. The photo above shows the formula to achieve this color. 1 drop of blue, 1 drop of yellow, and 1 drop of brown (I did use the full 2 cups of stiff consistency royal icing here just to make sure I got it exactly right). Click here to see the cookies I made using this color.
Overall, I really enjoyed using the Color Right system and I look forward to trying out more of the colors. I also think it would be fun to come up with new shades using different combinations of drops! I love that they come in squeeze bottles, too. They're so much easier to use than the jars (although, I don't foresee myself giving up my Garden Tone Set anytime soon). My only issue with the system is that the chart calls for 2 cups of icing, and sometimes you just don't need that much of one color. But, if you're a rule-breaker like me, you can always just use a half drop. 😉
I purchased
U purchased the Wilton color right system as you suggested however it did not come with a chart like in your photo. Where do I get that chart
Oh that's strange! I posted this nearly 10 years ago so I suppose it's possible they no longer include a chart in the box. You can reach out to Wilton to see if they still have these charts available.
I made a double batch of RI to make royal blue icing and wound up adding a whole bottle of the blue to get the color deeper. I tested it on 2 cookies last night and it is not hardening. I was worried that this might be water based since water is the first ingredient. Overmixing can apparently also cause this problem, which I did have to mix it A LOT more since it was such a big batch. Thinking I can't use it at all now and running out of days to get them done. Help or advice??
I use an egg white base for my royal icing, not a meringue powder. I have also been using Wilton food coloring. Some days I get perfect cookies, other days I have horrible bleeding issues with my food covering. Do you have any royal icing recommendations and food coloring brand recommendations to eliminate my color bleeding all together? Thank you sweetams, your cookies are amazing, and I'm obsessed with your tutorials.
Thank you, Amanda! This post on royal icing has information on how to prevent color bleed. Scroll down a bit to find the section on Troubleshooting Tips 🙂 https://www.sweetambs.com/tutorial/royalicing/
I don't see a black in this pack, could you recommend a black food colouring please x
Hi Victoria! This set does come with black food coloring. However, I've been using activated charcoal to make black icing lately. You can find it on Amazon 🙂
I've had a lot of trouble trying to get bold colors with the traditional wilton food gel colorings lately. I end up dumping half the bottle into the buttercream, only to achieve pastel colors. Have you been able to achieve bold colors such as red or royal blue? I'm talking bold, Crayola-like colors.
Hi Brandi! It's difficult to get really bold colors using the traditional Wilton gel pastes. I'd definitely recommend trying Wilton Color Right or Americolor to achieve darker shades 🙂
Hi.. did you notice a taste difference in cakes/icing when using the system? I colour a lot of cakes and I don't like how some alter the taste of the cake itself. Thanks!
Hello! I've had trouble in the past with colors that leave behind a bitter taste, but I haven't had that problem with with this set. Thanks for your question!
I have this system and its amazing by far the eases coloring method when you you the charts and getting one drop is very easy it comes out drop by drop with barley any effort so as long as you don't just go squeezing the bottle it will be simple and the system goes a very long way since you need only a small amount to get even your super bright pigments .. I doubt I'll ever use another system again
I agree, Paula. I've really been enjoying using this system!
When I use blues and greens, no matter the brand, I always seem to have "swirls" once the icing has dried.
My husband bought the color right system for me, and I'm hoping I'll be able to make blue and green that won't end up with a swirl effect. I haven't looked at the color chart yet, but am hoping there's a formula for turquoise!
Love the cookies, your filigree work is amazing!
Are these similar to AmeriColor gel coloring? It looks like they might be more concentrated but I've noticed it's really hard to get consistent drops from those bottles, which would impact the reproducibility.
It shows Wilton in the picture.
Yes, the Color Right system is a Wilton product.
Hi Sabrina! They are similar, but much more concentrated. I've been able to get pretty consistent drops so far, but you do have to squeeze slowly to make sure that only one drop comes out at a time.
Me parece fabulosas sus decoraciones, son increíbles , me gusta observar cada paso hasta como lograr esos colores hermosos.
Hi Amber Your cookie amazing. I see your videos all day!
But I have one question what is the recipe for your royal icing?
Hello! I use 10 tablespoons of meringue powder per 2 pounds of powdered sugar for my royal icing. You can read more about it here: https://www.sweetambs.com/tutorial/royal-icing-consistencies/
I simply love ur icing...I liked ur pg on Facebook as well .........can u send videos in which u tell how to make designs......I dream to do icing like yours.
Thank you so much, Nida! You can find lots of videos on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SweetAmbsCookies
I also have an online class: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/AmberSpiegel_4873_D
Actually you tube is blocked in my country for a few weeks
Do you think they would work on fondant, or is it only for royal icing???
Love your cookies, by the way... but my forte is cakes, and it is difficult to reach certain colors.
Thank you, Carmen! It says on the box that they can be used to color fondant, but I didn't try it! Let me know if you do.
you can do a fan page in spanish please .i like your work
Thank you! All of my YouTube videos are being translated into Spanish and should be available within the next few weeks.
Those pink rose cookies! OH MY WORD- LOVE those!!
Thank you! 😀
Hi Amber, I was just looking at the Wilton Color Right in the store the other day. Liked your review. I will definitely have them, and I would never get rid of my Garden Tones either. 😉
Thanks, Liz!
the whole purpose of the color right is so that you can duplicate the colors exact every time. I think it would have been more beneficial to actually do that in your review.
How did you make the pictures cookies so smooth. Looks like liquid icing.
Hi Erica! I used flood consistency royal icing, which dries very smooth. You can read more about it here: https://www.sweetambs.com/tutorial/royal-icing-consistencies/
Did you notice the royal icing drying harder than usual when using the Wilton Color Right System? I used the colors this weekend in my buttercream and instead of developing a light crust, the buttercream became so hard it started crumbling.
Hi Ashley! I haven't used it with buttercream, only royal icing. I didn't notice a difference in the texture of the RI.
Hi Amber, I will not give up my Garden Tone either.. I really love those colors. I am excited about trying these new colors. The green is beautiful. Thanks again for sharing. Cindy
Thanks for sharing your review! These look like liquid colors...will they change the consistency of the flood icing?
You're welcome, Allysa! They're more like a gel consistency, so they don't change the consistency of the icing.