Homemade Colored Sugar is so easy to make and it will help you save money too. Perfect for all your baking needs all year long!
Who doesn't use colored sugar to decorate homemade cookies, cakes and cupcakes? I'm sure you have a few bottles of colored sugar in your pantry that you purchased from the grocery store. Those bottles are little. I mean really little, right? And what do you think about the price of those little, tiny bottles of colored sugar?
Homemade Colored Sugar
What's the first thing you think of when one of the kids accidentally dumps the whole bottle of colored sugar all over the counter instead of the cookies? Come on, let's be honest...you're thinking how much money was just wasted.
I made this recipe a few years ago and it worked really great in giving me a ton of homemade colored sugar and it was really easy. This homemade recipe for colored sugar makes a good amount of sugar and if stored properly, will last a long time. And to make sure the color sugar stays fresh, you're going to want to store the colored sugar in mason jars; not plastic containers.
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- Mason jars - you need to store the homemade colored sugar in glass jars, not plastic containers. I love mason jars and think they work the best.
- Fine mesh sieve - use a metal sieve and not a plastic one.
- Gel food coloring - these are the colors I used.
- Sparkling sand sugar - if you decide to use this, you can find it on Amazon.
Tips for Making Homemade Colored Sugar
- Work in smaller batches of sugar so it's easier to distribute the color evenly.
- If the color is too dark after you mix it with the sugar, just add more sugar!
- The colored sugar is going to be a little lumpy. Once it dries, push it through a fine sieve to help remove the lumps.
- You can use this same technique to color shredded coconut!
How to Make Homemade Colored Sugar
Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!
Ingredients:
- Clear sparkling sand sugar or regular sugar - I used regular sugar.
- Gel food coloring, not liquid
- ¼ tsp. cornstarch
Instructions:
- Place 1 cup of sugar in a plastic bag.
- Add the gel food coloring, beginning with 1 or 2 drops.
- Seal up the plastic bag and start kneading the food gel into the sugar.
- After the color is even distributed, add the ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch and continue to knead until everything is incorporated.
- Once everything is distributed evenly, spread the colored sugar onto a baking sheet and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
- If you find that after the sugar dries there were still small "clumps" of the gel, place all the sugar into a sieve and pushed it through with a spoon.
I ended up using around 6 drops for a nice red color, which really doesn't look red in the photos, but trust me it's a pretty shade of red.
Knead the gel food coloring into the sugar then add the cornstarch and continue to knead until everything is incorporated.
Spread the colored sugar onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and let it air dry for about 30 minutes.
I found after it dried that there were still small "clumps" of the gel. I placed all the sugar into a sieve and pushed it through with a spoon. Do you see all the lumps left behind?
How to Make Green Color Sugar
Follow the same steps above only use green food coloring gel.
How to Store Homemade Colored Sugar
After the colored sugar has dried on the baking tray, place in mason jars for up to six months.
More Easy Dessert Recipes:
- Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl Cookies
- Chocolate Brownie Cake with Homemade Chocolate Ganache
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies - made with a cake mix
- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
📖 Recipe Card
Homemade Colored Sugar
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Place 1 cup of sugar in a plastic bag.
- Add the gel food coloring, beginning with 1 or 2 drops.
- Seal up the plastic bag and start kneading the food gel into the sugar.
- After the color is even distributed, add the ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch and continue to knead until everything is incorporated.
- Once everything is distributed evenly, spread the colored sugar onto a baking sheet and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
- If you find that after the sugar dries there were still small "clumps" of the gel, place all the sugar into a sieve and pushed it through with a spoon.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
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Julie B. says
Is there a shelf life on the sugar? thanks!
AndiWinslow says
What a nice post. I have made and posted sprinkles that I made so I must try to make some colored sugars. Thank you The sprinkles taste so much better then the purchased ones but a little time consuming and arm breaking!!!! andi
Ericka Breedlove says
What a great idea! My daughter loves using colored sugar on cookies and they are definitely expensive so I will be trying this one soon!