Updated on April 30, 2020 by Liz Marek · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

Edible Watercolor

Guest Instructor Angela Nino of The Painted Box shows how to make edible watercolor washes.

Edible watercolor is the perfect medium to use on pretty much anything. Fondant, gumpaste, modeling chocolate, royal icing, wafer paper and more. The colors react very much like real watercolors and because it's made with alcohol, the liquid evaporates very quickly leaving behind only the color. This is really important because if you use water, the liquid tends to dissolve the sugar and cause a soppy mess.

I first learned about edible watercolor from the amazing Angela Nino of The Painted Box. She makes these incredible cookies with gorgeous artistic watercolor effects. She's an artist at heart and her cookies are her medium. I was so excited when she shared this recipe with us because it really has become a staple in my cake decorating and I owe it all to her genius 😀

Watercolor Cookies Angela Nino — www.thepaintedbox.com

Check out the full tutorial on how to make edible watercolors below

Recipe

Edible Watercolor Recipe

Make edible watercolors. Recipe from Angela Nino of The Painted Box

Print Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 0

curing: 1

Total Time: 1 5

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: ounces

Calories: 190kcal

Author: Liz Marek

Ingredients

▢ 4 ounces everclear or other high-proof grain alcohol
▢ 1 Tablespoon food coloring

Instructions

Place your food coloring into a glass jar
Pour in your Everclear
Mix and cover with the lid. Let the mixture cure overnight.
Strain out the gel clumps. Now your edible water color is ready to use.

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz | Calories: 190kcal

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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About Liz Marek

Liz Marek is a professional cake artist, sweet and savory recipe developer, and the founder of Sugar Geek Show, where she teaches cooking, baking and cake decorating through detailed tutorials, food science explanations, and kitchen-tested recipes. She has been creating recipes and teaching baking techniques since 2008, helping bakers of all skill levels gain the confidence to make professional-quality desserts at home.

Liz is known for breaking down complex cooking and baking concepts into simple, approachable methods. Her work focuses on helping people understand not just how a recipe works, but why it works. Through Sugar Geek Show, she shares step-by-step recipes, cake decorating tutorials, and practical baking guides designed to make professional techniques accessible to everyone.

Over the years, Liz has taught thousands of students through online tutorials, classes, and educational content focused on real kitchen results. Her recipes are carefully tested and written to help people succeed the first time they make them.

When she’s not developing recipes or teaching baking techniques, Liz also hosts curated travel experiences for women through her travel brand Soul Sisters.

You can find Liz’s latest recipes, baking tutorials, and food science tips at Sugar Geek Show.

Comments

Jennifer says

December 08, 2020 at 8:28 pm

How long can these water colors keep once they are made? Should they be kept on the shelf or in the fridge?

Reply
- Elizabeth Marek says
  
  December 15, 2020 at 12:31 am
  
  They are shelf stable. They don't go bad
  
  Reply
Cheryl says

May 26, 2020 at 6:02 am

In rhe wrtten instructions it says "mix', meaning swirl, or with a spoon? In the video, you swirl. Just asking.

Reply
- Elizabeth Marek says
  
  May 31, 2020 at 2:15 pm
  
  Mix means to combine it together. It doesn't matter what tool you use.
  
  Reply
kecia says

August 20, 2019 at 7:28 am

what's the shelf life?

Reply
RD says

May 28, 2019 at 9:31 am

Do they harden?

Reply
- The Sugar Geek Show says
  
  May 28, 2019 at 1:17 pm
  
  Does what harden?
  
  Reply
ROSEMARIE T says

October 28, 2018 at 9:59 am

HOW TO YOU GET A BROWN THAT DOES NOT TURN GREEN?

Reply
- Raymona Holten says
  
  December 25, 2018 at 7:30 am
  
  Use clear vanilla, or lemon extract instead.
  
  Reply

5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)