Homemade Colored Sugar | Walking on Sunshine Recipes (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Lois · As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This site contains affiliate links · 13 Comments

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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!

Homemade Colored Sugar | Walking on Sunshine Recipes (1)

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.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

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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:

  1. Place 1 cup of sugar in a plastic bag.
  2. Add the gel food coloring, beginning with 1 or 2 drops.
  3. Seal up the plastic bag and start kneading the food gel into the sugar.
  4. After the color is even distributed, add the ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch and continue to knead until everything is incorporated.
  5. Once everything is distributed evenly, spread the colored sugar onto a baking sheet and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
  6. 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.

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Knead the gel food coloring into the sugar then add the cornstarch and continue to knead until everything is incorporated.

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Spread the colored sugar onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and let it air dry for about 30 minutes.

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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?

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How to Make Green Color Sugar

Follow the same steps above only use green food coloring gel.

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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.

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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
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Homemade Colored Sugar

Yield: 1 cup

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Drying Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Homemade Colored Sugar isn't difficult to make and will help you save money. Perfect for all your baking needs all year long!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Clear sparkling sugar or regular sugar
  • Gel food coloring, not liquid
  • ¼ tsp. cornstarch

Instructions

  1. Place 1 cup of sugar in a plastic bag.
  2. Add the gel food coloring, beginning with 1 or 2 drops.
  3. Seal up the plastic bag and start kneading the food gel into the sugar.
  4. After the color is even distributed, add the ¼ teaspoon of cornstarch and continue to knead until everything is incorporated.
  5. Once everything is distributed evenly, spread the colored sugar onto a baking sheet and let it dry for about 30 minutes.
  6. 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.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 48Serving Size: 1 teaspoon
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 17Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 0gSugar: 4gProtein: 0g

The nutrition information is calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you, please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 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

    Reply

  2. 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!

    Reply

  3. Millie Snyder says

    The is a great idea! Do you think using a sugar substitute like Splenda will work? I want to make these for friends who can't have a lot of sugar.

    Reply

  4. R Dawn says

    Thanks for sharing the sugar recipe on FFF this week. NOW you do it, after I already bought some! lol
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

    Reply

  5. Debra says

    SO cute! I love this!

    Reply

  6. Cynthia Landrie says

    Very pretty! I bet this would be a fun project for kids too! Great for any holiday. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  7. Sue says

    Thanks Lois , this is a super sweet tip, I will not be buying colored sugar anymore, yours looks so much better! I spoke with my mom this morning and asked what she did yesterday, her reply was "I baked over 500 cookies," she preceded to name the different kinds, I also asked her how many she ate while doing all this baking, her reply was "two"! my reply was " You have more self control than I, as I would have consumed at least ten of each."lol.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Sue
    p.s her self control explains her tiny waist.

    Reply

  8. Dee says

    You're right, colored sugar is expensive, but for whatever reason, I never thought to make my own. I like to use colored sugar around the rim of the glasses for get togethers and the red and green is perfect for the holidays. Thanks for sharing.
    beneaththeelmtree.blogspot.com

    Reply

  9. Beth says

    Thank you!!

    Reply

  10. Chatty Crone says

    I am going to make some today! sandie

    Reply

  11. Vee says

    Very cost effective way of getting the pretty colored sugars. Thanks for the tips!

    Reply

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Homemade Colored Sugar | Walking on Sunshine Recipes (2024)
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