Cabbage Blue Food Dye

A natural blue food coloring made from red cabbage, perfect for tinting frostings and royal icing. This vibrant dye transforms from purple to blue with the addition of baking soda.

4 servings
40 min

Ingredients

  • ½ head red cabbage
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Bring cabbage and 3 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until cabbage is soft and liquid is reduced by about a third, 20-25 minutes.

    25 min

  2. 2.

    Remove cabbage with a spider or slotted spoon; discard. Add sugar to cabbage liquid and simmer, swirling pan occasionally, until liquid is a very deep purple and has reduced to about 1 cup, 10-15 minutes. Let dye cool, then stir in baking soda. Mix into frosting or royal icing to make desired color.

    15 min