DIY: Colored Sugar

Colored sugar makes plain cookies, cakes and cupcakes come to life, but there are two major drawbacks - one, the price (averaging about $3 per four ounce container) and two, limited colors. This article shows you how to make your own custom rainbow of colored sugars to fit every occasion.

Time to gather what you will need: 1. sugar (more about that in a moment); 2. liquid or paste food coloring; 3. paper plates or aluminum foil; 4. resealable plastic bags (i.e. Ziploc); 5. Jar with a tight fitting lid; and 6. (optional) spices such as cinnamon, ginger, etc.

Now that you have everything together, it is quite simple to make:

1. Using one cup of sugar at a time, put into plastic bag.

2. Using a few drops of food color at a time, add to sugar (note: if using paste food color, use a toothpick to add color. Changing toothpicks with each color change).

3. Seal the bag and either shake or knead the bag to mix the color completely. Add more color as needed to reach the color you want.

4. Pour newly colored sugar onto paper plate or aluminum foil and allow to dry. This will take anywhere from ten minutes to twenty-four hours depending how much coloring was used.

5. Store in jar with tight fitting lid.

6. (optional) If using spices, add small amounts - about 1/8 teaspoon - before adding coloring as some spices, such as cinnamon, will affect the final color.

A note about sugar: You can use regular table sugar that you can find on your local grocery store shelve and is in every home. However, if you want something special, in baking sections or specialty stores, you can find Pearl sugar, which is a coarse sugar and when colored looks like miniature rock candy and will give a dramatic show. You can also use Sanding sugar, which is finer than standard table sugar, but coarse than powered sugar and a small amount will carry quite far in covering your treats.

You can find a great as well as easy-to-read color chart at www.mccormick.com/Products/Extract-and-Food-Colors/FoodColors.aspx - this chart has a wide range of colors from bright blue to grape as well as using neon colors. Although it only shows for icing, cakes and eggs, these colors can easily be used for colored sugar.

Get you kids into the act and this is a wonderful family project during the holidays when you bake cookies.