- Home
- Cookie Decorating Techniques
- Food Color Markers
Food color markers...slap a zing on those cookies!
Food color markers for sugar cookie decorating will make your cookies go from ‘eh’ to ‘WOW’.
This page features:
- using food color markers--video
- question and answer with 7 food color marker brand comparison (here is a question and answer on my airbrushing page too!)
- making DIY food color markers--video tutorial
Using food color markers on cookies with a video
Here’s a short video showing examples of using markers with some of my favorite pens:
Questions and answers about using food color markers
Question: How long does it take the food ink to dry on cookies?
Answer: It depends on humidity. Usually, 2-4 hours, though sometimes up to 6 hours.
Sidenote: if you have a Samsung Galaxy, you can download the app, Galaxy Sensors. It will tell you humidity levels and a lot more. I go to this almost daily. I'm sure i-phones have a similar app.
You can lightly dust the dried icing or dried glaze with that you have used the markers on with cornstarch. Let set for a couple of minutes, then dust off with a very soft brush. You can also place them in a dehydrator or oven with a light to speed up drying time.
Question: Do the food color markers dry out fast?
Answer: No, they seem to last forever!
Question: What ones are the best?
Answer: I have tried 7 brands.
Scroll to the last marker picture to see my most favorite!
Off-brand: I got these at Walmart years ago (yes, they still work like new). You can make either a thin line or use more of the side of the tip for a broader line, though this can be a little challenging.
If you are writing with the tip, it is NOT a fine line but a broader one. Though I do like the soft bristle and vibrant colors.
They also are quite wet so you will want to make sure your sugar cookie icing is very dry. I also found that they can cause a color bleed.
Ateco: These tips are very hard. It seems no matter how much the royal icing has dried, and how light of pressure is used, the tips of these rascals still go through the icing.
However, the colors are vibrant.
Wilton: I see no real difference between the thick food color Wilton markers as the Ateco. The fine-tipped markers also have hard tips. But they are good all-in-all.
FooDoodler: These work fine. They are not my favorite, but okay. These markers have fine tips. I just have to make sure the icing is very dry. To me, they seem almost gritty to write with.
I have also found that the marker tends to dry up faster than others of this size.
Cookie Connection’s tweets, ultra-fine tip: I really like
these food color markers. Because they are ultra-fine, they are great for eyelashes
and very fine detail. Light pressure is what it takes with these. But I still very much like them.
Globalbelly Edible Permanent Markers: I like that these are a nice soft brush tip.
Unfortunately, the colors are not vibrant.
For instance, purple is a very light gray.
The red is a very light reddish-orange.
The yellow is so light you can hardly see it.
The bright leaf green color is a light pea-green with a tinge of yellow.
The black isn’t a true black. It’s heavily tinged with green.
The blue and orange are the only good ones. Very disappointing.
Nomeca 10 pc food coloring markers: NAILED IT! These are my absolute all-time favorites! Why am I crazy over them?
- the ‘ink’ seems to never dry up (4+ years of steady use and still going strong)
- they have a very soft and flexible brush tip
- able to draw fine lines or broad lines
- able to color large areas
- vibrant colors
- does not bleed into the icing, even when the icing is not fully cured
- great price
The cons: nothing...I'm pleased to report! :)
These are the set of Nomeca food color markers I get through Amazon...
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means no cost to you but I may receive a small commission when you click on the link below and make a purchase.
I am proud to offer you affiliate links.
Why?
When you see one, that means I stand behind that product. I bought it, I love it, and I use it regularly in my own sugar cookie business.
Because of this, you can be assured that there will be no spammy material/products on this site.
This image link takes you to the Nomeca markers:
Here is a purse cookie cutter I flipped to a heart monitor. I just love these edible markers! (A coffee mug cookie cutter would work great as well).
Making diy food color markers with video tutorial
If you would like to try to make your own markers for sugar cookie decorating, here’s a video I found on YouTube.
I just ordered the fantastix (not an affiliate link) blank pens just now. There is a difference between the brush tip and the bullet tip on their website. I ordered the brush tip. I figured the bullet tip would be too wide for my decorating.
I'm excited to try to make one white and some metallic colors!
Quick update:
It had been some time since I searched, but I found actual white food color markers on Amazon. They come in a 3-pack for a great price.
I'm so happy to have these. They work great for me. I wondered when I used them on black icing if they would hold the white color over a couple of days. Sure enough! I'm very pleased with them.
If you would like to get some too, just click on the white marker image below the Amazon notice.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means no cost to you but I may receive a small commission when you click on the link below and make a purchase.
I am proud to offer you affiliate links.
Why?
When you see one, that means I stand behind that product. I bought it, I love it, and I use it regularly in my own sugar cookie business.
Because of this, you can be assured that there will be no spammy material/products on this site.
As soon as I get time, I will be making my video with the Fantastix ones and show you if they work for the white and metallics.
Can't wait to get back with the results!
Top of Food Color Markers
View these pages that are favorites of WeCookiers' visitors...
Yes! I want join and be a free member. Please send me the WeCookier's Express monthly periodical. It's loaded with cookier information. Get cookie-cutter flips, business tips and hacks, inspo, Q&A, and so much more! You'll be an instant WeCookier!
Recent Articles
-
Cookie Cutter Flips to Turn Turtle Over
Sep 25, 23 05:21 PM
Cookie cutter flips 3.0! Taking sugar cookies to a whole different level. Set your mind on fire with these money-saving cutter gems that are good as gold. -
Projector for Cookies: Pros and Cons to What I Use
Aug 30, 23 09:19 PM
Projector for cookies? This is what I have and what my set up looks like with non-affiliated links to get it. This makes decorating sugar cookies so easy! -
7 + Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas to Spark Your Creativity
Aug 19, 23 05:28 PM
7 + Sugar cookie decorating ideas to spark your creativity. Cause an avalanche of inspiration with these flips and decorating cookie videos to boost your sales!
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Questions and photos are welcome too!