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Food color markers...slap a zing on those sugar cookies!
Food color markers for sugar cookie decorating will make your cookies go from ‘eh’ to ‘WOW’.
Here's a cute video. Watch what I turn this little fella into with the help of my favorite edible markers...
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 Cookies page too!)
- making DIY food color markers?
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. But most of the time within minutes. Again completely depends on humidity...that nasty culprit anyhow!
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 in humidity seasons. I'm sure i-phones have a similar app.
You can lightly dust the dried icing or dried glaze 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. See the results next!
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 because they are so saturated with color.
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 all in all.
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)...UPDATE: 5+ years and still going strong, wow!
- 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: Honestly? Nothing...I'm pleased to report! :)
These are the set of Nomeca food color markers I get through Amazon...
- 10 Vivid Colors: This food markers set including all the primary colors you need: Black, Red, Fluorescent Yellow, Green, Sky Blue, Fuchsia, Bright Pink, Dark Blue and Orange
- Safe and Edible: Nomeca food grade edible markers were made with Food grade edible ink, non-toxic, odorless and tasteless, won't alter the taste
- Flexible Brush Tip Design: Soft brush tip enables flexible to drawing lines. Use the tip's tapered point to create thin lines; Brush down for thicker lines. Easy to painting, sketching, doodling and shading. (Remember to cover the caps after use)
- Widely Use: Can be used on most smooth dry surfaces, such as marshmallows, fondant, cookies. Do NOT write on cake pops, candy melts and chocolates or any fat based product
- Kids Friendly: Safe, easy and fun to use, enables children to decorate the food as they want, provide a safety way for painting and drawing
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
I just ordered the fantastix (not an affiliate link) blank pens. 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 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. Here they are on a school chalkboard cookie with sugar cookie icing:
(the teacher quote is an edible image that can be downloaded or purchased in Shop Gotta-havs! Just go to the edible images box/es)
- [Upgraded Single Tip] New Thick Tip for Smooth Writing, Cancel the Fine Tip.
- [Upgraded White Ink] New Ink Recipe for Perfect Fluency.
- [Valuable Pack] 3pcs White Color inside!
- [Edible and 100% safe] Food Grade Edible Ink! Tasteless! Non-toxic! Vegan&Gluten Free
- [Widely Use] Edible Marker can be used on most of smooth dry surface. Including Fondant,Cookies,Frostings,Dried Royal Icing, Marshmallows,Donuts,Pastries and more.(Not suitable for wax surface)
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
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