Buying guide
The Color Cabinet
Updated How we research
Every way to add color to cakes and toppers. The page is split into five sections (Gel colors for bold buttercream; Edible paints for hand-painted cakes; Luster dust for shimmer and shine; Natural colorings without synthetic dyes; Edible markers for fine details), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 6.6 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Edibleink Food Coloring Pens, 11Pcs Double Sided Food Grade Edible Markers, 10 Colors. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Treedoa Edible Markers for Cookie Decorating, 12Pcs Food Coloring Pens Double Side, Fine & Thick Tip. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Supernatural Plant-Based Food Coloring Powder, Natural Dye Set for Baking, 4 Packets. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 7.3/10.
- Feature-rich:Gel Food Coloring - 22 Vivid Colors Gel Food Coloring Set for Cake Decorating, Concentrated. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.3/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Gel colors for bold buttercream
- Gel Food Coloring - 22 Vivid Colors Gel Food Coloring Set for Cake Decorating, ConcentratedOur score8.3/10
- Gel Food Coloring Set - 21 Colors Tasteless Gel Based Color for Cake DecoratingOur score8.0/10
- Gel Food Coloring Set - 8 Colors Concentrated Gel Based Food Color Food Grade Dye Flavorless Vibrant Edible Food Coloring for Cake Cookie Decorating Easter Egg Icing Fondant Baking Macaron - 6g/BottleOur score7.3/10
- Jelife Food Coloring Gel Cake Decorating Set - 10 ColorsOur score7.2/10
Edible paints for hand-painted cakes
- Edible Glitter Paint - 6 Colors Food Grade Edible Paint for Cake, Chocolate, Cupcakes, Cocktail, 6x10gOur score7.6/10
- Sweet Sticks Edible Art Decorative Cake Paint 0.5 Ounce (15 Milliliters), Metallic Vanilla Bean No TasteOur score7.4/10
- Colour Mill Edible Food Paint 20 Milliliters - Metallic PorcelainOur score7.1/10
- The Cookie Countess PYO Edible Paint Palettes 36 Pouch - BrightsOur score6.8/10
Luster dust for shimmer and shine
- CRPTHE 6 Colors Luster Dust Edible Set, Edible Glitter for Drinks, Cocktails, DessertsOur score7.6/10
- Bakeebake Silver Luster Dust Edible 15g - Edible Glitter for Drinks & Desserts, Gluten FreeOur score7.3/10
- MONEGASQUE Gold Edible Glitter for Drinks 15g - Gold Luster Dust for Cocktails, Cake DecorationsOur score7.3/10
- Jelife Edible Gold Luster Dust - 5 Grams Food Grade Cake Dust Shimmer Powder, VeganOur score7.3/10
Natural colorings without synthetic dyes
- Natural Food Coloring - 10 Plant-Based Organic Vibrant Liquid Dyes, Artificial Dye-Free, Non-GMOOur score8.2/10
- Color Kitchen Plant-Based Red Food Coloring Powders, Natural Colors, No Artificial Dyes (Pack of 10)Our score7.4/10
- Supernatural Plant-Based Food Coloring Powder, Natural Dye Set for Baking, 4 PacketsOur score7.3/10
- Color Garden Pure Natural Food Coloring, Orange - 5 ct 1 oz, Plant-Based, VeganOur score6.6/10
Edible markers for fine details
- Edibleink Food Coloring Pens, 11Pcs Double Sided Food Grade Edible Markers, 10 ColorsOur score8.4/10
- Treedoa Edible Markers for Cookie Decorating, 12Pcs Food Coloring Pens Double Side, Fine & Thick TipOur score8.4/10
- Fanika Edible Markers Food Coloring Pens 10 Colors, Double-Sided Fine Tip Food Grade PensOur score7.8/10
- Edible Markers, Food Coloring Pens, 6 Colors Food Grade Pen, Thick Tip and Fine TipOur score7.4/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1Edibleink's 11Pcs double sided food grade edible markers in 10 Colors for cookie and cake drawing.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Double sided tips give fine lines and bolder fills in one pen
- + 10 colors cover most cookie and fondant drawing needs
- + Food grade ink is suitable for writing directly on treats
- - Markers need a dry, hard surface like royal icing to write well
- - Ink can smear if drawn on fresh or soft icing
#2Treedoa Edible Markers for Cookie Decorating, 12Pcs Food Coloring Pens Double Side, Fine & Thick Tip
Treedoa's 12Pcs double side edible markers with fine and thick tips for cookie decorating.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 12 pens give the widest color choice in this marker group
- + Fine and thick tips switch between detail and fill work
- + Great for kids decorating sugar cookies at parties
- - Ink coverage can look streaky when filling big areas
- - Requires dry royal icing or fondant to draw cleanly
#3A 22 Vivid Colors concentrated gel food coloring set for tinting buttercream, fondant and icing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 22 colors reduce the need to mix custom shades from scratch
- + Concentrated gel tints frosting without thinning its texture
- + Big range suits bakers making themed cakes every month
- - Deep shades like red and black still need a lot of gel
- - Shade may vary slightly between batches, so test before a big batch
#4A set of 10 plant-based organic liquid food dyes, artificial dye-free and non-GMO, for natural baking colors.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Plant-based, non-GMO dyes suit families avoiding artificial colors
- + 10 colors give more choice than most natural dye kits
- + Liquid form mixes easily into batters and glazes
- - Natural colors look softer and less bright than synthetic gels
- - Liquid dyes can thin buttercream if you add a lot
#5A 21 Colors tasteless gel based food color set for cake decorating, frosting and fondant tinting.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Tasteless formula keeps frosting flavor unchanged
- + 21 shades cover brights, pastels and basics for most themes
- + Gel base adds color without making buttercream runny
- - Colors can deepen as frosting sits, so tint lighter at first
- - 6 gram bottles are small, so heavy users may run through them quickly
#6Fanika edible markers in 10 Colors with double-sided fine tip food grade pens for detailed cookie art.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Fine double-sided tips suit small details and lettering
- + 10 colors let you draw full designs without mixing
- + Food grade ink works on fondant, macarons and cookies
- - Fine tips are slow for filling larger colored areas
- - Colors look lighter on off-white or cream icing
#7An edible glitter paint set with 6 colors of food grade paint in 6x10g bottles for cakes, chocolate and cocktails.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Glitter finish adds sparkle to chocolate and cake details
- + 6x10g bottles provide a good amount for several projects
- + Works on cocktails and drinks as well as desserts
- - Glitter paint can look patchy unless applied in thin coats
- - Shimmer colors are less opaque than solid cake paint
#8CRPTHE's 6 Colors edible luster dust set for sparkle on drinks, cocktails and desserts.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 6 colors give shimmer options for both cakes and drinks
- + Edible luster swirls nicely in cocktails for a shimmer effect
- + Dry dust can be brushed on or mixed into paint
- - Fine dust makes a mess if the jar is opened too quickly
- - Shimmer in drinks settles, so stirring is needed before serving
#9A 0.5 oz (15 ml) bottle of Sweet Sticks Edible Art metallic paint in Vanilla Bean, sold as no taste. A liquid option from the same brand for brushed metallic accents on cakes and cookies.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Liquid metallic paint: shake the bottle well, load the brush lightly and build the color up in thin coats
- + From the Sweet Sticks Edible Art line, with detailed painting and drying guidance written into the listing
- + Labeled as no taste in the listing title, in a 0.5 oz bottle sized for accent work
- - Needs up to 24 hours to air-dry, and the listing says not to use it on Italian or Swiss meringue buttercream
- - One 15 ml bottle of a single metallic shade, in liquid form and not the water-activated palette format
#10Color Kitchen Plant-Based Red Food Coloring Powders, Natural Colors, No Artificial Dyes (Pack of 10)
Color Kitchen plant-based red food coloring powders, Pack of 10, with natural colors and no artificial dyes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Powder form tints frosting without adding extra liquid
- + No artificial dyes, so it suits clean-label baking
- + Pack of 10 packets keeps red on hand for many batches
- - Plant-based red tends toward pink rather than true bright red
- - Single-color packs mean other shades need separate buying
#11A set of 6 Colors food grade edible markers with thick tip and fine tip for decorating cookies and fondant.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Thick and fine tips handle both outlines and fill coloring
- + 6 colors keep the set simple for kids and beginners
- + Food grade pens are handy for quick personalized messages
- - Smaller color range than ten or twelve color sets
- - Fine tips can dry out if caps are left off
#12A set of 8 concentrated gel food colors, flavorless, in red, lemon yellow and sky blue and more, for icing, batter and fondant.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 9/10
- + Eight colors cover the basics and can be mixed.
- + Listing describes it as concentrated and flavorless.
- + Priced under $8, which is low for a set of eight colors.
- - Only 8 colors, fewer than the larger sets in this guide, so mixing is needed for more shades.
- - Small unknown brand, no bottle size in the bullets.
#13Bakeebake silver edible luster dust in a 15g jar, gluten free, for drinks, desserts and cake shimmer.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Gluten free silver luster suits guests with gluten concerns
- + 15g jar lasts through many brushed accents and drink swirls
- + Silver shimmer works well on white and blue themed cakes
- - Single color, so gold and other tones need separate jars
- - Fine powder can drift onto areas you do not want dusted
#14MONEGASQUE gold edible glitter luster dust, 15g, for cocktails, drinks and cake decorations.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Gold luster adds a rich shimmer to cocktails and cake details
- + 15g jar is generous for a gold-accented party menu
- + Brushes onto dry fondant or mixes with alcohol for gold paint
- - Gold only, so other metallic tones must be bought separately
- - Shimmer looks subtle on light frosting unless layered
#15Jelife vegan edible gold luster dust in a 5 Grams jar of food grade shimmer powder for cake accents.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Food grade and vegan, so it suits plant-based celebration cakes
- + Gold shimmer brushes onto dry fondant for an elegant highlight
- + Small 5 Grams jar goes further than you expect for fine accents
- - Small jar will not stretch to painting whole tiers gold
- - Needs a soft dry brush or alcohol mix to apply evenly
#16Supernatural plant-based food coloring powder, a natural dye set with 4 Packets for baking.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Plant-based powders tint icing without thinning it
- + 4 packets give a basic set of natural colors to mix
- + Good choice for bakers avoiding synthetic food dyes
- - Only four colors, so mixing is needed for most shades
- - Powders need stirring well to avoid specks in frosting
#17Jelife's 10 Colors food coloring gel set for cake decorating, a compact kit of core tint shades.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 10 core colors mix into most shades you need for cakes
- + Compact set is easy to store in a small baking drawer
- + Gel texture blends evenly into icing and fondant
- - Fewer ready shades means more mixing for specific colors
- - No black or metallic mentioned, which some themes need
#18A 20 ml bottle of Colour Mill brush-on edible paint in the Metallic Porcelain shade. A paint for highlights, patterns and lettering on fondant, cookies, royal icing and chocolate.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Brush-on edible paint made for fondant painting, cookie decorating and chocolate work, including fine lettering
- + Described as high-pigment and opaque for streak-free coverage, with a quick-drying, smudge-resistant finish
- + From Colour Mill, a well-known cake coloring brand, in a single metallic shade named Porcelain
- - A single 20 ml bottle of one shade, smaller than the 30 ml bottle it replaces on this list
- - The listing highlights describe the whole paint range and do not say how light or pearly the Porcelain shade is
#19The Cookie Countess PYO Edible Paint Palettes, 36 palettes in a Brights mix, watercolor style edible paint for brushing onto royal icing or fondant.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Edible paint that the listing says works like watercolors, so it suits painting on cookies covered in royal icing or fondant.
- + Pack holds 36 palettes in 3 packs of 12, each with 6 colors: dark blue, purple, light blue, yellow, orange and pink.
- + Listed as Kosher certified, gluten free and vegan, which helps when decorating for guests with dietary needs.
- - Cookie focused: palettes are 3.25 inch squares made for PYO cookie designs, not for covering large cake surfaces.
- - Only the Brights color range is in this listing, so there is no metallic or black and white option in the pack.
#20Color Garden pure natural orange food coloring, 5 ct of 1 oz, plant-based and vegan.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 6/10
- + Plant-based orange avoids artificial dyes in cakes and cookies
- + Vegan formula suits dairy-free and plant-based baking
- + 5 ct pack gives several bottles of the same shade
- - Five bottles of one color is a lot unless orange is used often
- - Natural orange can shift in color during baking
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Based on the last 28 days of search and visitor data.
Cake Decor Nest curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.