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Tinting Hints to Dress Up Spring Sweets

By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Created January 22, 2020
Pastel frosted cupcakes with sprinkles
If there’s one thing that will bring back the pep in your step, it’s a dessert with frosting as bright as spring sunshine! Learn how to tint a whole palette of pastels with Betty’s hints.
Adding that pastel-perfect flair to your cakes, cookies and brownies is as easy as frosting with Betty’s spring color palette. From strawberries-and-cream to lilac and every color in between, we’ll show you how to mix up your own delicately hued version of the rainbow. It doesn’t take much more than a review of elementary art class (remember, red and blue makes purple) and a light touch (a little food coloring goes a long way) to master these secret formulas for tinting pastels!
bowls of frosting in pastel colors

What you’ll need:

  • ½ container of Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting
  • Basic food-coloring drops (red, blue, yellow, green)
  • Mini spatula or spoon for mixing
  • Bowls

How to do it:

  1. Choose the colors you’d like to make.
  2. Separate frosting into individual bowls
  3. Add the amount of drops indicated below to achieve the color of your choice.
  4. Stir thoroughly to ensure all the color is evenly distributed.
  5. Spread, pipe and decorate your sweet confections.

moving images of different color bowls of pastel frosting

Kitchen Tip: Food coloring comes out fast. Squeeze the dropper over a separate bowl before adding to your frosting, so you know how much pressure to use.

 

Betty’s Spring Color Palette

Pastel frosting on spoons with sprinkles.

We’ve taken the guesswork out of the equation. Just follow the formulas below for six perfect shades of pastel-tinted frosting.

  • Strawberries-and-Cream: 1 drop red
  • Just Peachy: 1 drop red, 2 drops yellow
  • Lemon Meringue Pie: 1 drop yellow
  • Grasshopper: 1 drop green
  • Robin’s Egg: 2 drops blue
  • Lilac: 1 drop red, 1 drop blue

 

Kitchen Tip: Has your frosting firmed up? Pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to make it creamy and super spreadable.

If you need frosting inspiration for more than just springtime, check out guide on How to Color Frosting Like a Pro.