How to Make Black Icing – 3 ways

Making black icing can be frustrating. I used to think adding lots of black food coloring could get me the black shade I wanted, but that wasn’t the best way. Over the years, I found a few better ways to create deep black shades, and here’s how.

Method 1 (The best option) – Using black cocoa powder

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsweetened black cocoa powder, 22g
• 1 heaping cup powdered sugar, 125g
• 2 – 3 tablespoons hot water, 30 – 45ml
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 5ml

Instructions

1. Whisk the unsweetened black cocoa powder, powdered sugar, hot water, and vanilla.
2. If needed, add 1/8 teaspoon (0.6ml) of water at a time to get to the consistency you want. I recommend medium consistency. Check out consistency information from here.

Method 2 (Great option) – How to make black icing with food coloring + unsweetened cocoa powder

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 22g
• 1 heaping cup powdered sugar, 125g
• 2 – 3 tablespoons hot water,  30 – 45ml
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 5ml
• 2-3 dashes of black food coloring

Instructions

1. Whisk the unsweetened cocoa powder, powdered sugar, hot water, and vanilla.
2. If needed, add 1/8 teaspoon (0.6ml) of water at a time to get to the consistency you want. I recommend medium consistency. Check out consistency information from here.
3. Add some black gel food coloring with a toothpick and mix until well combined.

Method 3 (OK for a small portion) – How to make black icing only from food coloring

Ingredients

• ¾ tablespoon meringue powder, 6.75g
• 1 ½  tablespoons warm water (NOT hot), 14ml
• ¼ tablespoon light corn syrup, 3.5ml
• 1 cup powdered sugar, 125g
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, 2.5ml
• Red food coloring
• Green food coloring
• Blue food coloring

Instructions

1. In a deep bowl, add meringue powder and warm water.
2. Beat this for about 1 minute until you have a white and frothy mixture.
3. Add powdered sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla extract and start mixing at medium to medium-high speed.
4. Continue mixing until your icing becomes thick and peaks start forming.
5. Add ¼ teaspoon of water at a time to get to the consistency you need. My icing was between “Medium consistency” and “flood consistency.” More detailed explanations of icing consistency can be found here.
6. Add equal amounts of red, blue, and green to your recipe. Start with just a couple drops of each color, stirring them in well. Repeat until the mixture darkens to a deep gray, always adding equal amounts of the color.

Point: 

• If it looks green, add more red.
• If it looks purple, add more green.
• Make all adjustments one drop at a time, stirring thoroughly between each drop.

If you like this black icing recipe, you may also like:

• Star Wars Cookies
• Melon Pan – Hello Kitty Version
• Halloween Brownie