Coffee & walnut cake frosting - do you use food colouring ?

[bacon]

The covering on my cake tastes fantastic but looks far too light and spoils the effect. Without adding more coffee does anyone use a light food colouring to boost the effect? Or should I be adding more coffee? What is an acceptable coffee taste I wonder - perhaps mine isnt enough.

ANy ideas?

[Squigglywiggly]

Normally I would add more coffee! Mind you everyone I know quite likes it strong!

[bacon]

Yes, you are probably right, be concerned that it could be over powering????

[4merlyknownasSHD]

My mother always used to use "Camp Coffee"; can you still get it? You could also use gravy browning.

[TeriHatchetJob]

gravy browning? really?

[4merlyknownasSHD]

My understanding is that it is only caramelised sugar. Might be worth tasting to check before you make your cake taste of Oxtail Soup!

[TeriHatchetJob]

you could be right 4...SHD. Just checked my bottle and it said for cakes and icing also. Well, i never...............

[4merlyknownasSHD]

Never assume that things only have one use. We make a Jam Funnel that is great for using to top up the oil in your car engine!

[TeriHatchetJob]

...............and brake cleaner will get rid of masonry wasps............

[valiumredhead]

Add more coffee - I love a good strong coffee cake!

[bacon]

gravy browning - never thought of that - yes its only sugar & colour. I think there is a difference between a pleasant coffee flavour and a bitter overload.

I've seen camp coffee in the supermarket.

Great! I will bear that in mind for my next bake.

[Taffeta]

Did you use unrefined icing sugar? Thats a brown colour to start with and looks ( and tastes ) much nicer than the refined white stuff.

[bacon]

No - recipe uses light muscovado sugar which did whisk really well but very incipid in colour and as it was a gift I was careful not to spoil it however I would add more next time. Will add gravey browning too.