How do I get really red icing for father christmas biscuits?

[Notverygrownup]

Hello clever mumsnetters

We don't ice things normally but really want to do father christmas biscuits this year. Please can I have your recommendations for really red icing, or colouring to add to our own icing, which doesn't taste bitter?

Thank you

Avoid supermarket liquid colourings and go gel. I’ll try and find a link for the ones I use.

Sugarflair Spectral Concentrated Paste Colour - Christmas Red www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005FIWJZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_seMVFbKGH68NY?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I also use these most of the time and they’re pretty faultless, you just need a bit more than the sugarflair. Probably still better value for money.

PME Concentrated Paste Colours for Icing, Sugarpaste, Fondant and Much More (Set of 8), 8 x 25 g (⅞ oz) pot www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01D5SKJWC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_MfMVFbS78H718?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

You want the highly concentrated red professional colouring - this stuff
Sugarflair Maximum Concentrated Paste Red Extra www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B007VHFK8C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6eMVFbRBDKB51?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Or do sugarpaste and buy red Sugarpaste from renshaw or similar, if you want to colour it yourself you’d need to wear gloves as that stuff really stains! I used to make Santa cup cakes in one of my classes and always bought pre coloured paste!

Brilliant, thank you. Just about to do an Amazon delivery, so will pop one in my basket.

Yes also agree the renshaw stuff is great. And second wearing gloves!

You can buy royal icing mix on Amazon too which might save you some hassle. Just add water save faffing around with egg whites. (Not sure what type of icing you were thinking.)

Squires Kitchen Royal Icing Instant Mix - 500g - White www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008D4K9CE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_9iMVFbJDTJFSK?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Make the icing a few days in advance as well and the colour will deepen. Let it sit until it comes to room temp before you ice and it will be desper again.

I learnt something new there WhereverIGoddamnLike ....although I wonder if I’d be organised enough to make a few days in advance.

Another vote for sugarflair Christmas red or extra red. The stuff you buy in the supermarket always ends up pink.

An alternative is to buy tubes of writing icing at the supermarket, edge the biscuits and then flood the insides with watered down royal icing coloured with the gels. Just drop it in with a teaspoon. You can make a big batch of white and then colour it in small batches to whatever you need. I'm guessing probably white/red/black, but you might want to do some reindeer ones to go alongside....

Agree with the Sugarflair red extra, it works a treat.

@ReeseWitherfork

Sugarflair Spectral Concentrated Paste Colour - Christmas Red ]]

I came on to say this!