Hummingbird's red velvet cupcake colouring

[topshopgirl]

Has anyone come across a good red food colouring for red velvet cupcakes (cake)?

I've tried the supermarket ones but it never seems to come out the right shade of red. It's either pinky or browny!

Thank you.

Are you sure you just aren't adding too little (pinky) or too much? (browny?) I'm sure you've already thought of that one but that was just my first thought

you need to use paste rather than colouring, works wonders

here I use the ruby one for my red velvet baking

Thanks for that! How much paste do you add in so it equals the liquid colouring?

NO!!! add it using a cocktail stick - thats how potent this stuff is

I see! I'm not very good with this food colouring stuff, am I?!? Thank you.

me neither - I always make enough icing to cover the entire tops just incase

just remember baking is all about trial and error - thats the fun bit

what's red velvet baking?

cadelaide, I make both red velvet cupcakes and red velvet whole/large cakes, thats all

and red velvet is...?

Is it a recipe?

A colour?

S'ok, I couldn't contain my curiosity so I googled.

Would it be unforgiveably rude to say it looks absolutely disgusting?

here, for other ignorants like myself.

The Dr Oetker red food colouring works best. But you need a LOT (20ml for 1 big cake or 12 cupcakes

kateyrey - you should try the pastes, much better than colouring

Cadelaide - its lovely, tastes like chocolate but looks great - thats not a particularly nice pic you've got there

Ive just bought the Hummingbird book now and got it on express delivery, can't wait!!

BTW, cupcake fans - have you seen this?

I never do anything by halves, so have just ordered one too - have been ogling them in the GLTC catalogue for some time but this is BY FAR the cheapest price I've seen. Amazon have got the bigger size stand too discounted.

whoamireally - I have a similar slightly larger one already - DH will leave me if i come home with any more cakestands

my fav is using my vintage pressed glass stands as a tower though - looks really pretty for special occassions

Dizzy if you love cake gadgetry have you seen the Ikea 365 stuff?

I bought a 3 tier glass stand to put proper cakes on which was about £12 or so and think has now sold out but I have this on my Mother's Day list

No way would your DH ever leave, refuse to believe there is a man anywhere who thinks there such a thing as too much cake

got it

I made these with my ds and thought they were a bit disappointing tbh.

Artic - I'm not over impressed with anything in the Hummingbird bakery book tbh but there are other nicer red velvet recipes which work very nicely

Whoamireally - have tried to download a photo example of my cake stand obsession collection but it won't work

OK dizzy, I believe you!

Dizzy!

Agree dizzy-I have tried a few out and the only one that really worked was the incredibly yummy raspberry cheesecake brownie.
Think they must have fantastic marketing people as it is in top sellers at moment.

I absolutely LOVE Hummingbird Bakery (go to the one in South Ken, but they have just opened an Soho branch) so when the book came out I was so happy! Have not tried making the cupcakes yet, but tried the red velvet cake and is delicious, my only worry was the colour as you know...

Cadelaide - you MUST try it! From the bakery or making yourself. It is delicious!!! Turst me!

For those who don't have the Hummingbird recipe book, this is a good one I have tried.
pinchmysalt.com/2008/11/10/red-velvet-cake-recipe/

It's also the right colour. I agree with Dizzy that was not a very good pic you found.