How to Make Brown Food Coloring

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Light brown, basic brown, cappuccino, and chocolate -- you can easily use food coloring to mix a whole range of hues for the color brown. Just follow these instructions.

Note: These colors can be used in a variety of recipes or crafts, but to best show you the different variations of brown, we're using buttercream frosting as our visual "canvas."

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Image Credit: Thalia Ho

Things You'll Need

  • Bottle of red food coloring. (1)

  • Bottle of green food coloring, (1)

  • Bottle of blue food coloring, (1)

  • Rubber spatula, for mixing

  • Glass bowl

  • Drop stopper, optional

Image Credit: Thalia Ho

Tip

The drop stopper will help you count the drops of food dye. Alternatively, if you don't have access to a drop stopper, you can try to count the drops added individually. Another good way to measure the drops needed is by thinking that 100 drops of food coloring is equal to about 1 teaspoon.

Mix the Colors

Typically the ratio to make brown food coloring is to mix 1 drop of red dye into every 1 drop of green food dye. This will make a very warm brown color. But if you desire a cooler brown color, you can add in a drop of blue food dye every now and then into your base.

Begin by mixing the red, green and blue food dyes into the base that you wish to color.

Light Brown

To make light brown food coloring, add in 3 drops of red food coloring and 3 drops of green food coloring. Mix to combine then use as required.

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Image Credit: Thalia Ho

Basic Brown

To make basic brown food coloring, add in 35 drops of red food coloring, 40 drops of green food coloring and 3 drops of blue food coloring. Mix to combine then use as required.

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Image Credit: Thalia Ho

Cappuccino

To make cappuccino food coloring, add in 50 drops of red food coloring, 60 drops of green food coloring and 6 drops of blue food coloring. Mix to combine then use as required.

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Image Credit: Thalia Ho

Chocolate

To make chocolate food coloring, add in 150 drops of red food coloring, 160 drops of green food coloring and 6 drops of blue food coloring. Mix to combine then use a required.

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Image Credit: Thalia Ho

The drops of dye needed will slightly vary depending upon the type and quantity of base that you are coloring. Test the strength of the color as you go. It's quite easy to over-color and difficult to lighten the shade after the food dye has been added.

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