If you like to keep sanding sugar in your pantry, making your own is the way to go. This Colored sanding sugar recipe is only two ingredients and stays fresh practically forever!
Sanding Sugar
In my opinion you can never have too many colors of sugar in your pantry! From my Delicious Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting to my Lemon Lime Pound Cake (Made With Soda), there’s always an excuse to add a little sugary fun to my desserts. And with this homemade recipe, the options are endless!
Even better, it only takes 15 minutes to make and lasts just about forever. I always make a big batch in a few colors and then separate it out into some air-tight jars.
My rainbow of sugar just keeps growing and it’s so fun every time I make cupcakes, cookies, cakes and more to add this fun topping.
All you need is sugar and gel food coloring and your ready to go!
Colored Sanding Sugar
You will love how easy it is to make! You won’t believe it! I love that I can make my own perfect colored sprinkles in 15 minutes or less.
Ingredients
- Gel food colors
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Some additional tools you may need:
How to Make
Don’t forget to download the full printable recipe below so you can print it out and use it whenever you feel like making this delicious recipe!
- To make this super simple start by preheating the oven to 250 degrees.
- Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and set it aside.
- Next, add the sugar and one drop of gel food coloring to the base of your food processor.
- Mix the sugar and coloring on high for about 30-45 seconds
- Pour the sugar mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out to a thin even layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven and allow the mixture to cool for at least 15 minutes before using.
Tips Tricks and FAQs
- You’ll really want to use gel food coloring instead of liquid food coloring for colored sanding sugar. Liquid food coloring just has too much moisture and doesn’t work the same when you mix it with sugar. Gel coloring will coat the outside of the sugar granules without letting any of them dissolve.
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can do this same process in a plastic storage bag. Place the sugar and the food coloring into the bag and squish and shake it until the color is completely mixed into the sugar. This is a great job for a little helper if you have one handy! You may need to use a sifter to sift the sugar to make sure that it is free of clumps before baking.
- Get creative with your colors! You can mix together several gel colors to try and get your perfect shade. You can also experiment with how much coloring you add to make it more or less vibrant.
Storage
The great thing about this recipe is that storage is so easy and will last forever! Just follow the use-by date on your sugar.
I like to store my colored sugar in glass jars with an extra tight lid to avoid any clumping! But you can store it in an airtight container or bag.
How to Use Colored Sugar
Sanding sugar is so great! It can be used as a simple sprinkle to top off cakes or cupcakes. Or you can press it into sugar cookies and other pastries before baking to add a sweet colorful crunch!
More Easy Recipes
- Healthy Applesauce Muffins
- Glow Party Donut Recipe
- Peach Cobbler Cookies Recipe
- No Bake Strawberry Lasagna
Sanding Sugar
If you like having sanding sugar in your pantry, this recipe is the way to go. This Colored sanding sugar recipe is only two ingredients and stays fresh practically forever!
Ingredients
- Gel food colors
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- To make this super simple sanding sugar, start by preheating the oven to 250 degrees.
- Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and set it aside.
- Next, add the sugar and one drop of gel food coloring to the base of your food processor.
- Mix the sugar and coloring on high for about 30-45 seconds
- Pour the sugar mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out to a thin even layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven and allow the mixture to cool for at least 15 minutes before using.
Michele is a mom of 5 with her degree in marriage and family studies. She believes that one of the best ways you can spend time with your family is doing fun things together.