Homemade Natural Blue Food Coloring

Today I am sharing something that I never thought I would make: a Homemade Natural Blue Food Coloring Recipe.

Most of the time I try to keep things simple in the kitchen since my life is really busy, but sometimes I like to have a little extra fun with food to make our whole food/allergy-friendly kitchen more interesting, especially true when our kids were little.

But artificial food coloring is just a no go for me.

Why I Made This Blue Food Coloring

Our boys skated in a local charity hockey league and for their season finale, the team members were going to receive a cupcake decorated with frosting to match their uniforms.

It would have been simple if they'd been on a green, red, or yellow team, but blue?!

I had a good paleo chocolate cupcake recipe, but mean for the green I would have used the coloring in these Mint Fat Bombs, and turmeric is great for yellow and beets work for pink. But blue?

I initially told my boys not to get their hopes up, but I figured something out and I think you'll love it too.

Reasons to Avoid Artificial Food Colors

We all know that those artificial food colors are not healthy. I mean, who thinks that eating something fake is good for you?

Here are some things to consider. Artificial food colorings:

• are suspected of having links to behavioral and health problems.
• can have aluminum in them. When you see, “FD & C Yellow Aluminum Lake” on an ingredient label, you can know that you will be eating aluminum. There is discussion about this form not being as toxic as other forms, but I would prefer to take no chances here.
• can contain barium or zirconium.

How to Use This Color

You could use this natural blue food coloring for any of the following:

• dying Easter eggs
• paper mache projects
• crafts
• fun creative food ideas (blue mashed potatoes, anyone?)

How to Make the Food Coloring

Here are the basic instructions with some process images. For the complete information, scroll to the printable recipe card.

• Boil cabbage
• Reserve water
• Add baking soda to the water

Photo 1: Reserved cabbage water.

Photo 2: The final result: homemade natural blue food coloring.

Money Saving Tip: Use filtered water for cooking the cabbage and then, though it is pretty well boiled, you can still eat the leftover veggies for dinner. Try topping them with Moroccan Vinaigrette and Chaat Masala.

Recipe Notes

• Natural food coloring is prone to fading quickly. And the if your color isn't that deep to begin with, you won't have much margin for fading.
• Don't try to make this blue too dark by adding a bunch of baking soda to the water if you're using it for food, or you'll end up with baking soda-flavored food. Blech.
• The color in the cabbage juice itself is not particularly sensitive to temperature, but the mixture of the baking soda with the juice is. So you will want to add the color after the food item has cooled, or else only add it to food items that will not be heated.

Homemade Natural Blue Food Coloring

Natural Food Coloring made from a surprise ingredient. Artificial Food Coloring isn't healthy. Here's a way to make Homemade Natural Blue Color yourself.

4.41 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dressings, Seasonings, etc.

Cuisine: AIP, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo, THM:S, Vegan

Keyword: natural blue food coloring

Ingredients

• Half-head red cabbage (yes, I said “red cabbage!”)
• Water
• Baking Soda

Instructions

• Wash the cabbage and cut out the stem.
• Chop into small pieces.
• Place cabbage pieces in a pot and add water until the cabbage is covered.
• Simmer for 10 minutes and then drain.
• The resulting liquid will be purplish (see photo #1 above).
• Gradually add baking soda, ½ teaspoon at a time, until you get a nice blue hue (see photo #2, above). Be careful, because the baking soda will add flavor to the coloring. If you are using the color for something you will be eating then you need to be especially careful how much you add. Since it is the alkaline quality of the baking soda that causes the red cabbage juice to turn blue, you can also add spinach juice, green tea, or another alkaline ingredient.

Notes

• The color in the cabbage juice itself is not particularly sensitive to temperature, but the mixture of the baking soda with the juice is. So you will want to add the color after the food item has cooled, or else only add it to food items that will not be heated.
• Natural food coloring is prone to fading quickly. And the if your color isn't that deep to begin with, you won't have much margin for fading.
• Don't try to make this blue too dark by adding a bunch of baking soda to the water if you're using it for food, or you'll end up with baking soda-flavored foo

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is merely an approximation. Optional ingredients are not included and when there is an alternative, the primary ingredient is typically used. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts since they have been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Don't Feel Like DIYing?

If you'd rather not have to make your own natural blue food coloring or would like an option that will work for an acidic recipe, here is a link to a set of good natural food coloring including blue.

I Recommend

Pin

ColorKitchen Natural Food Coloring

This plan-based all natural food coloring set comes with 1 blue, 1 pink, and 1 yellow powder packet. Mix to make your own colors and blend together to make purple, green, etc. Soy-free and vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free.

Check Price on Amazon

What will YOU use this Natural Blue Food Coloring for?