Halloween is the one occasion where deep, dramatic color is the whole point, which makes it the hardest palette to execute.
Nail the base colors first
The Halloween palette is built from the three hardest shades in baking: black, deep purple and true orange. All three need heavy pigment, and all three are where frosting most often turns soft and bitter.
Two things fix this: start from a helpful base (chocolate buttercream for black), and color ahead so the shade develops overnight rather than forcing it with more product.
Ideas that look harder than they are
Black and orange swirl
Load both colors side by side in one bag. Two colors, one motion, high contrast.
Spiderweb tops
Flood the top with smooth orange, pipe concentric black rings, then drag a toothpick from center to edge in straight lines.
Dripping effect
Spread smooth frosting, then pipe a thicker colored ganache around the edge and let it run down naturally.
Monster fur
Use a grass tip in vivid green or purple and pipe straight out in short bursts. Add candy eyes.
Bloody drips
Deep red drips over white frosting. This one lives entirely on getting a convincing red rather than a pink.
Graveyard
Chocolate cookie crumb soil, a shortbread headstone, muted grey-green frosting.
Palette
- Jet black and vivid orange, classic
- Deep purple, black and lime, a modern take
- Blood red and charcoal, grown-up
- Ghostly white, pale grey and silver, subtle
Photographing dark bakes
Black frosting eats light. Shoot with soft directional light and a mid-tone background, a black cupcake on a black board disappears.
Color With Confidence
Yeast Bakers is an Authorized Dealer for Colour Mill, so every bottle you buy from us is genuine stock. Shop the full Colour Mill oil blend range, free shipping on orders over $25.