Top Food Coloring Brands for Vibrant Creations

When it comes to adding vibrant hues to your culinary creations, choosing the right food coloring can make all the difference. Various brands have mastered the art of producing high-quality food colorings, each offering a unique palette and formulation catering to both amateur bakers and professional chefs. From natural options that cater to health-conscious consumers to intense, synthetic hues that ensure consistency and aesthetic appeal, the market provides a plethora of choices for every need. To explore a curated list of some of the best brands for food coloring, take a look below.

Illustration of food coloring

Best brands of food coloring in 2025

Wilton

Wilton is renowned as one of the best producers of food coloring, particularly known for its highly concentrated edible gel food coloring sets. These sets, such as the 12-piece set, include a variety of vibrant colors like Kelly Green, Copper, and Royal Blue, which do not alter the consistency of batters or frostings. The colors are safe to use in buttercream frosting, fondant, royal icing, and other foods, allowing for deep, rich colors with minimal application. Wilton's products are also notable for their ease of use, with instructions to apply small amounts using a toothpick and mix to incorporate. This approach ensures that a little goes a long way, making Wilton a preferred choice for baking and decorating.

AmeriColor

AmeriColor Corp., founded in 1995, is a renowned family-owned and operated company that excels in manufacturing high-quality food colors and products for the baking and sugar art industries. Known for its innovative Soft Gel Paste(tm) and AmeriMist(tm) airbrush colors, AmeriColor has set industry standards with its unique, highly concentrated, and easily dispensable color formulations. The company's commitment to honesty, service, quality, and value has made its products synonymous with excellence in the market. With over 20 years of experience, AmeriColor continues to inspire creative talents of decorators and sugar artists worldwide. Its products are designed for efficiency, quality, and convenience, making them a preferred choice in the industry.

Chefmaster

Chefmaster is a leading brand in the food coloring industry, renowned for its vibrant and durable colors that do not fade over time. Their Liqua-Gel(r) food coloring is highly regarded for its deep, vibrant hues and is widely used in icings, fondants, gum pastes, and cake frosting. Chefmaster also offers natural, plant-based food colorings that are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and peanut-free, catering to the growing demand for organic and clean-label products. The company is part of a global market projected to reach USD 6.0 billion by 2028, with natural food colors, such as those offered by Chefmaster, accounting for the highest market share and fastest growth segment. Chefmaster's products are specially formulated to bind easily with fat-based ingredients, making them ideal for coloring oil-based products.

LorAnn Oils

LorAnn Oils is a notable producer of food coloring, offering a wide range of professional-grade liquid food coloring that is highly concentrated and yields vivid results. Their products are suitable for various applications, including hard candy, frostings, beverages, and ice cream. LorAnn Oils also provides USDA Organic certified flavorings and essential oils, catering to the growing consumer preference for natural products. In the competitive food coloring market, LorAnn Oils stands out with its environmentally friendly packaging and support for bee colonies. The company's focus on quality and natural ingredients aligns with the market trend of increasing demand for organic food products, which saw an 18% growth in demand for organic food colors.

McCormick

McCormick & Company is a global leader in the production of high-quality food coloring, known for its consistent and vibrant colors. The company's acquisition of FONA International in 2021 for $710 million has broadened its product portfolio and enhanced its capabilities in flavoring and natural food colors. McCormick's green food coloring, for example, is crafted to be tasteless, gluten-free, and MSG-free, making it ideal for various recipes and celebrations like St. Patrick's Day and Earth Day. The company operates in over 170 countries and territories, with a strong presence in the natural food colors and flavors market, which is expected to grow significantly in the Asia-Pacific region. McCormick's commitment to sustainability and quality has earned it recognition as one of the world's most sustainable companies.

Spectrum

The Spectrum brand, although not directly associated with food coloring in the provided sources, can be misleadingly referenced in the context of food colors through other related topics. However, for accurate information on food coloring, Phytolon and its collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks stand out as significant producers. Phytolon has achieved a milestone in producing a full color palette of natural food colors from yellow to purple using fermentation-based technologies, offering a safe and sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes. This innovation addresses growing regulatory concerns and consumer demand for natural products. The global food colors market, valued at USD 3.36 billion in 2023, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% from 2024 to 2030.

Sugarflair

Sugarflair, although not FDA approved for food use in the US, is a popular choice among bakers and decorators globally for its extensive range of food colors. However, it is crucial to note that Sugarflair colors are not approved for sale in the US due to regulatory issues. Despite this, they are favored for being nut-free and gluten-free, making them a safe option for those with specific dietary needs. Sugarflair colors are widely used in various countries, but users must be aware of the regulatory status in their region. The brand's popularity stems from its diverse color palette and user preference, even though it may not meet all local health standards. For more in-depth discussions, check out this forum thread on Sugarflair food colors.

Watkins

Watkins, a renowned brand in the food coloring industry, is known for its high-quality and natural food color products, aligning with the growing consumer preference for clean-label ingredients. The global food colors market, which was valued at USD 2.55 billion in 2018, is expected to grow significantly, with natural colors like those offered by Watkins projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.67% due to high consumer demand. Watkins' commitment to transparency and natural sourcing resonates with consumers, contributing to the market's expansion. The brand's products are part of a larger market that is expected to reach USD 7.58 billion by 2032, driven by the increasing demand for visually appealing and health-conscious food products. With a focus on plant and animal-derived pigments, Watkins stands out in a highly organized industry dominated by key players like Dohler Group and Sensient Technologies.

ColorKitchen

ColorKitchen stands out as a leading producer of food coloring, particularly known for its innovative approach to natural dyes. The company has developed methods to create bright, saturated colors from natural ingredients that are flavorless, odorless, and shelf-stable, addressing the common issues of natural colors fading or imparting unwanted flavors. For instance, their natural dyes maintain their vibrancy even when baked, a significant improvement over traditional natural colors like beet juice, which may lose color after six months. This innovation aligns with the growing consumer shift towards clean-label and natural ingredients, a trend that is expected to drive the food colors market significantly. ColorKitchen's products, such as their Red Velvet and Confetti cake mixes, are gluten-free and feature heat-stable natural colors, making them popular choices for celebrations. For more information, you can read about ColorKitchen's extended shelf life and vibrancy of natural colors.

Squires Kitchen

Squires Kitchen is a renowned brand in the cake decorating and sugarcraft industry, specializing in high-quality food coloring and decorating products. With over 25 years of experience, they offer a range of edible items, including food colorings, sugars, and edible cake decorations. Their sugar florist paste is particularly popular for its pliability and smooth finish, and their Cocoform Modelling Chocolate is made from the finest Belgian chocolate. Squires Kitchen also produces pre-coloured royal icing mix and various other essential products for cake decoration. Recently, the brand was acquired by Rainbow Dust, a move that will enhance their product range and manufacturing capabilities.