Peach colored icing is a fun and tasty way to decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies and more. The soft orange-pink hue looks bright and cheerful, perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, weddings and other celebrations. Making peach icing at home is easy to do with just a few simple ingredients. The key is using the right kind and amount of food coloring to achieve that peachy shade. With a little bit of experimenting, you’ll get that perfect peach color every time.
What You Need
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make peach colored icing:
| Buttercream icing | This will be the base for the peach icing. Make a standard buttercream with butter, powdered sugar, milk or cream and vanilla. |
| Orange food coloring | Look for a gel or paste food coloring in orange. Liquid food colors work too but may alter the consistency. |
| Yellow food coloring | You’ll need a yellow shade to mix with the orange for a peachy hue. Again, gel or paste works best. |
| Toothpicks or skewers | Use these to gradually mix the food coloring into the icing one drop at a time. |
Any basic buttercream icing recipe will work for the base. Just avoid icings with a lot of other flavors like chocolate or lemon that could alter the color. Plain vanilla or cream cheese frosting are ideal bases for peach icing.
How Much Food Coloring to Use
The exact amount of food coloring needed will vary based on the type and quality of the coloring. Here are some general guidelines for how much to use as a starting point:
| Gel food coloring | Start with 1/4 teaspoon orange and 1/8 teaspoon yellow |
| Paste food coloring | Start with 1/2 teaspoon orange and 1/4 teaspoon yellow |
| Liquid food coloring | Start with 1 teaspoon orange and 1/2 teaspoon yellow |
Mix the orange coloring into the icing first and then add the yellow. The orange gives the base peach tone and the yellow brightens it up. Always add coloring gradually and mix well to prevent streaks. You can increase amounts for a deeper color.
How to Make Peach Icing Step-By-Step
Now let’s walk through the full process of how to make that perfect peach buttercream icing:
1. Prepare a batch of basic buttercream icing. Beat together butter, powdered sugar, milk or cream and vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
2. Choose your food coloring. Opt for gel or paste for best control and vibrancy. Have toothpicks or skewers ready.
3. Add the orange coloring first. Start with 1/4 tsp gel or 1/2 tsp paste and mix well. Add more in small amounts if needed for a stronger orange hue.
4. Next add the yellow coloring starting with 1/8 tsp gel or 1/4 tsp paste. Mix it in thoroughly. The yellow will brighten up the tone.
5. Taste the icing and adjust flavor if needed. Add more milk or cream for a softer consistency to pipe or spread easily.
6. Transfer the icing to a piping bag to decorate cookies, cakes and cupcakes. Or simply spread onto treats with a knife or spatula.
7. Use right away or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Rewhip before reusing if separated.
Tips for the Perfect Peach Icing
Here are some helpful tips to get that flawless peach color every time:
– Use toothpicks to add food coloring one drop at a time for precise control
– Mix the coloring thoroughly as you go to avoid streaks
– Add more orange first before yellow for a true peach rather than yellow-orange hue
– Use Americolor or Wilton food coloring gels or pastes for intense even color
– Thin the icing with milk or cream if too thick to work with easily
– Tint some icing a deeper peach to make flowers or accents
– Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks
– Let icing come to room temperature before decorating for best consistency
Troubleshooting Peach Icing Colors
Having trouble getting that perfect peach shade? Here are some fixes:
| Icing is too orange | Add more yellow coloring in small amounts |
| Icing is too yellow | Add a little more of the orange coloring |
| Icing is too pale and washed out | Add more coloring of both shades gradually |
| Icing has streaks | Re-mix to distribute coloring evenly |
A little bit of experimenting will help you learn exactly how much of each coloring you need. Adjust the orange and yellow until you hit that ideal peach tone.
Using Peach Icing
Peach buttercream is so versatile! Here are some ways to use that delicious peach icing:
– Frost cupcakes and cake layers for birthday parties
– Pipe flowers, borders and rosettes on cookies
– Fill donuts and sweet rolls
– Top off cheesecakes and pound cakes
– Fill and cover cream puffs or profiteroles
– Swirl onto homemade fruit tarts
– Frost cinnamon rolls, scones or muffins
– Sandwich cookies together for a sweet surprise
– Decorate sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles
Let your creativity run wild with all the decorative options. The peach icing pairs perfectly with flavors like vanilla, cream cheese, cinnamon and fruit jams or preserves.
Storing Peach Icing
Leftover peach icing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Here are some storage tips:
– Place icing in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid
– Press plastic wrap directly on the surface before sealing to prevent drying
– Store for up to 5 days at room temperature or up to 2 weeks in the fridge
– If icing separates, whip briefly with a mixer until creamy again
– Rewhip icing to reinforce structure before piping or decorating
– Avoid freezing peach icing, as this alters the texture
– Discard icing if it smells unpleasant or shows any mold growth
Complementary Flavors for Peach Icing
Peach icing pairs deliciously with these complementary flavors:
| Vanilla | A classic pairing that highlights the sweet peach flavor |
| Cream cheese | Tangy cream cheese frosting is a perfect peach match |
| Almond | Toasty nutty almond extract complements the fruitiness |
| Cinnamon | Warm cinnamon spice cuts through the sweetness |
| Chocolate | Rich chocolate ganache filling balances the peach icing |
Try adding a complement like cinnamon to the icing itself or use it to fill and frost treats made with complementary flavors. Peach icing works for a wide range of tasty combinations.
Other Uses for Peach Icing
Beyond decorating cakes and cookies, peach icing can be used:
– As a filling for crepes and pancakes
– Swirled into oatmeal, yogurt or cottage cheese
– Dolloped on top of waffles, french toast or bread pudding
– Added to smoothies for extra sweetness and color
– Used as a drizzle over fresh fruit like peaches, nectarines and berries
– Folded into whipped cream to make peach mousse
– Added to cake batter before baking for a moist peach-flavored crumb
– Spread between layers of a poke cake before soaking with juice
– Mixed with cream cheese as a dip for graham crackers or pretzels
– Added to chocolate for a chocolate-orange flavor combo
So roll it, pipe it, spread it, dollop it – get creative with peach icing!
Conclusion
With its bright, happy color and sweet, fruity flavor, it’s easy to see why peach icing is perfect for any spring or summer celebration. Making this ornamental icing at home is simple with just a few ingredients. The key is blending orange and yellow food coloring into buttercream frosting for that peachy color. With a little practice, you’ll be able to easily whip up this tasty icing. Use it to decorate cakes, fill donuts, frost cookies and so much more. Peach icing adds a fun pop of color and flavor that will impress any guest.
