Lemon Macarons with Lime Curd

Light and airy lemon macarons encompass a tart and creamy lime curd filling.  This small batch recipe yields the perfect amount: just six elegant Lemon Macarons with Lime Curd.

Margarita Ribbon Cookies

Sweet, buttery and slightly tangy, these Margarita Ribbon Cookies are topped with a zesty homemade lime curd, then drizzled with a margarita-flavored glaze.  

Funfetti Cupcakes

Funfetti Cupcakes are a moist, delicious, and colorful way to relive a childhood favorite.  Whip up a batch of these to celebrate a birthday, or anytime you want a fun and festive dessert!  

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

If I could only have one kind of cookie for the rest of my life, this would be it: a thick and chewy chocolate chip cookie that is soft on the inside, but slightly crispy on the edges.  Enjoy these warm from the oven with a tall glass of milk.  Life doesn't get much better.     

Tips for Decorating Cookies and Cupcakes with Natural Dye (plus, DIY Sprinkles!)

When decorating sugar cookies and cupcakes, I typically use Wilton and/or Americolor gel food colors.  I've had very positive experiences with both brands: in general, the colors are concentrated, consistent, and affordable.  In addition, these brands are widely available from craft stores and specialty baking stores.  In my opinion, accessibility contributes to the appeal of these brands.

However, I've also been curious about natural food coloring options.  A few months ago, I bought a set of India Tree Natural Decorating Colors from Amazon.  For about $16, I received a three-bottle set of vegetable-based food coloring.  Each bottle was .75 ounces, and the colors were advertised as red, yellow, and blue.  Admittedly, natural dye is much more expensive than standard food coloring.  On a per-ounce basis, natural dye costs at least three times as much as Wilton or Americolor.  The natural dye also has a shelf life of just a few months; Wilton and Americolor typically last much longer.  I stored my natural food coloring in the refrigerator to extend the shelf life as much as possible.

After a few rounds of experimentation, I thought it might be helpful to share my experience using the India Tree natural colorants.  Please know that this post is not sponsored by India Tree, and I am not affiliated with India Tree in any way.  Also, please note that this post is not intended to evaluate the health benefits of using natural food dyes versus standard food dyes.  I do not have a background in medicine or food science, so I don't consider myself qualified to write about food dye from a science-y perspective.  Nonetheless, I've tinted my fair share of royal icing and buttercream, so I can certainly write about my experience vis-à-vis decorating. How do natural dyes compare to conventional food dyes, such as those produced by Wilton, Americolor, or McCormick?  What are the pros and cons from a decorating standpoint?  What sort of colors can you produce using natural food dyes?