Exploring Food Coloring for Macarons: Water Solution vs. Gel Paste

When crafting the perfect macaron, food coloring plays a vital role in achieving the desired aesthetic. At Macaron Centrale, we believe in using both water solution and gel paste food colors, tailoring our approach based on the visual effect we want to create. While many in the baking industry recommend gel paste food colors due to their thickness and minimal impact on batter consistency, we take a broader approach and embrace both types of food coloring.

Water Solution Food Color vs. Gel Paste Food Color

The Popular Opinion: Gel Paste Dominates

Gel paste food color is often the recommended choice for macaron baking. It's thicker, highly concentrated, and doesn't affect the batter's consistency the way water-based colors can. As a result, gel paste is seen as a safer, more reliable option for achieving bold, vibrant colors without compromising the texture of delicate macaron batter.

Macaron Centrale’s Balanced Approach

While gel paste is a staple in our kitchen, we also find value in water solution food colors. It all comes down to the look we're trying to achieve:

• For Pastel, Matte Finishes: Water solution colors are our go-to. These colors are perfect for creating soft, pastel tones with a matte finish, ideal for subtle designs.

• For Intense, Vibrant, Shiny Finishes: Gel paste food colors take the lead when we need bold, bright colors that pop with a shiny finish.

To ensure the batter's consistency when using water solution colors, we make slight adjustments by adding an extra 0.5% of cornstarch or almond flour. This simple trick stabilizes the mixture and ensures our macarons bake up beautifully, even with the added liquid from water-based colors.

Our Favorite Food Coloring Brands

At Macaron Centrale, we rely on three trusted food coloring brands, each offering unique properties:

  

1. AmeriColor Gel Paste

   • Viscosity: Thickest of the three brands.
   • Performance: AmeriColor is our top choice for vibrant, consistent colors. Its thicker consistency makes it ideal for most macaron designs, and it yields excellent results every time.
   • Where We Buy: Direct from AmeriColor.    

2. Chefmaster Liqua-Gel

   • Viscosity: Thinner than AmeriColor, but still a gel paste.
   • Performance: Chefmaster produces similar vibrant colors to AmeriColor, but its thinner consistency limits its application in some designs.
   • Important Note: We do not recommend Chefmaster for making marble-finish macaron shells. Its thinner consistency makes it difficult to achieve the desired marble effect when painted onto piping bags. For the best marble designs, AmeriColor is our preferred choice.
   • Where We Buy: From WebstaurantStore.

3. Paqava Gel Food Color

   • Viscosity: Comparable to AmeriColor.
   • Performance: Paqava offers good viscosity, but some colors may not yield the exact results described on the packaging. Still, it's a solid option for certain colors and designs.
   • Where We Buy: From Paqava

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Color for the Right Job

At Macaron Centrale, we use food colors strategically, depending on the flavor and design we're working on. Whether it's a light pastel or a bold, glossy finish, we use both water solution and gel paste colors to create macarons that are as visually stunning as they are delicious.

Food coloring is more than just a tool—it's an art, and by using these three trusted brands, we ensure that every macaron we produce is a true work of edible art.