Making the color brown from primary colors like red, yellow and blue may seem challenging since brown is not itself a primary color. However, with some simple color theory and mixing techniques, you can easily create different shades of brown using only primary food dyes or gel colors.
In this article, we’ll walk through the basics of color theory as it applies to mixing browns. We’ll also provide specific formulas and techniques for making brown icing, frosting, candy melts and more with basic food coloring.
Whether you need brown for cake decorating, candy making, or just for fun, read on to learn how to mix and match red, yellow and blue dyes to get the perfect shade of brown.
The Basics of Mixing Brown
Brown is considered a tertiary color in color theory. This means it is made by combining the three primary colors – red, yellow and blue.
More specifically, brown contains some combination of the following colors:
– Red – Adds warmth and brings out red/orange undertones
– Yellow – Brings out golden/yellowish hues
– Blue – Cools down the color and brings out more grey/blue undertones
By varying the proportions of primary colors, you can make different shades of brown ranging from light tan to deep chocolate brown.
Here are a few simple ways to mix brown with primary food colors:
– Start with yellow as a base and add small amounts of red. Increase red to make the shade darker.
– Start with red as a base and add small amounts of blue. Increase blue to make the shade darker.
– Mix red, yellow and blue together. Adjust proportions to control hue and darkness.
– Add a small amount of blue to an orange made from red and yellow to tone it down to a brown.
The intensity of the food color will also affect the end result. Gel colors produce truer, more intense browns while liquid food dyes make softer, more muted earth tones.
Mixing Brown Icing and Frosting
When working with icing or buttercream frosting, you’ll want to use gel food colors to achieve the deepest, most natural brown shades. Here are some mixing formulas to try:
Milk Chocolate Brown
– 1 part yellow gel color
– 1/2 part red gel color
This makes a creamy milk chocolate hue by boosting the red undertones.
Dark Chocolate Brown
– 1 part red gel color
– 1/4 part blue gel color
The blue adds depth and intensity for a darker chocolate color.
Cappuccino Brown
– 1/2 part yellow gel color
– 1/4 part red gel color
– 1/8 part blue gel color
Mixing all three primaries results in a warm light brown reminiscent of cappuccino foam.
Hazelnut Brown
– 1 part yellow gel color
– 1/8 part blue gel color
This keeps the base golden yellow while adding just a hint of blue for a nutty light brown.
Chestnut Brown
– 1 part red gel color
– 1/4 part yellow gel color
– 1/8 part blue gel color
Boosting the red gives this shade a deeper, slightly reddish tone like that of a chestnut.
| Color Name | Yellow | Red | Blue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk Chocolate Brown | 1 part | 1/2 part | None |
| Dark Chocolate Brown | None | 1 part | 1/4 part |
| Cappuccino Brown | 1/2 part | 1/4 part | 1/8 part |
| Hazelnut Brown | 1 part | None | 1/8 part |
| Chestnut Brown | 1/4 part | 1 part | 1/8 part |
When mixing gel colors into icing, add just a small amount at a time and mix thoroughly to fully incorporate the color. You can always add more if needed to achieve the perfect shade.
Making Brown Candy Melts and Chocolate
Candy melts and chocolate come in pre-colored brown varieties. But if you need to tint regular chocolate or candy melts yourself, gel colors will once again provide the most vivid results.
Here are some brown candy melt coloring combos to test out:
Mocha Brown
– 1 part yellow gel color
– 1/4 part red gel color
– 1/8 part blue gel color
This warm, balanced blend mimics the tone of a mocha latte.
Milk Chocolate
– 1 part yellow gel color
– 1/4 part red gel color
Boosting the yellow and red invokes the sweet tone of milk chocolate.
Dark Chocolate
– 1/2 part red gel color
– 1/4 part blue gel color
Like dark icing, emphasizing the red and blue makes an intense, deep dark chocolate hue.
Caramel Brown
– 1 part yellow gel color
– 1/8 part red gel color
This keeps yellow as the dominant color for a golden caramel shade.
Hazelnut Brown
– 1 part yellow gel color
– 1/8 part blue gel color
Again, light blue added to yellow makes a perfect hazelnut tone.
Making Brown with Food Coloring Drops
Liquid food coloring drops can be used to tint lighter brown shades. But they tend to dilute and fade more than gel colors.
To make brown with liquid dyes, use more concentrated amounts of color compared to gel. Here are some examples:
Creamy Beige
– 10-12 drops yellow color
– 2 drops red color
Warm Taupe
– 8 drops yellow color
– 4 drops red color
– 1 drop blue color
Muted Clay
– 6 drops red color
– 2 drops blue color
Soft Tan
– 8-10 drops yellow color
– 1 drop blue color
Mix liquid dyes into at least a tablespoon of icing, candy coating or dough at a time to evenly distribute the color. Add more drops as needed to build up the shade.
Tinting Brown with Naturally Pigmented Foods
For a more natural brown coloring, you can infuse foods and icing with brown-hued ingredients like:
– Cocoa powder
– Instant coffee
– Caramel or maple syrup
– Brown sugar
– Nut extracts like almond, hazelnut or walnut
These provide a gentle, earthy tone when blended into icings, baked goods or candy.
For example, try whisking a tablespoon of cocoa powder into cream cheese frosting for a chocolate brown effect. Or knead a teaspoon of instant coffee powder into cookie dough before baking.
Just keep in mind that adding liquids may throw off the consistency, so small amounts work best.
Testing and Adjusting Your Brown Shades
It often takes some trial and error to mix the exact brown tone you want. Be prepared to tweak recipes and test your colors before applying to your final desserts or crafts.
Here are some tips for adjusting brown food coloring mixes:
– Add more yellow or red to warm up and lighten the shade
– Add more blue or red to cool down and darken the shade
– Thin with water or clear extract if the color is too intense
– Switch from liquid to gel dye for more color intensity
– Use less liquid dye since it dilutes the color
– Mix into white icing, coating or dough for truest color
Refer back to the color combinations above and vary the proportions until you achieve your desired result. The more you experiment with mixing browns, the easier it will become.
Trying Other Food Coloring Options
While this article focused on mixing browns from primary red, yellow and blue food coloring, there are other options that provide pre-made earthy hues:
– Brown gel food coloring – Provides intense, pure brown tones
– Cocoa powder – Imparts a natural, reddish brown chocolate hue
– Caramel food coloring – Made from caramelized sugar for an authentic caramel brown
– Food coloring pastes – Offer deep, vivid browns not possible with gels or liquids
So if you can’t get the right shade from mixing primaries, don’t be afraid to utilize other specialty brown food colorings. They can act as an easy shortcut to the exact tone you need.
Conclusion
With the techniques and formulas provided, you should feel confident mixing up a whole spectrum of browns using only basic red, yellow and blue food dyes.
Remember to start with small amounts of color and build up the intensity gradually until you achieve the perfect shade. Refer back to the color combinations suggested for different brown hues.
Mastering these brown coloring skills will give you endless possibilities for decorating cakes, cookies, candy and more. So grab your primary dyes and let the browning begin!