While working on an up and coming DIY I realized I needed several BRIGHT colors of sugar.

I knew it was unlikely our local store would carry the colors I was after and I also didn’t want the expense of buying 5 different colored sugars (sprinkles are PRICEY)! So as I so often do I decided to hack it and I’m in LOVE with the results!

This is a super cheap, easy, and quick DIY recipe! It will definitely have you wondering why you haven’t been making your own colored sugar all this time!

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Materials

•  Gel Food Coloring in drop bottles ( Seriously this brand is my FAVORITE!)
• Vodka 
• Granulated Sugar
• Containers with lids (baby food jars, mason jars, tupperware containers) 
• Parchment Paper/ Foil

I hear you thinking VODKA?!?!

Yes, vodka.

In order to get color to distribute evenly throughout a “dry” ingredient like sugar you need some liquid to dissolve the color in. If you try it without you will most likely get little balls of food coloring covered in sugar, NOT the bright colorful sugar you are after.

You could use water but it doesn’t dissolve the food coloring as well, takes much longer to evaporate, and often turns your sugar into a brick.

So use the Vodka and don’t worry about it too much (barring allergies) because it will evaporate out (which I’ll touch on later).

After gathering your supplies, pour a small amount of vodka into a container (a teaspoon or so per cup of sugar you plan on dying that color.)

Add 2-3 drops of gel food coloring to the vodka.

Swirl the vodka food coloring mixture until the food coloring is completely dissolved.

Pour some of the sugar into the mason jar or tupperware container. Then add in the Food coloring – vodka mix.

Put the lid on and Shake, Shake, Shake!

Once the color is evenly distributed throughout the sugar pour the colored sugar onto the parchment paper.

Spread into a thin layer and let dry for about 24 hours (minimum overnight) this will allow the alcohol to evaporate out and keep the sugar kid-friendly!

Once completely dry fold the parchment paper in half and pour the brightly colored sugar into an airtight container.

If any sugar clumps formed while drying give it a few shakes with the lid on and they should all break apart!

Next use the sugar however you see fit! Sprinkle it on some homemade chocolates, use a bit inside of cookie dough to add some multi-colored flecks, or add a dash to the top of cupcakes!