Edible glitter is a fun way to decorate cupcakes, donuts, cookies, and other baked goods. While you can buy ready-made versions of these glitters, making your own can be much more fun and enjoyable. Different ways you make glitter, different sizes, shimmers, and colors will result, so experiment with different types of glitter to find the best one for your project.
Ingredients
Simple Glitter with Raw Sugar
- 60 ml white or raw sugar
- Liquid, gel, or natural food coloring
Glitter with Gum-Tex or Tylose Powder
- 5 ml Gum-Tex or tylose powder
- Minimum 1 ml of luster dust or spray food coloring
- 60 ml boiling water
Rich Color Glitter with Arabic Gum
- 2, 5 ml gum arabic
- 2, 5 ml hot water
- Food coloring spray or luster dust (at least tsp. or 1 ml)
Extra Glitter Glitter from Gelatin
- 1 tbsp. (15 ml) unflavored gelatin powder
- 3 tbsp. (45 ml) water
- Minimum tsp. (1 ml) luster dust or spray food coloring
- Liquid food coloring (optional)
Step
Method 1 of 4: Simple Glitter with Raw Sugar
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line the cake pan with parchment paper
You can also use a silicone cake mat if you have one, but don't use plastic wrap as it's not oven safe.
Step 2. Measure out 60 ml of raw or cane sugar
Look for large-grain sugar, which is usually labeled "raw" or "cane". Granulated sugar has a finer grain and is less shiny.
If you just want to add color instead of shine, feel free to use granulated sugar
Step 3. Mix the sugar with a few drops of food coloring in a small bowl
You can use gel paste or liquid food coloring. You can also make your own food coloring using natural ingredients such as vegetables, fruit juices, and various spices. Continue to stir until the colors are mixed and fully combined with the sugar.
To create a new color, try mixing different food coloring. For example, green glitter can be made with a drop of blue food coloring, and 2 drops of yellow
Step 4. Spread the sugar on the parchment-lined cake tin
Use a spoon or spoon to make sure the sugar is evenly distributed. The thinner it is spread, the faster the sugar will bake.
Step 5. Bake the sugar in the oven for 7-9 minutes
Once it's completely dry, immediately remove the pan from the oven: if you bake too long, the sugar will melt and become sticky!
Step 6. Allow the glitter to cool before cracking it with your finger
Let the sugar sit for an hour to cool completely before it's ready to break. If there are lumps, just break them by hand.
Step 7. Store glitter in an airtight container for up to 6 months
The color and luster of the glitter will fade over time so try to keep it out of direct sunlight.
Method 2 of 4: Glitter with Gum-Tex or Tylose Powder
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 135 degrees Celsius and line a cake pan with parchment paper
You can also use a silicone cake mat if you have one, but don't use plastic wrap as it's not oven safe.
Step 2. Measure out 1 tsp
(5 ml) Gum-Tex or tylose powder. Gum-Tex and tylose powder are fine white powders used to strengthen fondant and gum pastes. You can buy them at specialty bakeries, craft stores, or the internet.
Step 3. Mix powder with luster dust food coloring in a small bowl
Start with tsp. (1 ml) luster dust food coloring and add gradually until it reaches the desired color intensity.
If you have one, you can also use spray food coloring to replace the luster dust
Step 4. Mix 4 tbsp
(60 ml) boiling water to the ingredients in a bowl. This mixture will clump so try to smooth it out as much as possible. Pour until all the water is mixed. Eventually, the gum-tex or tylose will thicken the water to a paste-like texture.
Try to pour 1 tbsp of water. (15 ml) at a time to help minimize clumps
Step 5. Spread the mixture on the parchment-lined cake pan
The thinner it is spread, the faster the pasta mix will bake. However, make sure the pasta is evenly distributed so that it all cooks at the same time. You can use a cake brush or a food brush.
Step 6. Bake the gum mixture in the oven until completely dry
The exact timing required will depend on the thickness of the mixture being spread, but it is common for ingredients to bake for 30 minutes. When you do, the mixture will completely harden and peel off the pan.
Step 7. Allow the glitter to cool and break up into small flakes
When the glitter has completely cooled, use your hands or scissors to break the large sheet into small pieces that can fit into a coffee grinder or food processor.
Step 8. Use a coffee grinder or food processor to further crush the ingredients
Place a large sheet of glitter in the bowl of a grinding or processing machine. Put the lid on the tool, and grind the glitter until it's quite fine.
Try using a spice grinder head on a coffee grinder, if you have one
Step 9. Pour the glitter through a sieve to separate it from the large chunks
Re-grind these large pieces of glitter to make them into a fine grain like the others. However, if you are satisfied with the various sizes of glitter, feel free to skip this step.
Step 10. Store the glitter meal in an airtight container or jar
This glitter should last for months, but will lose its luster over time. Be sure to store it away from water and sunlight to keep it as long as possible.
Method 3 of 4: Rich Color Glitter with Arabic Gum
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 140 degrees Celsius and line the cake pan
You can use parchment paper or silicone cake mats for the pans, but don't use plastic wrap as they are not oven safe.
Step 2. Measure out tsp
(2.5 ml) gum arabic to a small bowl. Gum arabic is a thickening agent that is often used for icing and filling when making cakes. This material has binding or adhesive properties and can be purchased at cake supply stores, grocery stores, and the internet.
Step 3. Mix hot water and a few drops of spray food coloring
Start with tsp. (2.5 ml) hot water and add a drop of water gradually if needed. Gum arabic absorbs color well so it's best to add the dye slowly. Beat until the color and water are fully mixed and become smooth.
If you don't have spray food coloring, try using a luster dust. Start with tsp. (2.5 ml) and add if needed
Step 4. Use a brush to spread the mixture onto a parchment or silicone-lined cake pan
This mixture won't turn into a solid sheet, but try to spread it evenly on the baking sheet to make sure it all bakes together.
Step 5. Bake glitter for 10 minutes
When it's fully baked, the dough will dry out and will begin to peel off the cake pan.
Step 6. Let the glitter cool and break into pieces
When the dough has completely cooled, use a wooden spoon or your hands to crush it. If you want a finer grain, you can sift through the glitter with a sieve or tea strainer.
Step 7. Store the glitter meal in an airtight container or jar
The glitter should last for months, but the shine will fade over time. Make sure the glitter is away from water and sunlight to make it last longer.
Method 4 of 4: Extra Glitter Glitter from Gelatin
Step 1. Measure out 1 tbsp
(15 ml) unflavored gelatin powder in a small bowl. Don't use flavored gelatin powder, which is usually colored too. This gelatin powder will mess up the color of the paint and moisturize the gloss needed to make glitter.
Step 2. Mix 3 tbsp
(45 ml) of water. Using a small spoon or spoon, stir well until thickened. Usually you need to stir for 5 minutes. If foam appears, scoop it up with a spoon and throw it away.
Step 3. Add luster dust or spray food coloring
Start with a small amount (approximately tsp. (1 ml) and mix more until you get the color you want. For a shinier look, look for spray food coloring with a pearl sheen.
For a more intense color, add a few drops of gel food coloring paste of the same color
Step 4. Pour the gelatin mixture onto a large plastic or acetate sheet
You can also use a plastic cutting board or a plastic-lined cake pan. Try to pour the gelatin into the center of the plastic so it doesn't spill over the sides.
If the mixture doesn't spread on the plastic naturally, use a spatula to spread it evenly
Step 5. Let the glitter set overnight
If you're in a hurry, you can speed things up by placing it in front of the dehumidifier or fan on a low setting. Once it dries completely, the gelatin will curl and peel off the plastic sheet.
Step 6. Use a coffee grinder or food processor to break up the glitter
You will need to break the sheet into small pieces that can fit into the bowl of a grinder or food processor. Put the lid on and grind until the glitter is a fine grain.
Try to use a spice grinder head for a coffee grinder, if you have one
Step 7. Sift the glitter with a sieve to separate it from large chunks
Grind the large chunks of glitter again until they are all finely ground. However, if you don't mind the size of the glitter, you can skip this step.
Step 8. Store the glitter in an airtight container or jar
Your dining glitter should last up to a month, but the shine will wear off over time. Make sure the glitter is stored in a place away from water and sunlight to make it last longer.
Tips
- Dinner glitter goes well with baked snacks and garnishes drinks. Try rubbing glitter on the lips of your drink glass to make it look more lively.
- You can also make glitter with salt. However, not many people like food that is sprinkled with so much salt that it looks shiny!
