Learn tips and tricks for drawing on food using edible ink pens. In this tutorial, I will show you how to use food coloring markers to draw and color on sweet and savory snacks.
Quite a few of you have written to me to ask how I get my edible ink food coloring markers to work so well. Believe me, I have had my fair share of trouble getting food coloring pens to work properly.
Over the years, I've found a few tricks to get the best results when drawing on food using these markers.
Drawing on some foods is more challenging than others but by following the tips I've suggested below, you'll be able to use the edible ink markers on so many different types of food including chocolate, Pop Tarts, Airheads Taffy, Necco Wafers, marshmallows, caramel, and even cheese.
Tips for drawing with food coloring markers
Tip #1 - Store your markers tip-side down.
Always store your food coloring markers in a glass, mug, or jar with the tip facing down.
This will keep the food coloring flowing toward the tip so that the tip of your marker does not dry out.
I don't recommend buying double-sided markers. I have found that they don't work very well to begin with and they dry out much more quickly than single-tip markers.
Tip # 2 - Dip the marker tip in liquid food coloring.
If you are drawing on food and are getting streaks instead of a nice even color our of the tip of your edible ink marker you can resaturate the marker using liquid food coloring.
Fill a small bowl with liquid food coloring that matches the color of your edible ink marker.
Dip the tip of your marker in the food coloring, allowing the coloring to soak up into the tip. Then, tap the marker allowing any excess coloring to fall off the tip. If it's too wet, it will bleed. You can touch it with a paper towel to remove any excess liquid.
Continue to draw on your food until you get streaks again, then repeat the process.
I know this seems like a waste being you purchased the food coloring pen for its convenience but I promise you will be happy with the results of this process.
Your markers are not cheap. Liquid food coloring is pretty cheap. So, adding the food coloring this way will add life to your markers.
Tip #3 - Refill the insert in your markers.
If your edible ink food coloring marker has dried out, don't throw it away, you may be able to refill it.
I love using Americolor Gourmet Writers. They are the best edible markers I have found thus far. Plus, they have a plug on one end that holds the absorbent material that holds the food coloring in the tube of the marker.
You can remove the plug using tweezers and refill the insert. The inserts have a plastic coating around them so you won't get ink on your hands. Other markers may not have this so you may want to wear food-handling gloves.
Once the plug is removed, tip the marker over and allow the coloring insert to drop out (tap the marker if needed.)
Put the insert in a small bowl filled with food coloring. DO NOT dip this directly into your bottle of food coloring. You never want to stick anything into your food coloring as it could contaminate it.
Allow the absorbent material to soak up the food coloring for at least 15 minutes.
Place the insert back into the marker.
Put the plug back then allow the edible ink marker to set with the tip side down for at least 15 minutes in order for the new coloring to permeate the tip.
Then, you can have fun drawing on your food.
Tip #4 - Use them on a smooth surface.
It is easiest to use food coloring markers on a smooth surface.
When I dipped cookies into yellow candy melts to make these Sunshine Lollipops, I was sure to allow the candy to smooth out on the surface while it was still wet.
It was easy to draw using a black food coloring maker across the hardened chocolate.
Tip #5 - Use a light touch.
Glide the marker across the surface of the food. If you press too hard, you can dig the tip into the food.
If food gets stuck on the surface of the marker, it will clog up the flow of food coloring. Gently roll the tip of the marker on a paper towel to remove any food that is stuck.
Tip #6 - Keep the tip of the marker clean.
Certain foods like the cornstarch on the exterior of marshmallows are more likely to stick to the tip of your edible ink pens.
Gently roll the tip on a paper towel to remove any dust or food debris.
When drawing on marshmallows, I like using Tip #2. I dip the tip in food coloring often as I create my design on the powdery surface of the marshmallow.
If the tip gets too dirty, you can rinse the tip of the marker with water to remove stuck-on food. Then, roll the tip over a paper towel to remove the excess water.
What food can you draw on using food coloring markers?
Draw on treats made with candy melts.
One of my favorite uses for food coloring markers is adding small details on my treats dipped and decorated with candy melts.
I drew smiles on Smiley Face Pretzels, whiskers on Rice Krispie Treat Bunny Pops, eyebrows on Grinch Candy Cups, and smiles on Shamrock Lollipops.
Draw on sweet treats.
You can draw on modeling chocolate (Smiling Graduates Cookies and Beaker Twinkie), fondant (Autograph Dog), and white chocolate fudge (Jack Skellington Fudge).
Draw on cookies
Once cut-out cookies have been baked, you can draw on them using food coloring. You can even draw on Vanilla wafers. See how I made the Sunshine Cookies, Minion Cookies, Sleeping Bag Snacks, and Witch Cookies.
Draw on savory food.
I've had so much fun turning savory food into cute snacks. Drawing on corn dogs is quite easy if they aren't bumpy. I added eyes and a smile to Corn Dog Butterflies.
Chicken tenders were a bit more challenging but I found Tyson Honey Battered Chicken Tenders worked great. Once again, I added a smiley face to my Chicken and Chips Butterflies.
Won Tons are fabulous canvases for food coloring pens. I was able to draw a clock face on my Fried Won Ton Clocks. I deep-fried this New Year's Eve appetizer and the drawn features looked great.
You can also draw on baked dough. I made cute Cheesy Snowman Snacks using Farm Rich Mozzarella Bites.
Draw on tortillas.
I found it really easy to draw on tortillas to make these School Book Sandwiches.
This was a chance for me to use colorful markers.
Draw on cheese.
I use black food coloring markers quite often but I love it when I can use colored markers too.
I created the cute bunny feet for these Mini Cheese Ball Bunny Butts using a pink food coloring marker on white cheese. Drawing on cheese works great.
Speaking of cheese, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on top of this pizza are made out of cheese. I created green, blue, orange, red, and purple-colored cheese. Yep, you can do that! See my Cheese Sugar Skull recipe for details.
Then, I used a black food coloring marker to draw the details on their face and masks.
You can color on orange cheddar cheese too. To make this pumpkin, I cut out orange cheese using a pumpkin cookie cutter. Then, I cut out two circles and put a slice of white cheese under the orange cheese.
I drew on the details using a black food coloring marker.
I hope you found all of these food coloring marker tips helpful. Have fun drawing on food.
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Cindy deRosier says
Very helpful - thank you!
Beth says
You are welcome!!!
sarah says
Hey!
thanks for the tips on storing markers. Question for you I'm hoping you can help me out with... Ive successfully made cookies with royal icing decorated with americolor gourmet markers, however as soon as i package the cookies (i use cello bags) my writing bleeds on both the bags and the cookies, any tips on preventing this?
Thanks!
Beth says
HI Sarah, I had never experienced this issue, but I don't often use food coloring markers on royal icing, so I asked my friend Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie for advice. She recommends you allow your iced cookies to dry for at least 24 hours before drawing on them with the food coloring markers. Then place a fan in front of your cookies and turn it on so that the air will circulate and help to dry the ink. All several hours of drying before packaging. If your house is humid this can really cause problems and the fan can really help.
kim says
hi,
I was hoping you may be able to give me some information on to where I may be able to purchase small edible markers in bulk?
Beth says
I have not actually purchased more than a few edible markers at a time, but I do purchase a lot of my products from wholesalers. If you have a vendor's license, you too can purchase from these companies. You will get a better price per marker than you would otherwise, but they have minimum orders of $125 - $150. You can also purchase other candy making, cake decorating supplies and ingredients in the same order.
If you'd like the details about this, you can contact me at beth@hungryhappenings.com.
ArtsyCraftsy Me says
Oh God! Thanks for this post! I have three sets of Americolor pens that have dried out, and I think it'll be too expensive if I buy another set.
Digi mom says
i wish i seen this posting before i threw out two batches of wiltons writers that never really worked even fresh out of the box they are useless ive had tons of people tell me to invest in amicolor writers now that ive seen this post i defintly will i dont think wiltons pens can be refilled do you know if they can?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I've never used the Wilton markers, so I am not sure if you can re-fill them, but I highly recommend the Americolor markers. They are very good.
Digi mom says
i wish i seen this posting before i threw out two batches of wiltons writers that never really worked even fresh out of the box they are useless ive had tons of people tell me to invest in amicolor writers now that ive seen this post i defintly will i dont think wiltons pens can be refilled do you know if they can?
Anonymous says
I recently bought food writers and tried to draw on marshmallows. The porous (spelling?) surface didn't work as well as I had hoped as the lines were real jagged.
I'm wondering if I could paint something (like maybe egg white) on top of the marshmallow next time to make a more smooth surface and then use the food writer. Is there a flaw in that thinking? Would the raw egg white have a negative effect - wouldn't want anyone to get sick 🙂
The markers were pretty expensive at Michaels, even with a 40% discount. Walmart had them at half the price. I'm so glad to know they can be refilled. Thank you for that and also for mentioning to store them up-side-down.
I'll try to get to this post again to see your suggestions as to writing more smoothly on marshmallows.
Tavette - S. Florida
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Tavette,
If you notice in the picture above of the marshmallows my lines are pretty jagged too. I've not drawn on marshmallows too often, but Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie does all the time (see all her marshmallow designs - http://thedecoratedcookie.com/marshmallows)
I wouldn't suggest brushing egg white on the marshmallow, but you could try making egg white out of meringue powder and using it. I'm not sure if it would work, though. You might just try using a pastry brush to brush some of the excess powder off the marshmallows before you draw on them, but the wrinkled surface of the marshmallow will still make it difficult to get a perfect line.
Good luck. I'd love to hear what ends up working for you.
Veena's Art of Cakes says
Thank you so much for this post. You are a genius. I would never have thought of this... I would love to let my kids draw on their cookies but these markers are so expensive here...! Gosh. Thank you so much.. Lovely blog.. Cool stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Veena
Anonymous says
Just thought that I would add that if you have an airbrush, you can use those colors to refill your pens, too. Airbrush colors come in a multitude of colors. The only difference from the way I did mine and you did yours...I put the colors in a smal cup and dropped the markers in tip first. It takes FOREVER! I like your way much better! Thanks for sharing!
Rita-Lake Wylie,SC
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Thanks for the great tip!
Tiffany@Fizzy Party! says
Great tips. I had no idea you could refill them. Thank you.
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons.com says
This is something I did not know! Thanks for the great tips!
Keitha says
Do you keep then in the fridge? I do because I worry about germy stuff growing on them from using them on everything from cheese to bread to eggs, etc.
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I do wipe my markers on paper towels after using them, but never thought about storing them in the refrigerator. I've never stored food coloring in the fridge and don't know if the markers would be effected by the cold or condensation.
Estibaliz (1/2 MEUG) says
What a great idea! Thank you very much!!!
Marilyn Aderman Lillard says
Try dusting your Royal icing cookies with cornstarch before packaging them. Google “cornstarch slug”! Yes it’s a thing😂😂!
It may dull your icing slightly but should stop the bleeding of your pens.
Beth Klosterboer says
That is a great tip! I don't make royal icing cookies very often so I did not know this. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Bhrngari says
How would you refill a black marker? Would thinning down gel color work? Or maybe using airbrush color?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
You can buy liquid black food coloring. Here is a link to some on Amazon.com ---> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012OV6BK?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B0012OV6BK&linkCode=xm2&tag=hungryh-20
That is all I've tried. I'm not sure what air brush color is like, but if it is really thin it might work as well.
Bhrngari says
Thanks! I'll check out the link!
Bhrngari says
How would you refill a black marker? I wonder if you can water down gel colors, or would buying airbrush color work better?
Bhrngari says
How would you refill a black marker? I wonder if you can water down gel colors, or would buying airbrush color work better?
Anonymous says
Have you tried writing on bread? Curious
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
I just tried them on bread and it does work, but it doesn't look great. I've painted on bread using a mixture of milk and food coloring and I think that looks better. You can see how I did it here ---> https://hungryhappenings.com/valentines-day-breakfast-conversation.html
I have also used the markers on tortillas and buns and it worked better than on bread as the surface is quite a bit smoother.
Glory says
Perfect timing just when I thought I was going to have to invest in a new set for markers! Thanks!
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Hi Glory, I've had great success refilling my markers. The only issue is that you may have to mix some food coloring to get just the right color for your markers.
Anonymous says
So what have you had bad luck with writing on?
Beth Jackson Klosterboer says
Chocolate bars can be a huge challenge and cheese is very challenging because of the oils. If the markers are dried out, everything is a challenge!
Wonderful World of Math says
You are awesome! I would have never thought of this!!! I will definitely be using this idea this week!