Buzz
Edible glitter is a fun and eye-catching decoration used to sprinkle on cakes, donuts, cookies, and other baked goods. While pre-made edible glitter is available for purchase, making your own is an easy and enjoyable process. Different methods will yield varying results in size, sparkle, and color. Experiment with various techniques to find the most effective approach for your project.
Ingredients
Simple Glitter Made from Raw Sugar
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of raw sugar or cane sugar
- Liquid, gel, or natural food coloring
Fine Glitter Made from Gum-Tex or Tylose Powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of Gum-Tex or Tylose powder
- At least ¼ teaspoon of food-grade spray or powder glitter
- 4 tablespoons of boiling water
Bright Colored Glitter Made from Gum Arabic
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of Gum Arabic
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of hot water
- Food-grade spray or powder glitter (at least ½ teaspoon)
Sparkling Glitter Made from Gelatin
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of unflavored gelatin powder
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of water
- At least ¼ teaspoon of food-grade spray or powder glitter
- Liquid food coloring (optional)
Steps
Simple Glitter Made from Raw Sugar
Preheat the oven to 177°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You can also use a silicone baking mat if you have one, but avoid using plastic wrap as it is not safe for oven use.
Measure ¼ cup (60 ml) of raw sugar or cane sugar. Look for large-grain sugar, typically labeled as 'raw sugar' or 'cane sugar.' Granulated sugar has much finer grains and will result in less sparkle.
- You can also use granulated sugar if you prefer more vibrant colors rather than sparkle.
Mix sugar with a few drops of food coloring in a small bowl. The food coloring can be either liquid or gel. You can also create your own food coloring using natural ingredients like vegetable or fruit juices and spices. Keep stirring until the color is fully absorbed and blended with the sugar.
- To create new shades, try mixing different colors. For instance, you can make green by blending 1 drop of blue and 2 drops of yellow.
Spread the sugar evenly over the bottom of the baking tray. Use a whisk or spoon to ensure an even distribution. The thinner the sugar layer, the shorter the baking time will be.
Bake the sugar in the oven for about 7-9 minutes. Remove the tray from the oven as soon as the sugar is dry. If you bake it too long, the sugar will melt and create a sticky mess!
Let the glitter cool, then crush it by hand. After letting the sugar cool for about an hour, you can proceed. If the glitter has clumped together, simply break it apart with your hands.
Store the glitter in a tightly sealed container for up to 6 months. The color and sparkle will gradually fade, so it's best to keep the glitter container in a place away from direct sunlight.
Fine glitter made with Gum-Tex or tylose powder
Preheat the oven to 135°C and line the bottom of the baking tray with parchment paper. You can also use a silicone baking mat if available, but avoid using plastic wrap as it is not safe for the oven.
Measure 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of Gum-Tex or tylose powder. Gum-Tex and tylose are fine white powders commonly used for making fondant and chewy sugar pastes. These ingredients can be found at baking supply stores, craft stores, or purchased online.
Mix the powder with sparkling food coloring in a small bowl. Start with about ¼ teaspoon of glitter powder and gradually add more until you achieve the desired color and intensity.
- If available, you can also use spray food coloring instead of glitter powder.
Stir 4 tablespoons (60 ml) of hot water with the ingredients in the bowl. The mixture will become thick, so make sure to break up any lumps. Continue mixing until everything is evenly combined with the water. Eventually, the Gum-Tex or tylose will turn into a paste.
- Try adding the water one spoonful at a time to prevent clumping.
Spread the mixture onto the baking tray lined with parchment paper. The thinner the layer of mixture, the faster it will bake, but make sure to spread it evenly so that it bakes uniformly. You can use a food brush or a cake spatula to smooth it out.
Bake the mixture in the oven until completely dry. The exact baking time will depend on the thickness of the mixture spread on the tray, but it generally takes around 30 minutes. Once done, the mixture should be firm and easily peel off the tray.
Allow the glitter to cool and then break it into small pieces. Once the glitter has fully cooled, you can use scissors to cut it or break larger pieces by hand into smaller ones that will fit into a coffee grinder or food processor.
Use a coffee grinder or food processor to continue grinding the glitter. Place the broken glitter pieces into the grinder or food processor, secure the lid, and grind until smooth.
- If available, you can try using a spice grinder attached to your coffee grinder.
Sift the glitter to separate the larger pieces. Re-grind the larger pieces to achieve a more uniform glitter texture. However, you can skip this step if you're happy with glitter having different sizes of particles.
Store the edible glitter in a sealed jar or container. The glitter can last for several months, although its shimmer will gradually fade over time. It's best to keep the glitter in a dry place and avoid direct sunlight to extend its shelf life.
Vibrant colored glitter made from Arabic gum
Preheat the oven to 138°C and line the baking tray. You can use parchment paper or a silicone mat to line the tray, but avoid using plastic wrap as it is not safe for baking.
Measure ½ teaspoon of Arabic gum and place it in a small bowl. Arabic gum is a thickening agent commonly used in icing and filling for baked goods. It is adhesive and can be found at baking supply stores, craft stores, or online.
Mix in water and a few drops of spray food coloring. Start with ½ teaspoon of hot water and add more drops as needed. Arabic gum holds color very well, so it's best to add the color gradually: a little at a time is always better. Stir until the color and water blend smoothly and the mixture is completely smooth.
- If you don't have spray food coloring, you can substitute with glitter food powder. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more if needed.
Spread the mixture onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. The mixture will not form a solid layer, but be sure to spread it evenly to ensure even baking.
Bake the glitter for 10 minutes. Once baking is complete, the glitter will dry and begin to peel off the tray.
Let the glitter cool and break it into pieces. After the glitter has completely cooled, you can either use a wooden spoon or simply break it apart by hand. If you want smaller glitter pieces, you can sift the glitter through a fine mesh strainer.
Store the glitter in a sealed jar or container. Edible glitter can be stored for several months, although its sparkle may fade over time. Be sure to store the glitter in a dry place and keep it out of direct sunlight to prolong its shelf life.
Glitter made from gelatin that sparkles brightly
Place 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of unflavored gelatin powder into a small bowl. Avoid using gelatin with flavoring, as it often comes with color. The unflavored kind can be mixed with food coloring and moisture, creating a shimmering effect without altering the taste.
Add 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of water to the bowl. Use a spoon or whisk to stir thoroughly until the mixture thickens. The stirring process may take around 5 minutes. If white bubbles form, you can remove them using a spoon.
Incorporate edible glitter powder or spray food coloring. Start with a small amount (approximately ¼ teaspoon) and stir in more until the desired color is achieved. For a brighter shimmer, consider using a food spray with a pearlescent finish.
- If you'd like the color to be richer, you can add a few drops of gel food coloring in the same color family.
Pour the gelatin mixture onto a large plastic sheet. A plastic chopping board or baking tray lined with cling film will also work. Aim to pour the mixture into the center of the plastic sheet to prevent it from spilling over the edges.
- If the mixture doesn’t spread across the surface by itself, you can use a spatula to help spread it out.
Let the glitter mixture set overnight. If you're in a hurry, you can speed up the process by placing the mixture in front of a dehumidifier or a gently running fan. Once the gelatin is completely dry, it will curl and peel off the plastic sheet.
Use a coffee grinder or food processor to grind the glitter finely. You may need to break the gelatin sheet into smaller pieces to fit the grinder. Close the lid and grind until the mixture becomes smooth.
- If you have one, try using a spice grinder attached to your coffee grinder.
Sift the glitter to separate any larger pieces. Re-grind the larger pieces to create a more uniform, fine texture. However, if you're satisfied with the glitter having various grain sizes, you can skip this step.
Store the glitter in a sealed jar or container. Edible glitter generally lasts for a few months, but its sparkle may fade over time. Be sure to store it in a dry, cool place away from sunlight to extend its shelf life.
Tip
- Edible glitter is a fantastic decorative ingredient for baked goods, but it can also be sprinkled on drinks. Next time, try dusting some around the rim of a cocktail glass for a sparkling and fun twist.
- You can also use salt to make edible glitter. The challenge here is that very few people enjoy the salty taste enough for it to be sparkly!
Essential items you will need
Simple glitter made from raw sugar
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Small bowl
- Whisk or spoon
- Sealable container for glitter (optional)
Fine glitter powder made from Gum-Tex or Tylose powder
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Small bowl
- Fork or egg beater
- Food brush or dough scraper (optional)
- Coffee grinder or food processor
- Sieve
- Sealable container for glitter (optional)
Vibrant colored glitter made from arabic gum
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
- Small bowl
- Fork or egg beater
- Food brush or small, clean paintbrush
- Sieve (optional)
- Sealable container for glitter (optional)
Shimmering glitter made from gelatin
- Small bowl
- Spoon or whisk
- Wide plastic sheet, such as a plastic cutting board or a baking tray lined with plastic wrap
- Whisk (optional)
- Coffee grinder or food processor
- Sieve
- Sealable container for glitter (optional)
