When it comes to creating the perfect cake or cupcake, the frosting really is the finishing touch. And if you want to create subtle yet striking frosting colors, you’re in luck: All you need to re-create the bold hues above is gel food coloring—try AmeriColor Soft Gel Paste ($2.25 each for 0.75 oz., americolorcorp.com)—and our assistant food editor Riley Wofford’s secret (until now) formulas.

Just whisk the number of drops outlined below into two cups of Swiss Meringue Buttercream. Keep in mind that one drop of food coloring is equal to about 1/8 teaspoon. Top your confections with these painterly hues, and they’ll sell like you-know-whats at the season’s first bake sale.

colorful swiss meringue buttercream piping bags   Credit: Frank Frances

How to Make Boldly Colored Frosting

Dusty Pink: 6 Mauve + 3 Electric PurpleMarigold: 8 Orange + 2 Gold + 1 Chocolate BrownGranite: 6 Slate + 4 Royal Blue + 2 Electric PurplePeony: 10 Electric Purple + 8 Red Red + 2 Dusty RosePistachio: 6 Avocado + 1 Forest Green + 1 Chocolate Brown

piping tip illustration

Top It

Now that you’ve got the colors down, it’s time to master the technique. You can do a lot with a pastry bag, a plain 1/2-inch-round piping tip, frosting, and a dream, starting with these easy but impressive techniques.

pink frosting dollop piping cupcake   Credit: Frank Frances

The Dollop

Pipe a big mound of frosting onto the center, then press and twirl with the back of a spoon.

blue frosting piping on cupcake   Credit: Frank Frances

The Swirl

Working from near the edge toward the center and up, pipe a single coil in one steady squeeze.

green frosting spiky crown piping cupcake   Credit: Frank Frances

The Spiky Crown

Use a press-and-pull motion to make pointy peaks, starting from the center and working your way out.

Prop styling by Suzie Myers; Food styling by Riley Wofford; Illustration by Danielle Golinski

colorful swiss meringue buttercream piping bags Credit: Frank Frances

colorful swiss meringue buttercream piping bags

Credit: Frank Frances

piping tip illustration

piping tip illustration

pink frosting dollop piping cupcake Credit: Frank Frances

pink frosting dollop piping cupcake

blue frosting piping on cupcake Credit: Frank Frances

blue frosting piping on cupcake

green frosting spiky crown piping cupcake Credit: Frank Frances

green frosting spiky crown piping cupcake