How Do You Make Colored Decorating Slips?

ByScarlett Evans

Decorating slips, also known as piping gel or decorator’s gel, are a fun and versatile tool used to decorate cakes, cookies, and other baked goods. They allow you to easily create colorful patterns, designs, borders, and accents on your treats.

Decorating slips are made from cornstarch and water, forming a smooth, pliable gel. Food coloring is added to tint the slips in any color. The gel can then be hand molded into different shapes and used to decorate. Common uses for decorating slips include:

  • Piping borders around cakes
  • Making flowers, bows, lace, and other accents
  • Writing messages on cakes and cookies
  • Adding color and texture to cupcakes

The gel consistency allows the slips to hold their shape after piping or molding. Once dried, they form a smooth, crisp finish. Decorating slips are an easy, affordable way to decorate baked goods for special occasions, holidays, or just for fun.

Making decorating slips at home is a simple process using just a few common ingredients. This article will cover everything you need to know to make your own colored slips and use them to decorate treats.

Ingredients

There are several key ingredients you’ll need to make colored decorating slips at home.

Edible Powders

The base of the slips is made from edible powders like:

  • Powdered sugar
  • Cornstarch
  • Arrowroot powder
  • Potato starch

These provide structure and allow the slips to dry properly. Powdered sugar adds sweetness while cornstarch and starches help the slips harden.

Food Coloring

Food coloring gives the slips their vibrant colors. Opt for gel food colors which provide more intense hues than liquid varieties. Make sure to use food-safe dyes.

Liquids

Liquids are used to bind the powders and create a fluid paste for decorating. Good options include:

  • Water
  • Lemon extract
  • Vanilla extract
  • Light corn syrup
  • Vodka or other clear spirits

The liquid controls the consistency. More liquid makes a thinner slip. Start with 1-2 teaspoons and adjust as needed.

Supplies

To make colored decorating slips, you’ll need some basic kitchen and art supplies. The main supplies you’ll need include:

  • Mixing bowls and spoons for preparing the slip mixture.
  • Piping bags to pipe the colored slip onto surfaces.
  • Food coloring in various colors to tint the slips.
  • Paint brushes to apply slips onto detailed areas.
  • Dusting equipment like soft brushes to remove excess slip.

Having a variety of mixing bowls and spoons will make it easier to mix multiple colors of slips at once. Piping bags fitted with small tips give you precision in slip application. High quality food coloring provides rich, vibrant hues. Paint brushes allow you to reach small areas and edges. Soft dusting brushes remove dried slip without damaging surfaces underneath.

Making the Slips

Making colored decorating slips requires mixing the powder and liquid to get the right consistency. Start by combining the slip powder with water in a large bucket or container. Use an electric drill with a paint mixer to blend the powder and water thoroughly. Mix for several minutes until the slip becomes smooth and free of lumps.

The slip should have a thick, creamy consistency – similar to a milkshake. If it seems too thin, slowly add more powder while mixing. If it’s too thick, gradually stir in more water. Getting the consistency just right takes some trial and error. The slip should fully coat a spoon or spatula but still drip off slowly.

Once the slip has a smooth, creamy texture, add liquid colorant in your desired shades. Start with just a few drops of color and keep mixing. Add more colorant gradually until you achieve the perfect vibrant hue. Mix thoroughly to distribute the color evenly throughout the slip. Now your colorful slips are ready for decorating!

Coloring the Slips

There are a few options when it comes to coloring your decorating slips. The most common is to use liquid food coloring. Gel food coloring also works well. Whichever type you choose, make sure it’s non-toxic.

You can mix and blend food coloring to create custom colors. Start with primary colors like red, blue and yellow. Then experiment by mixing two primary colors to make secondary colors like purple, green and orange. You can make tertiary colors by blending a primary and secondary color. The possibilities are endless!

A few tips for mixing colors:

  • Use toothpicks for mixing small amounts of coloring.
  • Add colors gradually until you achieve the desired shade.
  • Keep track of color combinations that work well so you can recreate them.
  • Test colors on spare slips before adding to the full batch.

With some practice, you’ll be able to mix custom colors with ease. Vibrant, saturated colors work best for decorating slips.

Drying

Properly drying the colored decorating slips is an important step to help prevent cracking. Here are some tips for drying:

Let the slips air dry completely. Don’t try to speed up the drying process by using heat, as this can cause the slips to dry too quickly and crack. Air drying allows the slips to dry gradually.

Place the slips in a dust-free area while drying. Any dust that settles on the surface can get absorbed into the slips as they dry and affect the finish.

Expect the drying time to be at least 24 hours. Thicker slips may take 48 hours or longer to dry completely. Test the slips by touching the surface – if any color comes off on your fingers, they need more drying time.

Flip the slips over about halfway through the drying time. This allows both sides to dry evenly.

Avoid overcrowding slips while drying. Leave space between each slip to allow air circulation. Stacked or crowded slips will dry unevenly.

Be patient and allow the slips to dry thoroughly before using them. Properly dried slips will have a smooth, crack-free finish. Rushing the drying risks ruining your decorated slips.

Storing

Properly storing your leftover decorating slips is important for maintaining freshness and preventing drying. Here are some tips for storage:

Airtight Containers: Transfer any leftover slips into an airtight container like a mason jar or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. This prevents moisture from escaping and the slips from drying out.

Refrigeration: Keep the airtight container in the refrigerator to maximize freshness. The cool environment helps keep the slips from drying out. Aim to use within 5-7 days for best results.

Shelf Life: Decorating slips will generally last 5-7 days when properly stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The corn syrup helps keep them malleable. If they dry out, you may be able to revive them slightly with a little water, but fresh is always best.

Using Colored Decorating Slips

Once your colored slips are made and completely dried, you’re ready to use them to decorate baked goods beautifully. There are several techniques for utilizing colored slips:

Filling Piping Bags

One of the most common ways to use slips is to fill piping bags. Simply spoon the colored slip into a piping bag fitted with your desired tip. The slip can then be piped onto cakes, cookies, or other baked goods in intricate patterns and designs.

Brushing On

For a smooth, even application of slip, load a clean pastry brush with colored slip and brush it directly onto baked items. This works well for covering large surface areas or evenly coating the tops of cupcakes or cookies.

Dusting

You can use slips as dusting powders too. Simply dip a clean, dry brush into the dried slip and tap off any excess. Then lightly dust the slip over baked goods to gently apply color, much like dusting with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.

Decorating Ideas

Colored slips can be used in many creative ways to add visual interest to your decor. Here are some ideas for making the most of your homemade slips:

Adding Patterns and Textures

Try imprinting the slips with lace, burlap, pressed leaves or other textured materials before drying for an embossed effect. You can also use rubber stamps or sponges to add patterns like polka dots, stripes, geometric shapes or floral designs.

Accent Colors

Mix and match colored slips for contrast. For example, use light peach slips against a teal wall, or combine mint and lilac slips for a fresh springtime look. Metallic slips in silver, gold or copper are great for highlighting specific decor elements.

Creative Effects

Layer different colored slips over each other for an ombre or watercolor-inspired look. You can also crumple or ruffle slips before applying them to add texture and dimension. Cut out slip shapes like circles, stars or triangles and arrange them in interesting patterns for customized decor.

Troubleshooting Decorating Slips

While making decorating slips is relatively straightforward, issues can arise if the right ingredients and techniques aren’t used. Here are some common problems and solutions for troubleshooting slips:

Cracking and Flaking Slips

If your slips are cracking or flaking off the piece after firing, here are some likely causes:

  • Too much grog or filler in the clay body – reduce the amount in your slip recipe
  • Clay body and slip not properly matched – make sure thermal expansion is similar
  • Slip is too thick – thin down slip consistency with water
  • Bisque fired too long or hot – stick to suggested bisque schedule
  • Glaze over slip is too thick – apply thinner layers of glaze

Bleeding and Smearing Colors

Slip colors bleeding or smearing during firing can be caused by:

  • Colors not properly mixed into slip – make sure colorants are fully integrated
  • Firing too low – increase kiln temperature 25-50°F
  • Firing too long – shorten firing cycle
  • Colors too saturated – use less colorant in the slip
  • Colors incompatible – some colors bleed more than others

Test small batches first and adjust slip ingredients or firing as needed to prevent these common issues.

Similar Posts