Edible Glitter Review, Including Naturally Colored
Image from Cake Balls by Dede Wilson
Product Description: (Note to home baker: these products are also geared towards the commercial user, hence some of the industry language). From the manufacturer: “Edible GlitterTM flakes are toppings, inclusions, and color change systems. They are pure sparkle and magic. They can be used in a wide range of applications and there are several different varieties available depending on your application… FDA Status: All ingredients comply with U.S.P., N.F., or F.C.C. specifications…All products in the Edible GlitterTM product line are certified Kosher by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.” Made in the USA by Watson, Inc., which has been manufacturing food ingredients since 1939.
Image by Watson
Test Kitchen Overview: While we do not use a lot of food colorings in our baking here, we do like a good “sprinkle”. This is the term we use when we reach for a (usually sugar based) sprinkle-able decoration for topping cupcakes, cakes or whatever it is we want to festoon. The array available to the baker has grown by leaps and bounds and in recent years there have been some quite vivid options. Unfortunately not all of them are considered edible! I know that sounds crazy but the classic metallic dragees (balls) are a perfect example. They are actually supposed to be used for décor only. Well, we like to be able to EAT our food. That isn’t too much to ask, is it?
We received some information from Watson Inc. about their Watson’s Edible Glitter and asked for some samples and you can see the array they sent in the above image. We are quite impressed with the selection, which is divided into several categories: Colored Edible Glitter, Flavored Edible Glitter, Metallic Edible Glitter and Edible Glitter Shapes.
It was actually the flower shape shown below that got us so excited as they have an elegant quality we do not often see in “sprinkles”.
Image by Watson
I used their tiny stars on the cake balls below from my book, Cake Balls: More Than 60 Delectable and Whimsical Sweet Spheres of Goodness.
Image from Cake Balls by Dede Wilson
And we liked that they have a line of naturally colored decors using cabbage juice, algae, carrots, radish, turmeric and annatto as color sources.
Many Watson products are available under some familiar brand names such as Wilton and CK Products Brand (see availability below).
Pros: Heat stable to 450°F without browning or burning. Can also be used on frozen baked goods (as seen below in ice cream). For commercial use Pantone matching is available as well as access to both soluble and insoluble forms. Also, the product goes far – according to the manufacturer you need 1/20th in weight of classic jimmies/sprinkles for the same coverage.
Image by Watson
Cons: Currently the naturally colored glitters and flavored glitters are only available in bulk direct from Watson. For the home baker, you are out of luck for now. Commercial buyers, contact Watson directly. We look forward to when we can use them in the home kitchen.
Suggested Use: Anywhere you want to add a little extra pizzazz. We reach for them most with cupcakes, cakes and doughnuts that have a frosting on which they can adhere and on top of chocolate dipped cake balls and chocolate dipped candies.
Image by Watson
Where to Buy: Check both Wilton and CK Products for home use. Contact Watson for commercial.
Price at Time of Review: Depends with choice of product and whether you are buying retail or wholesale. For the home baker many choices are less than $5 per unit.
Have you tried this product? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Bakepedia received this product as a gift for review. All opinions are the reviewer’s own.
No comments yet.