Technique

• The best tie dye cupcakes have clearly defined layers of color without excessive mixing or bleeding. To create this look, separate the cake batter into between three and five small bowls. Add one color of food coloring to each bowl, mixing thoroughly. To create the layered look, add a small spoonful of batter from one bowl to each cup of a prepared cupcake tin. Repeat the process with each different color of batter, but do not stir or swirl the cupcakes. Mixing will cause the colors to combine, producing unattractive brown or gray cupcakes. Bake as directed for your cupcake recipe.

Amounts

• Making bright tie dye cupcakes requires a lot of food coloring. Liquid colors aren't the best choice for this purpose because they are diluted with water. Ladies' Home Journal recommends using at least 1 tablespoon of liquid food coloring for each small bowl of batter. Adding more food coloring produces a brighter look.

Frosting

• Tie dye cupcakes can be frosted with conventional frosting or topped with swirled colors that match the cake portion. Avoid liquid food coloring for the frosting unless you want to create a pastel look. Large amounts of liquid food coloring can make the frosting runny.

Considerations

• Liquid food coloring works best for small batches of tie dye cupcakes. If you need to make a lot of tie dye cupcakes, choose paste, gel or powder coloring. You can buy these professional-grade food coloring products at craft and specialty baking stores. They provide a brighter look without diluting cake batters or icings. They also tend to produce bolder tones overall and are a better choice for bright reds or dark tones.