Be Considerate With Your Colors When Baking A Mirror Glaze Cake

Pouring a mirror glaze over a cake can be an easy way to add a quick, clean-looking finish. While a rainbow effect or a light-and-dark combo may seem cool in theory, you'll want to carefully consider what colors to use when applying a mirror glaze. 

No matter what color you ultimately choose to top your cake with, you'll want to begin with a white base to build on. If you're glazing a dark chocolate cake, for example, lighter colors may not show up well when poured directly onto a dark sponge. But a white base layer will allow additional colored glazes to show up a little more vibrantly and smooth out any imperfections on the surface of the cake.

Once the white base coat is on, you may be better off adding a darker color. Blacks, browns, and dark blues are pretty reflective, which can give the cake its signature shiny quality. Then, a slightly lighter shade can be added to contrast the dark color.

You may want to avoid using lighter or pastel colors when making a mirror glaze cake. Pastel colors could be too see-through, and they may not be visible against the dark background. Instead, opt for a shade that's a little lighter than your base. In order to get more vibrant hues, make sure to use the right kind of food coloring.

Whether you make your mirror glaze from scratch or transform a can of frosting into a glaze with a little bit of heat, you can mix in the coloring once the icing is liquid. And to avoid getting a pastel color, you'll want to avoid liquid food colorings. These are often water-based and require larger quantities to achieve those deeper, saturated colors. Adding too much of the coloring might change the consistency of your mirror glaze.

Instead, opt for something a little more pigmented. Gel food coloring, sold in both liquid gel and gel paste forms, generally requires less to create more vibrant colors. Start with a small amount, mix it into the glaze, and add more as needed until your glaze becomes the correct color.

When trying to achieve a darker color, you could also use powdered dye, which is completely dry. Since mirror glaze is pretty liquid before it sets, you can mix the colored powder directly into it. Or, if you find it's easier to mix it with some liquid first, a few drops of clear alcohol (like vodka) may be a good way to smooth things out.

If you want to add extra decoration on top of your mirror-glazed cake, you can add extra designs using this method, too. After the dessert is coated with the white mirror glaze, mix the powder and alcohol, then use a food-safe pastry brush with natural or silicone bristles to paint your picture on top of the cake after the glaze layer has set.

Of course, when choosing your colors, you will want to mix up those that are complementary to one another. For example, if you're planning a space-themed party, black, blue, and purple glazes can mix well to mimic the look of a galaxy. A cake for Valentine's Day, meanwhile, may look best with a simple red glaze and decorated with edible flowers. No matter which colors you choose to top off your mirror glaze cake with, make sure to layer them properly to get the best-looking finish.