One of the most versatile and elegant colors to work with is violet. Today, we’ll show you how to create four beautiful shades of violet buttercream using Chefmaster Natural Violet Food Coloring and a few mixing tricks!

Here’s a closer look at the four shades we mixed and how you can achieve each one using natural color blends:

Start with the Right Buttercream Base

Natural food coloring is sensitive to the PH level of certain ingredients. For best results, we are recommending using our American Buttercream Recipe as a base when decorating with natural food dyes.

Prep your buttercream by whipping your butter to a bright white and using clear vanilla if you want neon or bright colors, normal vanilla is great for a slightly muted or darker hues.

Making the Violet Shades

1. Natural Lavender

Soft, subtle, and airy - perfect for baby showers and spring florals.

• 1 Part Natural Violet
• 1 Part Natural Pink

Tip: If your icing becomes too pink, add the slightest touch of blue to balance it back to a cool undertone.

2. Natural Amethyst

A light yet rich shade perfect for everything. This is the go-to shade to pair with gold accents and greenery.

• 3 Parts Natural Violet
• 2 Parts Natural Pink

3. Natural Grape

Bold and playful shade great for a touch of eye-catching color.

• 6 Parts Natural Violet
• 3 Parts Natural Pink
• 2 Parts Natural Royal Blue

Tip: to achieve a rich grape color, use an emersion blender after letting the color sit.

4. Natural Mauve

Moody and muted with soft charm. Mauve looks stunning when paired with ivory, blush, or metallics.

• 3 Parts Natural Violet
• 2 Parts Natural Black
• 2 Parts Natural Pink

Tips for Success

• Start small – Natural colors are more muted than synthetic ones, so it’s best to add coloring in very small increments. A little goes a long way!
• Let it rest – Always allow your buttercream to sit for 10–15 minutes after adding color. Natural dyes can deepen over time, and this helps you avoid over-coloring. You can make a few days in advance or for a minimum of 12-24 hours to allow the color to develop fully.
• Use white or off-white buttercream as your base – Yellow-toned buttercream (like from butter-heavy recipes) can affect your final shade. Whip your butter until it is fluffy white and use clear vanilla.

Creating gorgeous buttercream shades with all-natural coloring may seem limiting, but with Chefmaster Natural Violet, with a touch of Natural Pink, Royal Blue, and Black - proves how versatile you can really make it to be. Whether you’re aiming for a soft Lavender or a rich Grape, all it takes is a little color theory, experimentation, and some delicious buttercream.