Homemade Edible Paint

You can create your own edible paint for finger painting fun with babies, toddlers and older children. There are numerous edible paint recipes available, though some are thicker -- or more edible -- than others. All of the following recipes are edible should your toddler decide to taste some of the paint he is working with; however, some are more likely to be better-tasting.

Powdered Food Recipes

Make edible finger paint using assorted colors of Jell-o. Combine 1/4-cup of flour with 8 tablespoons of water and 1 to 2 teaspoons of the gelatin powder of your choice to make various colors of paint. Other edible paint recipes may use other powdered foodstuffs, such as Kool-Aid; for example, you can use the lemonade Kool-Aid powder with water and flour to make yellow paint, or grape Kool Aid powder to make purple paint.

Food Coloring Recipe #1

Mix 2 cups of corn starch with 1 cup of cold water, 4-1/2 cups of boiling water and a squeeze or two of food coloring. The result will be a thick, custard-like paint. Mix the cold water and corn starch first, then pour each cup of boiling water into the mix and stir between each cup poured. Add small amounts of food coloring for lighter colors and larger amounts for darker hues.

Food Coloring Recipe #2

Another thick, edible paint option that involves food coloring uses pudding in lieu of corn starch. Find an instant pudding mix at your local grocery store and follow the manufacturer's instructions for making the pudding. Add food coloring to the pudding as desired to make light and dark colors to make a sweet, edible paint.

Food Coloring Recipe #3

Light corn syrup is another option for food coloring-based edible paint recipes that will make a thinner paint than those that utilize corn starch or pudding. Pour 2 tablespoons of corn syrup into a small bowl, then add as much food coloring as desired to get the color you want. Stir until you have a uniform color.

Food Coloring Recipe #4

Combine powdered milk with various shades of food coloring. Combine 3 cups of powdered milk, 1 cup of water and the desired amount of food coloring; this will result in a thinner paint that is also glossier than that produced by some other edible paint recipes.