Michelle Pascua
Baking Michelle Pascua

Heat-Stable Red in Baking: What You Need to Know

red velvet cake

From Synthetic to Natural Red Coloring

Traditionally, artificial dyes like Red 3 and Red 40 made it easy to achieve those bright reds. But times have changed. Consumers are now more conscious of what they eat, and regulatory shifts—like the United States FDA’s ban on Red 3—are pushing the industry toward natural alternatives. The challenge? Many natural red colorants aren’t stable under high heat and varying pH conditions of baking.

The Challenges of Natural Reds in Baking

ph
high temps
oil

Your Solution: Sensient’s SensiBake™ Range

If you’re looking for natural, heat-stable red coloring that performs reliably, Sensient’s SensiBake™ range of bake-stable natural colors is designed just for you. It’s been rigorously tested across a variety of baking and storage conditions to ensure vibrant color that holds up from oven to shelf. Whether you’re making cookies, cakes, or extruded snacks, SensiBake™ helps you deliver consistent, stunning results.

beets
red velvet cupcakes

Which Red is Right for You?

The best solution depends on your product type, recipe, and processing conditions. At Sensient, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Our team works closely with you to understand your full requirements and offer the best-fit natural red—customized if needed—to help you hit your color, flavor, and performance targets.

Subscribe for the latest colorful insights!

Sign up
Request a sample