While there isn’t a natural black food color approved by the FDA, a great alternative is black cocoa powder (dutch cocoa) to get a dark saturated black color.
INGREDIENTS
BLACK FROSTING
2 cups powdered sugar
4 tbsp unsalted butter (room temp)
2 tbsp milk (or milk substitute)
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp black cocoa
½ Red Velvet Color Kitchen Color packet (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients but the color together with hand mixer until smooth.
Split frosting into 2 bowls and add black cocoa to one and red velvet color to the other. Blend each until color is fully incorporated.
Combine 2 colors into a piping bag with star tip. Try to keep the black on one side of bag and the red color on other side.
Frost color swirl.
INGREDIENTS
BLACK ICING
1 cup powdered sugar
1 ½ tbsp black cocoa
1 ½ tbsp milk
DIRECTIONS
Mix powdered sugar and black cocoa together. Then slowly add milk. Blend until smooth and drizzle on cookies or pastries.