Edible coating compositions with at least one of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a triester of citric acid, lecithin, and a C12-24 fatty acid. The edible coating compositions may be used in the food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. This disclosure also provides a method of making a coating composition, which comprises combining hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a triester of citric acid, lecithin, and a C12-24 fatty acid to form a mixture and optionally combining the mixture with water.