Create cookie masterpieces with this easy Royal Icing Recipe.
With a name like royal icing, you’d expect it to be good. It’s not only good, but easy to make! Royal icing is nothing new. The first mention of it was way back in the 18th century. Bakers have been using it for hundreds of years to decorate cakes, cookies, and other confections. However, one important difference is that in the olden days, it was made with raw egg white. Once food safety science came along, the egg white was replaced by meringue powder. See ya, salmonella.
Royal icing is popular because it’s simple to make and use. With just a few ingredients and a mixer, you can create beautifully decorated baked goods. I love using it on sugar cookies, dividing the batch into smaller bowls and adding different colors to each bowl.
You will love royal icing because it’s a great recipe for baking novices and experts alike, and it offers flexibility. You can add a little bit more water to create “flood” icing, which will easily cover the entire surface of a cookie. Or, you can leave the icing as is to pipe it as an outline. Finally, you can add a little less water if you want a really stiff icing similar to buttercream frosting. It’s nice to have options!
What Is Meringue Powder?
Meringue powder is a dry, white powder made of pasteurized, dried egg whites, a little bit of sugar, and cornstarch. Meringue powder is a great way to get the benefits of egg whites without the risk of salmonella that comes with raw egg whites. It’s not only used in royal icing, but also in meringues, macarons, and some buttercream frostings. Look for it at specialty baking stores or online.
FAQs & Tips
How Do I Store Leftovers?
Simply place in an airtight container. It will keep for up to 1 day at room temperature. If you need to keep it longer, place it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Let it come to room temperature before using, and add 1/4 teaspoon (or more) of water to restore the consistency. You can also freeze the icing in an airtight container for up to 3 months. For extra convenience, you can split your batch into separate piping bags and freeze them that way.
Add A Little Light Corn Syrup
If you want slightly glossier and softer royal icing, you can add 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup to the mixture. Add the corn syrup in after adding the vanilla, but before adding the water.
How Long Does It Take To Dry Once Applied?
Once you apply royal icing to cookies or a cake, let the iced items sit out at room temperature for up to 3 hours to dry completely. Do not stack cookies until after the icing has completely dried and hardened; otherwise, they will stick together and not look as finished.
Serving Suggestions
If you are just getting the hang of making and decorating with royal icing, try it on easy but delicious Sugar Cookies. You can stick with circle cookies or try holiday-themed cookie shapes like snowmen or Valentine’s hearts. To step it up a notch, try Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies decorated with royal icing. Swap out half of the vanilla called for in the recipe with almond extract to complement the subtle almond flavor in the cookies. Finally, you can play around with other flavorings in the icing itself, swapping half of the vanilla with an equal amount of lemon or peppermint extract, for instance.
Looking for more icing recipes? Try this decadent Vanilla Buttercream Icing!
Royal Icing Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract clear extract preferred for best color
- 1/2 cup water plus more as needed
- Gel food coloring optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, sift the powdered sugar and then add the meringue powder.
- Add the vanilla extract and start with 1/2 cup of water, mixing with a hand mixer or stand mixer on high speed.
- Beat the mixture for about 2 minutes. If the icing is too thick, add more water, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. The icing should slowly drizzle down and disappear back into the bowl within 10 seconds when lifting the whisk.
- Change the color using the gel food coloring if preferred.
- Use immediately for decorating, or cover the surface with plastic wrap to prevent drying if not using right away.
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