Simple Royal Icing That Hardens Perfectly for Sugar Cookies
Make bakery-style sugar cookie icing that dries firm and smooth. This easy recipe delivers a professional, glossy finish ideal for durable cookie decorating.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: Covers about 2 dozen medium cookies 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Add the warm water and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients.
- Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, then increase speed to medium-high.
- Beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is very thick, smooth, and holds stiff peaks. This is the consistency needed for outlining and flooding cookies.
- If the icing is too thick for flooding, add water one teaspoon at a time until it reaches a smooth, flowing consistency that coats the back of a spoon.
- If the icing is too thin, add more sifted powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
- Use immediately for decorating sugar cookies.
- Allow cookies to dry completely at room temperature until the icing sets hard, which may take several hours depending on humidity.
Notes
- For a glossy cookie frosting finish, avoid over-beating once the desired consistency is reached.
- To thin the icing for flooding, use water. To thicken it, use more powdered sugar.
- This icing sets solid, making your decorated cookies durable for stacking and gifting.
- Color the icing by adding gel food coloring after the mixing process is complete.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg