Royal Icing Recipe
Creamy, glossy royal icing that dries firm for flawless outlines, flooding, and details—ideal for sugar cookies, gingerbread, and special-occasion bakes. Simple ingredients, bakery-worthy results!
Equipment
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Mixing Bowl
- Fine-mesh sieve
- Piping bags
- Piping tips or squeeze bottles
- Toothpicks or scribe tool
Ingredients
Royal Icing
- 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
- 3 tbsp meringue powder
- 6 tbsp water plus more as needed to adjust consistency
- 1 tsp vanilla extract use clear vanilla to keep the icing bright white
- 1 tsp light corn syrup optional, for extra sheen
Optional for Coloring
- gel food coloring add sparingly; gel won’t thin the icing like liquid colors
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the meringue powder with 6 tablespoons of water until lightly foamy.
- Sift the powdered sugar, then add it gradually on low speed to avoid dust clouds. Mix in the vanilla (and corn syrup, if using).
- Increase to medium speed and beat until the icing is thick, glossy, and holds medium to stiff peaks, about 3 to 5 minutes. Avoid overbeating to prevent excess air bubbles.
- Adjust consistency: keep thicker icing for outlining and details; thin with water a few drops at a time for flooding until it smooths out in about 10–15 seconds. Divide and tint with gel colors as desired.
- Transfer to piping bags. Outline cookies with thicker icing, flood with thinned icing, and pop any bubbles with a scribe or toothpick. Let dry completely, 6 to 12 hours or overnight, before stacking or packaging.
Notes
To prevent crusting while you work, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of any unused icing and keep bowls covered.
If the icing becomes too thick during decorating, stir in water a drop at a time. If it’s too runny, mix in a spoonful of sifted powdered sugar until it returns to the desired consistency.
Store icing in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Re-whip briefly before using, adding a few drops of water if needed to smooth it out.
Nutrition
Calories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 21gSodium: 5mgSugar: 20gCalcium: 2mg
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