Description
This classic Royal Icing recipe is perfect for decorating cookies with a smooth, hard-drying finish. Made with meringue powder, powdered sugar, and a hint of vanilla, it creates a thick consistency ideal for piping detailed designs. You can easily adjust the thickness by adding small amounts of water, and color it using gel food coloring for vibrant decorations.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Royal Icing Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tbsp Meringue powder
- 3 tbsp Warm water (Not hot)
- 1/2 tbsp Light corn syrup
- 2 cups Powdered sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine Meringue Powder and Water: In a deep bowl, add the meringue powder and warm water. Beat this mixture for about 1 minute until it becomes white and frothy.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the powdered sugar, light corn syrup, and vanilla extract to the frothy mixture. Start mixing at medium to medium-high speed to combine well.
- Mix Until Thick and Peaky: Continue mixing at high speed for about 5 minutes until the icing becomes thick and stiff peaks start to form, indicating the “thick consistency stage.”
- Adjust Consistency If Needed: If you require thinner icing, add water cautiously in 1/4 teaspoon increments and mix thoroughly after each addition since a small amount of water goes a long way.
- Color Your Icing: Add gel food coloring to the icing and mix with a spoon until fully blended. For a bright white color, use white gel food coloring. Note that the color will deepen as the icing sits.
- Store Properly: Royal icing dries quickly when exposed to air. Store it in a sealed container with a tight lid, and additionally cover with saran wrap to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
Notes
- This recipe uses meringue powder, which allows the icing to dry hard and makes it easy to stack decorated cookies without smudging.
- Ideal for piping and decorating sugar cookies, especially festive cut-out cookies during holidays like Christmas.
- Be cautious when thinning the icing by adding water; add only 1/4 teaspoon at a time to maintain the right consistency.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant shades without altering icing texture.
- Store leftover icing properly to prevent drying and crusting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 976 kcal
- Sugar: 243 g
- Sodium: 14 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 248 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
