The Only Royal Icing You’ll Ever Need
This is the only royal icing recipe that I use for cookies, gingerbread houses and fondant cake detail work. It’s easy to work with, sets quickly and doesn’t use raw egg whites.* Best of all, it dries just hard enough to paint on and package, but not so hard that it will break a tooth.
When you’re not working directly with the icing (for example, if you are dividing your icing to make multiple colors), place a damp paper towel or kitchen towel directly on the surface of the icing. This prevents it from hardening.
This icing dries in about two hours at room temperature, but I usually leave my cookies to dry for eight hours — or overnight — if I am packaging them for gifts or for children to decorate with edible markers.
Vegan Royal Icing
This recipe can easily be made egg free by substituting aquafaba for the meringue powder and water.**
Royal Icing
This is the only royal icing recipe that I use for cookies, gingerbread houses and fondant cake detail work. It’s easy to work with, sets quickly and doesn’t use raw egg whites. Best of all, it dries just hard enough to paint on and package, but not so hard that it will break a tooth.
Ingredients
- 1 pound confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 6 tablespoons water (may need to adjust)
- flavoring extract (optional)
Instructions
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In a large bowl using either a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, water and extract (if using) together on medium speed for five minutes. Start the mixer on low to avoid being covered in confectioners' sugar.
I start with six tablespoons of water, but you may need to add more if you live somewhere that is dry, or you like a looser icing for flooding cookies.
When lifting the paddle up, the icing should drizzle down and smooth out within 10-15 seconds. If it's too thick, add more water. If it's too thin, add more sifted confectioners' sugar.
Recipe Notes
*If you prefer not to use meringue powder, you can omit the meringue powder and the water by replacing them with a total of three pasteurized egg whites (90 grams).
**If you need to make this egg free/vegan, you can omit the meringue powder and water, replacing them with a total of 90 grams aquafaba (six tablespoons).