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Easy Hardening Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies

Close-up of round sugar cookies decorated with white, yellow, and blue cookie icing, some topped with blue sprinkles.
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A simple, no-fail recipe for royal icing that dries smooth, glossy, and completely hard, perfect for decorating and gifting cut-out sugar cookies.

Ingredients

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  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons warm water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder until fully combined.
  2. Add the vanilla extract and 6 tablespoons of warm water to the dry ingredients.
  3. Beat the mixture with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  4. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is smooth, glossy, and holds stiff peaks.
  5. Check the consistency. If the icing is too thick for outlining, add water one teaspoon at a time until you reach the desired thickness. For flooding, add slightly more water until the icing flows smoothly off the mixer beater and levels itself in the bowl within 10 seconds.
  6. Divide the icing into separate bowls if you plan to color it. Add gel food coloring sparingly and mix until the color is uniform.
  7. Use the icing immediately for outlining cookies. Let the outline dry for 15 to 30 minutes before flooding the center with thinner icing of the same color.
  8. Allow the decorated cookies to air dry completely at room temperature for several hours, or preferably overnight, until the icing is hard to the touch.

Notes

  • For a smooth, glossy finish, avoid over-beating once the correct consistency is reached.
  • If the icing develops air bubbles during mixing, let it sit for 10 minutes, then gently stir it by hand with a spatula to remove them before decorating.
  • If you need to store leftover icing, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the icing to prevent a crust from forming, and refrigerate for up to three days. Bring to room temperature and stir gently before reuse.
  • This recipe is excellent for detailed work, but if you are planning a large event, consider using a meal planning approach to schedule your baking and decorating time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/easy-cookie-icing-recipe-that-hardens/