The Best Royal Icing Ever
Achieve bakery-perfect decorated cookies with this easy, reliable royal icing that dries smooth and hard every time.
- Prep Time: 15
- Total Time: 15
- Yield: 2 cups (approx.)
- Category: Dessert, Baking
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups (480g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 6–8 tablespoons warm water
- 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract (optional)
- Gel food coloring, as desired
Instructions
- In a clean bowl, whisk warm water and meringue powder until dissolved.
- Add cream of tartar and optional clear vanilla extract.
- Add confectioners’ sugar all at once to the mixture.
- Beat on low speed for 10 minutes until the icing is thick, smooth, and glossy.
- Divide the prepared icing into separate bowls.
- Tint each portion with gel food coloring as desired.
- Thin the colored icing with small amounts of water to reach outlining or flooding consistency.
- Decorate completely cooled cookies with the prepared royal icing.
- Allow the decorated icing to dry for 6–8 hours or overnight before stacking or storing the cookies.
Notes
Ensure all bowls and utensils are grease-free for best results.
Add water slowly when thinning icing; it’s easier to add more than to fix overly thin icing.
Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering icing consistency.
For a smooth finish, tap decorated cookies gently to release air bubbles before drying.
Find it online: https://theopenoven.com/the-best-royal-icing-ever/