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Foolproof Royal Icing That Hardens Smoothly

A close-up of thick, glossy white royal cookie icing piped into soft peaks in a small yellow bowl.
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This is the best cookie icing recipe for decorating cut-out sugar cookies. It dries firm, yields a glossy finish, and is easy to pipe for clean details.

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  1. Combine the sifted confectioners’ sugar and meringue powder in a medium bowl. Whisk them together thoroughly to break up any lumps.
  2. Add the vanilla extract and 6 tablespoons of warm water to the dry ingredients.
  3. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  4. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is smooth, bright white, and holds stiff peaks. This process incorporates air, which helps it dry hard.
  5. Check the consistency. If the icing is too thick for flooding, add the remaining water, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired flow. For piping outlines, use a thicker consistency.
  6. To thin for flooding, the icing should fall off a spoon in a slow ribbon, and the ribbon should disappear back into the surface after about 10 seconds. This is the ’10-second rule’ for workable cookie frosting.
  7. Use immediately or cover tightly with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent drying.

Notes

  • For outlining and piping clean details, use a consistency where the ribbon disappears in 3 to 5 seconds.
  • For flooding cookies, aim for the 10-second rule mentioned above.
  • If you need a non-meringue powder option, substitute 1 large pasteurized egg white for the meringue powder, but be aware this requires careful handling and refrigeration.
  • To achieve different colors, divide the icing and mix in gel food coloring. Gel colors prevent thinning the icing too much.
  • This icing dries firm and hard, making it perfect for stacking holiday cookies.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/cookie-icing-recipe-hardens-fast/