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The Ultimate Easy Royal Icing Recipe: Smooth, Stable, and Perfect for Cookie Decorating

A clear glass bowl filled with thick, glossy white royal icing recipe mixture, ready for decorating.
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This reliable royal icing recipe uses meringue powder to give you smooth, glossy icing that dries hard. It is perfect for beginners learning to outline and flood sugar cookies.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 6 tablespoons warm water
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the meringue powder and warm water. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3 minutes until the mixture is foamy and holds soft peaks.
  2. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar to the meringue mixture while mixing on low speed.
  3. Once combined, add the clear vanilla extract. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is very stiff, bright white, and glossy. This is your stiff piping consistency.
  4. To achieve flood consistency icing, add water one teaspoon at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the icing flows smoothly off the mixer beater and the trail disappears into the bowl within 10 seconds.
  5. To achieve outlining consistency, use the stiff icing as is, or thin slightly with just a few drops of water if needed.
  6. Separate the icing into bowls for coloring. Cover all unused icing with a damp cloth or plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent drying.
  7. Use immediately for decorating cookies.

Notes

  • For the glossiest finish, use clear vanilla extract instead of standard vanilla extract.
  • If you see air bubbles after mixing, gently press the icing through a fine-mesh sieve to remove them before coloring.
  • This icing dries firm and hard, making it ideal for stacking or packaging decorated cookies.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/royal-icing-recipe/