Looking to decorate beautiful, stackable cookies that will impress all year round? Royal icing is your go-to for a smooth, professional finish that lets you stack, store, and share your cookies without a worry.
Whether it’s for holiday baking or any celebration, royal icing is the perfect choice for creating eye-catching cookie designs. Let’s walk you through the basics of making royal icing, plus a few essential tips for flawless results!
What is Royal Icing?
Royal icing is a type of icing made from meringue powder, water, and powdered (confectioner’s) sugar. Unlike buttercream, which stays soft, royal icing dries to a firm, smooth finish, making it ideal for detailed cookie designs. Once it sets, royal icing holds its shape beautifully, leaving you with professional looking cookies.
Why Choose Royal Icing for Cookies?
The main benefits of using royal icing for your cookies are:
Stackability: Once dried, royal icing forms a firm finish, so you can stack and store your cookies without worrying about dents.
Customizable Consistency: With royal icing, you can easily adjust the thickness to create different looks, from outlines and smooth flooding, to textures and piped designs.
Professional Finish: Royal icing dries to a smooth, polished surface that takes colors and edible decorations well, giving you a truly eye-catching result.
Constructing Gingerbread Houses: Because royal icing has a hard set finish and the consistency can be customized, it’s great for constructing sturdy gingerbread houses, piping decorations, and attaching edible decor.
Want to learn how to achieve three of the most common royal icing consistencies you’ll need for holiday cookie decorating? Watch the video below!
How to Make Royal Icing: Step-by-Step Recipe
Here’s our tried-and-true recipe for royal icing that’s perfect for outlining and flooding. Just follow these simple steps:
Here are the ingredients you’ll need.
¼ cup meringue powder
½ cup cold water
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
Here’s how to make it.
Degrease Your Utensils: Start by ensuring that all your utensils and bowls are completely grease-free. Grease will break down royal icing, making it runny and unworkable. Many bakers prefer to use separate tools just for royal icing to avoid this problem.
Combine Meringue Powder and Water: In a large mixing bowl, add ¼ cup of meringue powder to ½ cup of cold water. Mix this with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
Add Confectioner’s Sugar: Add 4 cups of confectioner’s sugar to the meringue mixture and beat until everything is smooth and well combined. You’ll see a beautiful glossy icing with a consistency that’s perfect for flooding right off the bat!
Adjust Consistency if Needed: If you want to create firmer lines or fine details, add more confectioners sugar to thicken the icing. If it’s too thick and you’d prefer a smoother flood, add a tiny bit of water.
Get Decorating! Once your icing is ready, you can start decorating. Royal icing is super versatile—you can use it to outline cookies, flood large areas, or create intricate designs.
Tips for Making Perfect Royal Icing Every Time
To help you make royal icing like a pro, here are a few additional tips:
Grease free tools:: To avoid any issues with grease (which can break down royal icing), clean tools like mixing bowls, spatulas, and mixing attachments thoroughly using a degreaser or wash with dish soap extremely well. Even a small trace of grease can ruin the consistency.
Cover to Prevent Drying: Royal icing dries quickly when exposed to air. If you need to pause or store your icing, cover it with a damp paper towel or plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent it from crusting over.
Coloring Royal Icing: If you’re adding color, use gel or powdered food coloring to keep the consistency intact. Liquid coloring can make the icing too runny.
Drying Time:: After decorating, let your cookies sit at room temperature for several hours (or overnight) to fully dry. For faster drying, place them in front of a fan.
Adjusting Consistency for Different Designs
One of the biggest perks of royal icing is how customizable it is! You can adjust the thickness based on the design you’re creating:
Flood Consistency: This is the icing consistency right from the recipe, perfect for filling large areas with a smooth finish.
Outline Consistency: To create borders, add a bit more confectioner’s sugar to achieve a thicker consistency that holds its shape.
Stiff Consistency: If you’re adding fine details or intricate designs, you’ll want an even stiffer icing. Keep adding confectioner’s sugar a spoonful at a time until it’s thick enough to hold sharp lines.
Pro tip: It's really easy to add too much water when trying to thin down the consistency of royal icing. To avoid over thinning the icing, use a clean spray bottle filled with water and spray water into the royal icing.
Storing Royal Icing and Decorated Cookies
If you have leftover royal icing, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to a week. Give it a quick stir before using it again.
Decorated cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks once the icing is fully dry. For best results, store them in a single layer with parchment paper in between layers if you need to stack them.
Ready to Create Some Cookie Magic?
With royal icing, the possibilities are endless! From simple outlines to intricate designs, royal icing lets you create festive, eye-catching cookies that are perfect for the holidays. So gather your supplies, get creative, and enjoy the fun of decorating with royal icing this season. Happy baking!
