Easy Royal Icing Recipe

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

10 mins

Yield:

2 cups

You need three key items for cookie decoration: sugar cookies, sprinkles, and an easy royal icing recipe. You can't go overboard on the accessorizing: Sanding sugar, candy pearls, and edible gold dust are examples of some of the "bling" you can use to top your cookies. These garnishes are all fun, colorful, and store-bought.

But to make everything stick, you can't do any better than a batch of this easy royal icing. Royal icing will harden on cookies, which means it won't be so messy when little hands are reaching for the cookies right from the table. The meringue powder in this recipe will help the frosting to set up, so don't try the recipe without it.

Just beat powdered sugar, water, meringue powder and vanilla until smooth and stiff. Add a touch of water, a bit at a time, until the icing has reached your desired consistency, and let those creative juices flow.

Learn how to make royal icing, and have a blast decorating cookies for every season.

Southern Living Easy Royal Icing after thinning to a flooding consistency — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

What Is Royal Icing?

Royal icing is a simple icing made with powdered sugar, egg whites (or meringue powder), and water. It's a smooth white icing with a consistency that can be adjusted to achieve finely piped details, or flooded cookie centers. It can also be used to decorate wedding cakes, gingerbread houses, and other types of desserts.

What Does Royal Icing Taste Like?

Royal icing itself is neutral in flavor. The primary ingredient, powdered sugar, is the flavor that shines through the most. To add flavoring, you can add a hint of zest, spice, or extracts like almond, vanilla, peppermint, and more. You can also add a drop or two of food coloring gel for vibrant color.

Ingredients for Easy Royal Icing

Just four ingredients (three, if you don't count water) is all it takes to bring this traditional icing together. To make royal icing, you'll need:

Powdered sugar: The base of the icing.
Water: Thins the icing for a smooth consistency.
Meringue powder: Helps the icing set up firm.
Vanilla extract: Use clear vanilla if possible, to keep the white color of the icing intact. You can also substitute with other flavorings.

Southern Living Easy Royal Icing ingredients — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

How To Make Easy Royal Icing

This icing comes together in minutes for a quick topping that's perfect for the most intricate (or just plain fun) decorating jobs. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Combine ingredients: Beat all ingredients until smooth and stiff.
Step 2. Thin icing with water: Gradually add additional water until desired consistency is reached.

Can I Make Royal Icing Ahead?

Store prepared royal icing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. You can also freeze the icing in a freezer-safe zip-top bag for up to two months. Bring to room temperature before using. Adjust the consistency with a splash of water if needed.

Cookie Recipes For Using Easy Royal Icing

While Christmas is certainly the season when decorated cookies shine, royal icing can be put to good use for just about any holiday on the calendar. From classic snowflakes to Valentine's Day cookies, birthday party favors, or showers, decorated cookies are always a festive touch:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

3 cups unsifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup water, plus more as needed
2 Tbsp. meringue powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract (clear, if possible)

Directions

Combine ingredients:

Beat all ingredients with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until blended, smooth, and stiff, 1 minute (mixture should hold stiff peaks), stopping to scrape down sides as needed.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Thin icing with water:

Gradually add additional water 1/2 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Spoon mixture into a piping bag fitted with desired tip; pipe onto cookies.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between royal icing and regular icing?

The addition of meringue powder in royal icing makes it set up firm—meaning it's perfect for cookie decorating. Other types of icing or buttercream will remain soft when piped on.
What are the different consistencies of royal icing?

Royal icing can be used at a stiff, piping consistency to create borders and intricate designs, or thinned for flooding the center of cookies once a border is created.
Which is better: buttercream or royal icing?

The flavor of buttercream is hard to beat—it's buttery and delicious! If you're looking for an icing that sets up firm, however, royal icing is the best type for the job.
What's the best way to color royal icing?

Gel coloring is more concentrated, meaning you can achieve a vibrant color without affecting the consistency of the icing.