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Easy Sugar Cookie Icing That Dries Hard and Smooth

Close-up of a square sugar cookie sandwich topped with smooth, glossy white royal icing from the sugar cookie icing recipe.
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Make a simple, glossy icing for your cut-out sugar cookies. This recipe dries firm, making it perfect for stacking, gifting, and detailed decorating like outlining and flooding.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1/2 cup meringue powder
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, for flavor)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder until fully combined.
  2. Add the warm water, clear vanilla extract, and almond extract (if using) to the dry ingredients.
  3. Using an electric mixer on low speed, mix the ingredients until they form a thick paste. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  4. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 5 to 7 minutes. The icing will become very smooth, thick, and glossy. This whipping action incorporates air, which helps it dry hard.
  5. Check the consistency. For outlining, the icing should hold a stiff peak. For flooding, add water one teaspoon at a time until the icing flows slowly off the spoon and smooths into itself in about 10 seconds.
  6. Divide the icing into separate bowls for coloring, if desired. Use gel food coloring for best results.
  7. Use the icing immediately for outlining cookies. Let the outline dry for 15 to 30 minutes before flooding the center with thinner icing.
  8. Allow the decorated cookies to sit at room temperature until the icing is completely dry and hard, usually 4 to 8 hours, depending on humidity.

Notes

  • If you need a royal icing alternative without corn syrup, this recipe works well as it relies on meringue powder for structure.
  • To achieve a professional, glossy cookie icing finish, avoid over-mixing once the desired consistency is reached, as too much air can cause bubbles.
  • If the icing becomes too thick while working, stir in a few drops of water. If it is too thin, mix in a tablespoon of powdered sugar.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingbyjade.com/sugar-cookie-icing-recipe/