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5.0 from 3 votes

Royal Icing Recipe

This royal icing recipe is an easy icing recipe that's perfect for use in decorating sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and more!

Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings: 48 servings
Calories: 40 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1/2 cup warm water about 80F
  • 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • Optional: gel food coloring

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Add the powdered sugar and meringue powder to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
  2. Slowly stream in the warm water, beating on high speed for 2 minutes.
  3. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  4. To test if it’s ready, lift up the whisk. The icing should fall back into the bowl in a ribbon and should re-incorporate into the icing in the bowl within 5-10 seconds.
  5. If it’s too thin, continue mixing on high speed until it reaches this consistency. The longer you beat royal icing, the thicker it becomes. If it’s too thick, you can always beat in a splash of water if needed.
  6. Whisk/beat in gel food coloring as desired.
  7. This icing takes about 2 hours to dry completely once applied on cookies (or longer if it’s a thick layer).

Notes

  • Powdered sugar: It's important to use powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) not granulated sugar.
  • Meringue powder: Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized egg whites, sugar, and other ingredients. It is commonly sold near cake decorating supplies, and it can also be ordered online.
  • Warm water: Warm water helps everything to mix together nicely.
  • Clear vanilla: Using clear vanilla will keep the royal icing white. If you use a different flavoring or pure vanilla extract, it may change the color of the icing.
  • Gel food coloring: Gel food coloring works well because it doesn't affect the consistency of the icing the way that regular food coloring can.
  • Yield: This recipe makes 3 cups of royal icing. The number of servings will vary depending on how much frosting you use per cookie.
  • Nutrition values are estimates. 
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Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 40kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 10g (3%) Protein 0.2g (0%) Sodium 4mg (0%) Potassium 3mg (0%) Sugar 10g (20%) Calcium 0.3mg (0%) Iron 0.01mg (0%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 48servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 40

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 40kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 10g 3%
Protein 0.2g 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Potassium 3mg 0%
Sugar 10g 20%
Calcium 0.3mg 0%
Iron 0.01mg 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.