Easy Royal Icing

Easy Royal Icing Tips

How can you quickly harden easy royal icing?

It takes 8-10 hours (or overnight) for royal icing to dry completely and be ready for packaging. If you're decorating with several colors or layers of icing, wait 1-3 hours for the first layer to dry to prevent bleeding into other layers. To speed up the drying process, try setting up a small fan near your cookies.

How can you thicken or thin royal icing?

To thicken royal icing, add more powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time. Thicker icing is great for piping outlines, and even thicker is ideal for flowers and intricate shapes. If you're using royal icing to flood cookies, it should be on the thinner side. Thin your icing by adding more warm water, 1 tsp. at a time. Here are some mistakes to avoid when making your icing.

How far in advance can you make easy royal icing?

Royal icing will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. The icing may start to separate, but that's OK. Beat it on low speed before using to bring it back to an even consistency. You can also freeze royal icing for up to 2 months in resealable bags, pressing all the air out before sealing the bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and beat at a low speed before using.

How do you make dried royal icing shiny?

The faster this easy royal icing dries, the shinier your finish will be. Using a fan nearby on low speed will help, or you can invest in a food dehydrator and use the lowest setting. If you want even more shine, consider using a pearl-based luster dust.

—Maggie Knoebel, Taste of Home Associate Recipe Editor/Tester