When it comes to holiday cookies, what they look like is just as important as how they taste. Royal icing, an icing made with just three ingredients, can elevate even the most basic sugar cookies. What separates it from other frostings is that it’s stiffer and glossier, which means that you can count on it holding its shape. While it was originally used by professional bakers, it’s made its way into the homes of amateur bakers. Here’s how to make and decorate with it.
Ingredients for Royal Icing
To make royal icing, beat two egg whites until they’re stiff and add four cups of confectioner’s sugar and two teaspoons of lemon juice. Then, whisk the ingredients together until the icing forms.
What Do You Need to Make Royal Icing?
In addition to a mixing bowl, hand mixer or whisk, and measuring cups, to decorate with royal icing you’ll need a small pastry bag or plastic squeeze bottle for piping the baked goods. A pastry bag or squeeze bottle will help you be neater when decorating with the icing. Another tool you probably have lying around your house that will help you get icing in the small cracks is a toothpick.
How to Decorate with Royal Icing
You can use royal icing to decorate sugar cookies, cakes, gingerbread houses, and cupcakes. For gingerbread houses, it’s the secret ingredient to making sure your structure stays up. When decorating cookies, pipe a border around the cookie shape with the icing and then fill in the order. Decorate the cookies with sanding sugar, pearls, or candied citrus.
