This easy sugar cookie icing recipe is the one you need if you're looking to make fancy iced sugar cookies this Christmas.
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It's really not quite Christmas around here if there aren't some sort of holiday cookies.
Be it Christmas sugar cookies, beautifully (as beautifully as my kids will allow) iced or attempts at gingerbread houses, a perfect icing recipe that sets hard to touch is essential.
How is sugar cookie icing different from buttercream frosting
Sugar cookie icing - often called Royal icing - is made of just egg white and icing sugar and sets hard. It's great for us on top of sugar cookies (or gingerbread man cookies) for special occasions.
Buttercream on the other hand, is a fluffy icing made with butter and icing sugar and is best used on cakes and cupcakes.
Ingredients
To make sugar cookie icing you will need just two simple ingredients:
- Raw egg whites
- Icing sugar
Some recipes also add a tiny bit of lemon juice but I don't unless I need to thin it a little.
Instructions
Making the best sugar cookie icing takes just 3 simple steps:
- Whisk the egg white to almost firm peaks using an electric mixer with the whisk attachment or muscle power.
- Slowly whisk in the icing sugar.
- Colour as desired (see below for instructions).
Tips
Icing consistency
To get the right consistency sometimes you will need to add a little more icing sugar or water.
To make a thicker icing, add a little more powdered sugar (aka icing sugar). To make it a little thinner, add a tiny bit of room temperature water and mix until you get the correct consistency.
How to create different colours
There are three different types of food colouring you can use to colour your icing:
1. Gel food coloring - creates the most vibrant colors & you only need a tiny bit.
2. Liquid food coloring - the most easily available.
3. Powdered food colouring - a fancier and more expensive option but also a little goes a long way and it doesn't alter the consistency of the icing much.
To colour your icing, split it into as many smaller bowls as you would like icing.
Don't forget to set one mixing bowl aside if you would also like white frosting.
Add a little icing at a time and mix in until you reach the desired color. Remember you can always add more colour but you can't take it away so go a little at a time.
You can use a toothpick to dip in the colour.
Make sure you cover any icing you're not using immediately with plastic wrap or it will start to dry and set.
FAQs
This one is simple. Just gently tap your cookie on the kitchen counter until the bubbles rise and pop then set it down to cool.
You can add flavours to icing for sugar cookies. A little vanilla extract is our favourite but you can also add a drop (or just a toothpick dipped in) of store-bought essences (almond extract is popular) or food-grade oils.
For chocolate icing, sub out ⅕ of the icing sugar for cocoa.
Usage
Below we will take you through some of the basic methods for using this icing to create beautiful Christmas cookies.
Even intricate designs are not super difficult if you have an idea of the basics of cookie decorating with royal icing.
You will need a piping bag and small piping tip. You can get reusable or disposable ones from most supermarkets/grocery stores.
Alternatively, a squeeze bottle or ziplock bag with a tiny bit of the corner cut off can be used but a piping bag is the easiest and will give the most professional result.
The key to making a progressional looking cookie is creating an icing outline.
You'll need a piping bag fitted with a small round tip & the icing will need to be quite firm.
Outline the cookie and let the icing set a little.
After that you 'flood' the cookie with your coloured icing.
Using icing a little thinner, pipe the icing inside to fill the outline. Use the white again to draw the design and dots and then leave it to set.
How to add festive sprinkles
Add sprinkles by using the icing like glue.
For the above cookies, outline and fill then leave the icing to set.
Then pipe on icing where you would like the sprinkles and quickly add the sprinkles & decorations & shake the cookie to remove the excess.
Leave them do dry completely.
For something like this Santa cookie, you would do the outline in red for the hat and white for the rest.
You would also outline the face in white.
Then flood the white & red sections and fill the face and leave the icing to set.
Once set, you'd then pipe on the eyes, moustache and hat outline.
Storage
If you have any leftover icing, it can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. It can also be frozen.
Recipes for biscuits to ice
Recipe
Royal icing (icing that hardens for cookies)
Ingredients
- 1 egg white
- 1 cup icing sugar
Instructions
- To make the icing, whisks the egg white to almost firm peaks.
- Slowly whisk in the icing sugar.
- Colour as desired.
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