By Laurel Perry
Published Dec 3, 2023
If you’re looking for a royal icing recipe that sets up hard and makes beautiful Christmas cookies, you’ve come to the right place. I searched near and far for the perfect icing for cookies, and I think I’ve nailed it. With just 4 ingredients, this royal icing with meringue powder is so quick and easy to make and comes out beautiful every time!
When it comes to decorating holiday cookies, I’m always in need of a super easy icing. This royal icing recipe is quick, it tastes good, and it hardens to a nice texture. With only 4 ingredients and a mixer, you’ll have a gorgeous icing to decorate with. You can use this hard-setting icing on sugar cookies , cakes, or gingerbread houses.
What’s in This Royal Icing Recipe?
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the icing and helps determine its consistency. For a softer icing, use less sugar; for a stiffer icing, use more.
- Meringue Powder: Helps the icing harden. You can use egg white powder (in an equal amount) or 4 pasteurized fresh egg whites in place of the meringue powder, but you will need to store leftover icing in the refrigerator.
- Water: Helps thin the icing to the correct consistency. I prefer water over milk since I have found that milk takes away from the vanilla flavor.
- Vanilla Extract : Adds classic vanilla flavor to the icing. Use clear vanilla to keep the icing white. Try citrus, almond, or peppermint extract for a different flavor.
- Food Coloring: I like to color my icing with gel food coloring to create vivid decorations.
Tips for Success
- If your icing isn’t shiny, it’s likely that the lumps in your powdered sugar didn’t break up enough during mixing. I recommend sifting your powdered sugar if it’s particularly lumpy.
- If you mix at too high of a speed, it will add too much air to the icing, making it fluffy. Make sure to use a consistent medium speed as your icing comes together.
- If you would like to create a thicker icing for outlining or decorating, start with 5 tablespoons of water and beat to medium-stiff peaks on low. Add color, reserve the amount of icing you would like for outlining, and add water to the remaining until you achieve a flood consistency.
- This icing will dry to the touch in about 30 minutes but will need 6-8 hours to fully cure. I do not recommend stacking the cookies before the icing has cured.
How to Store
Store leftover royal icing in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer indefinitely. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator and beat it using a hand or stand mixer at a low speed to make the icing smooth and shiny before using.
Serving Suggestions
I use this royal icing recipe to decorate all of my favorite Christmas cookies and holiday treats. It’s perfect for Christmas sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies . When it’s extra thick, it makes a great glue to hold a gingerbread house together or to pipe royal icing flowers . Or you can thin it out and use it to ice cinnamon rolls or a lemon loaf cake .
All the Holiday Cookies
25+ Favorite Christmas Cookies
Baking and Christmas go hand in hand. See our guide for our fave recipes + tips and tricks for perfect cookies.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 cups powdered sugar 452 grams
- ▢ 4 tablespoons meringue powder 43 grams
- ▢ 8-10 tablespoons warm water 114-142 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ Gel food coloring optional
Video
Instructions
- Add the powdered sugar and meringue powder to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk to combine. 4 cups powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons meringue powder
- Pour in 8 tablespoons of warm water and the vanilla extract, and mix on medium-low speed until combined. 8-10 tablespoons warm water, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Turn the mixer up to medium-high and mix until soft peaks form, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly add more water 1 teaspoon at a time until your desired consistency is achieved. To create an icing that works well for outlining and flooding cookies, lift up the whisk and let the icing drip back into the bowl. It should take 10-15 seconds to smooth out. If it is smoothing out too quickly, beat the icing for another minute. If it is taking longer to smooth out, add a little more water.
- Divide the icing into small bowls and add gel food color, making as many colors as you would like. Gel food coloring
- Fit piping bags with a Wilton #3 or #4 tip. Fill the bags with icing and decorate your cookies as desired.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- Piping Tip Set (optional)
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Royal Icing Step by Step
Whisk the Dry Ingredients: Add 4 cups of powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons of meringue powder to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and whisk to combine.
Pour in the Water: Pour in 8 tablespoons of warm water and 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract , and mix on medium-low speed until combined.
Whip to Soft Peaks: Turn the mixer up to medium-high, and mix until soft peaks form, about 1-2 minutes.
Thin to Desired Consistency: Slowly add more water (1 teaspoon at a time) until you reach your desired consistency. To create a royal icing that works well for outlining and flooding cookies, lift up the whisk and let the icing drip back into the bowl. It should take 10-15 seconds to smooth out. If it is smoothing out too quickly, beat the icing for another minute. If it is taking longer to smooth out, add a little more water.
Divide and Color: Divide the icing into small bowls and add gel food color, making as many colors as you would like.
Decorate Your Cookies: Fit piping bags with a Wilton #3 or #4 tip. Fill the bags with icing and decorate your cookies as desired.
More Frosting Recipes to Try!
Vanilla Frosting
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Royal Icing Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Stand Mixer
- Piping Tip Set (optional)
Ingredients
- 4 cups powdered sugar 452 grams
- 4 tablespoons meringue powder 43 grams
- 8-10 tablespoons warm water 114-142 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- Gel food coloring optional
Instructions
- Add the powdered sugar and meringue powder to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk to combine. 4 cups powdered sugar, 4 tablespoons meringue powder
- Pour in 8 tablespoons of warm water and the vanilla extract, and mix on medium-low speed until combined. 8-10 tablespoons warm water, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Turn the mixer up to medium-high and mix until soft peaks form, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly add more water 1 teaspoon at a time until your desired consistency is achieved. To create an icing that works well for outlining and flooding cookies, lift up the whisk and let the icing drip back into the bowl. It should take 10-15 seconds to smooth out. If it is smoothing out too quickly, beat the icing for another minute. If it is taking longer to smooth out, add a little more water.
- Divide the icing into small bowls and add gel food color, making as many colors as you would like. Gel food coloring
- Fit piping bags with a Wilton #3 or #4 tip. Fill the bags with icing and decorate your cookies as desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
