Before beginning to decorate your sugar cookies [1] this Christmas season, you'll want to learn how to properly ice them. Christmas Cookie Swap! [2] has a reliable recipe for royal icing and a step-by-step process to help you pipe the icing with success.
Royal icing creates a smooth surface on decorated cookies. It's made with either whipped egg whites or whipped meringue powder, powdered sugar, and water. The addition of just a bit of corn syrup boosts the flavor and helps create a shiny finish.
Royal Icing
Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
5 to 6 tablespoons warm water
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
Food coloring paste (optional)
Combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, water, and corn syrup in a large bowl. Beat at medium-low speed with an electric mixer 5 to 7 minutes. Divide and tint with food coloring, if desired. Icing dries quickly, so keep it covered at all times. Makes about 3 cups.
Pipe Borders
Use a piping bag or squeeze bottle to pipe the borders and edges of your cookies. Let the icing dry completely, about 20 minutes, before continuing to the next step.
Flood
Apply the icing to the surface of the cookie. You don’t have to fill every spot. Tilting the cookie will allow the icing to flow into space. A toothpick can help pull it into smaller spaces.
Trim
You can accent royal icing with sanding sugar or colored sprinkles before the icing hardens. Allow the cookies to dry several hours before storing them between sheets of waxed paper.
Color
Allow the first color to dry before adding a second color. Colored icing will darken a bit as it sets, so it’s best to make the color just a bit lighter than you want. It can then darken to the desired shade.
Thin
After piping edges of the cookies, add a few drops of water to the remaining icing to thin it. If it becomes too thin, mix in a small amount of powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, it won’t flow over the cookies for a smooth finish. If any air bubbles form on the icing, use a toothpick to gently pop them.
For more how-tos and Christmas-y treats, turn to Christmas Cookie Swap! [3]
