Description

This royal icing recipe is perfect for decorating biscuits and cookies with a smooth, glossy finish. Made from pure icing sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, and water, this icing can be colored with food dyes and piped to create intricate designs or spread for a flawless surface. The quick dip method also allows for efficient and beautiful coverage, ideal for holiday cookies and special occasions.

Ingredients

Scale

Icing Ingredients

500g / 1 lb pure icing sugar / powdered sugar, sifted (plus extra for adjusting)
1/4 cup egg whites (approximately 3 eggs)
2 tbsp corn syrup (or 1.5 tbsp glucose syrup)
1 – 1 1/2 tbsp water, plus more as needed
Food dye, liquid or gel (quantity as needed)

Instructions

Combine Ingredients: Place the icing sugar, egg whites, corn syrup, and 1 tablespoon of water in a large bowl.
Beat the Mixture: Beat on speed 5 for 1 minute until the icing is smooth and glossy, starting at low speed before increasing.
Divide and Colour: Split the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring, mixing well until you achieve the desired colors. Adjust consistency with more icing sugar or water as required.
Test Consistency: Check that the icing can hold an ‘8’ shape for 2 seconds before sinking in. It should be thick enough for piping but spreadable for smooth coverage.
Prepare Piping Bags: Transfer the icing into disposable piping bags or resealable plastic bags.
Cut Tip: Snip a very small corner off the piping bag tip or use a fine piping nozzle to ensure detailed work.
Pipe Decorations: Use the piping bag to decorate cookies as desired with fine details or outlines.
Add Decorations: While icing is wet, add sprinkles or decorations so they stick. Alternatively, let the icing dry completely before adding more detail piping.
Spread Large Areas: Use a toothpick to gently spread the icing evenly over larger surfaces.
Quick Dip Method – Setup: Place a skewer on the edge of the bowl of icing.
Quick Dip Method – Dip: Hold a cookie by the edges and carefully dip the face into the icing.
Quick Dip Method – Remove Excess: Pull the cookie out and lightly scrape the excess icing off on the skewer edge.
Finish Decoration: Add sprinkles immediately for them to adhere, or let icing dry for piping additional details later.

Notes

Sift icing sugar to avoid lumps in the icing.
Egg whites must be fresh and at room temperature for best results.
Corn syrup helps to keep the icing glossy and flexible; glucose syrup is an alternative.
Use gel coloring for more intense colors without thinning the icing.
Adjust consistency gradually by adding small amounts of water or icing sugar to achieve the perfect texture.
The tiny cut on the piping tip allows for precise piping details.
Use the quick dip method for faster icing of multiple cookies with a smooth finish.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Dessert Topping
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Western

Keywords: royal icing, biscuit icing, cookie decoration, royal icing recipe, holiday cookies, piping icing, no bake icing