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Best Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies That Hardens Fast

Best Royal Icing for Sugar Cookies That Hardens Fast


  • Author: Recipe Inspire
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: Enough to decorate 24 cookies
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This royal icing is perfect for sugar cookies—it dries quickly to a smooth, hard finish, ideal for detailed decorating and stacking cookies.


Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients

  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3 tbsp meringue powder
  • 56 tbsp warm water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or almond extract (optional)
  • Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine powdered sugar and meringue powder.
  2. Add 5 tablespoons of warm water and vanilla/almond extract.
  3. Mix on low speed until combined, then increase to medium-high for 3–5 minutes until stiff peaks form.
  4. If icing is too thick, add water 1 teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  5. For flood icing, thin with water slightly to allow smooth spreading; for piping, keep thicker.
  6. Divide into portions and add food coloring if desired.
  7. Use immediately on sugar cookies. Icing will harden within 30–60 minutes at room temperature.
  8. Store unused icing in an airtight container to prevent drying out.

Notes

Ensure the powdered sugar is sifted to avoid lumps. Use a damp cloth over unused icing in the bowl to prevent crusting. For super-fast drying, use a fan or air conditioning.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Frosting & Icing
  • Method: No-Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tbsp
  • Calories: 60
  • Sugar: 15g
  • Sodium: 0mg
  • Fat: 0g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 15g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

Keywords: royal icing, sugar cookie icing, fast-hardening icing, cookie decorating