How To Do Royal Icing: A Beginner's Guide

Learn how to do royal icing! If you’re like me you see people’s pretty decorated sugar cookies and think yours look like a preschooler decorated them. Fortunately, the difference between yours and the beautiful ones is just learning how to do it the right way. Learning how to decorate cookies with royal icing is not difficult if you watch this video. It’s a beginner’s guide and it really makes the process manageable for everyone.

What is the difference between royal icing and other frosting?

This icing is different than buttercream or cream cheese icing you might have used before that you spread on with a knife. It’s thinner and hardens to more of a candy like texture. Cookies decorated with royal icing can look more like artwork than cookies decorated with other kinds of icing or frosting.

What does royal icing taste like?

It has a harder texture. It tastes like sugar. That’s probably not surprising. It’s a sweet icing. Most people enjoy eating royal icing. You can jazz it up a bit with vanilla or lemon if you’d like.

I love this icing on sugar cookies. But who doesn’t?? They’re good for just about any occasion or holiday.

What tools do you need?

There are a handful of things you’ll need to decorate cookies. The good thing is once you have these you won’t need to get them again (other than pastry bags).

Ingredients:

confectioners sugar
egg whites
water
food coloring

Can you freeze icing?

Yes! You can freeze this icing. Put any leftover icing into a zipper top freezer bag. Squeeze out as much air as you can before zipping the top. Freeze different colors in different bags. Lay flat to freeze. You can defrost overnight in the refrigerator and use within 2 months. Bring it to room temperature before using.

Can you freeze decorated cookies?

Yes! Let icing set before stacking between freezer paper. You can freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator over night or at room temperature.