Make a simple royal icing recipe using fresh egg whites or meringue powder. These easy recipes are perfect for decorating your favorite treats, cookie exchanges, or edible gifts.
Recipe Science
- Pasteurized egg whites are heated to destroy harmful bacteria like salmonella, making them a safer choice for royal icing.
- Cream of tartar stabilizes the egg whites, reducing moisture separation (weeping), ensuring a smooth texture for decorating.
- Meringue powder is a shelf-stable, safe alternative to fresh egg whites, using dried egg whites with added sugar and stabilizers.
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Why It Works
The holidays are always a fun time to combine simple baking with creative arts. Royal icing uses four common ingredients to create a glossy, smooth, yet pipeable mixture. Once it dries, your artistic designs harden into place. But don’t worry—it’s still easily edible.
The main ingredient is egg whites; you can use fresh raw or dried products. The proteins capture air during whipping to create a cloud-like consistency that holds the shape and design. You can easily adjust the thickness with water. This article also includes outlining and flooding decoration tips for professional results!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Egg Whites: Traditional royal icing uses raw egg whites. It provides the best texture since fresh whipped egg proteins have the maximum foaming capability, providing a thick, shiny, and smooth texture. I recommend using pasteurized egg whites. The kind sold cartons in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. They are usually treated with heat to destroy harmful Salmonella bacteria that could cause foodborne illness.
- Meringue Powder: Meringue powder is a great alternative if you’re concerned about eating raw eggs. It’s a stable-shelf product, so you can grab a canister and use it anytime. The powder is made from dried egg whites that have been heat-treated to kill bacteria. It also contains sugar and stabilizers like cream of tartar and citric acid, so you don’t have to add more.
- Flavoring: Adding vanilla extract to royal icing enhances its flavor, balancing the sweetness with a warm, aromatic note.
- Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar stabilizes egg whites in royal icing, promoting stronger, more stable peaks and a smooth, glossy texture. It also prevents sugar crystallization, ensuring a consistent and pipeable finish.
- Powdered Sugar: The finely ground confectioner’s sugar particles dissolve quickly, creating a smooth consistency ideal for piping and flooding. The cornstarch helps stabilize the icing, giving it structure and a matte finish once dried.
- Water: Meringue powder and warm water hydrate the dried egg whites to make the icing. Room-temperature water is used to adjust the icing consistencies.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
This is the best royal icing recipe for cookies and decorating gingerbread houses. Customize the icing with these tasty options:
- Add Citrus: Add lemon juice for tanginess. Grate some fresh lemon or orange zest for a lingering citrus flavor.
- Using Clear Vanilla: Use clear vanilla extract to preserve the icing’s bright white color, especially if you’re decorating with light or pastel shades.
- Flavoring: Add peppermint, almond, or anise extract.
- Spices: Add a warm flavor of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom.
- Glossy Finish: Make royal icing with corn syrup for a shiny appearance. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of royal icing. Alternatively, try my sugar cookie icing recipe.
How to Make Royal Icing
Method 1: Royal Icing with Egg Whites
This traditional royal icing recipe includes raw pasteurized egg whites, powdered sugar, a pinch of cream of tartar, and vanilla extract. Whip on medium speed until glossy, thick, medium-stiff peaks form. Slowly incorporate the powdered sugar.
Pro Tip: This mixture yields the ideal consistency for icing a gingerbread house, but if decorating cookies, you’ll need to add more water to dilute it a bit to make it more spreadable.
Method 2: Royal Icing with Meringue Powder
Use warm water between 100 and 110 degrees to rehydrate the meringue powder. Add the vanilla extract to flavor the base. Then, combine it with powdered sugar on low speed for 7 minutes to let it fully dissolve. Incorporate until it thickens to the consistency of glue. This texture is ideal for decorating cookies.
Expert Tip: For sturdier icing for gingerbread houses, whip it an additional 30 to 60 seconds on medium-high speed (setting 8 on a stand mixer).
Step 3: Make Border Icing (For Outlining Cookies)
Border icing is a variation of royal icing used to create a thin outline along the cookie edge. It’s thicker, similar to peanut butter, but light enough to press through a piping bag or squeeze bottle. Once you make the base batch of icing, take a small amount and gradually dilute it with ½ teaspoon of water at a time until the proper consistency is reached.
Tips For Perfect Execution: To test, drizzle some from a spoon. The icing should hold for a few seconds before combining back into the icing.
Step 4: Make Flood Icing (For Filling Cookies)
Flood icing is a variation of royal icing used to fill the design inside the border icing. It has a thinner consistency, similar to school glue, and is more fluid to spread across the surface. Add ¼ teaspoons of water at a time to the base icing, gradually increasing as needed.
Tips For Perfect Execution: To test, pour some icing from a spoon back into the bowl. It should take about 10 to 15 seconds and sink immediately back in. If the consistency gets too runny, add some powdered sugar until it thickens.
Step 5: Creating Colors
If you want to change the designs, use gel food coloring colors like Wilton to add vibrant hues to the icing. They are available at craft stores or large markets. When mixed, the concentrated coloring is suspended in a thick transparent paste that doesn’t alter the consistency. I use a toothpick to grab some color. A little goes a long way!
Quick Substitution: Alternatively, those little food coloring bottles used to dye easter eggs work, too, but I think you have fewer color options. Also, if you use too much, it will thin out the icing. If going this route, add the color before any additional water to adjust the consistency of the piping.
Step 6: Outline with Border Icing
Add the border icing into piping bags or squeeze bottles with a round piping tip. Create a design along the border of the cookie. As the royal icing dries, it helps keep the filling icing on top of the cookie instead of flowing over the edges. You can also use it to create another layer on top of the flood icing or make textured designs.
Expert Tip: The egg whites’ proteins harden as they dry, which happens quickly when exposed to air. It is essential to keep the icing covered, directly touching, with a damp paper towel and/or plastic wrap. You can also wrap the piping tips with wet pieces of paper towels to prevent crusting when not decorating.
Step 7: Fill with Flood Icing
Fill in the interior of the cookie with the flood icing. A small offset spatula helps to spread the icing to the edges. Use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles and fill in the outline.
Step 8: Adding Decorations
For the best results when decorating cookies, sprinkle on decorations like sprinkles, nonpareils, or sanding sugar while the icing is still wet. This allows the decorations to adhere securely as the icing sets.
If you want to add more intricate details or write personalized messages, wait until the icing is completely dry. Then, use border icing for added texture or edible writing pens for precise designs without disrupting the smooth surface.
Step 9: Drying the Cookies
Your decorated treats need to dry completely before eating or storing them. Let them sit uncovered on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan or wire rack for 6 to 8 hours, depending on the icing thickness. The dried surface should look shiny and feel firm but not too hard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Royal icing is a sugar mixture used for piping designs on baked goods that eventually harden. The recipe includes whipped egg whites (raw or dried), powdered sugar, vanilla extract, or other flavors. The sugar adds sweetness and helps to stabilize the icing. The mixture is whipped in a stand mixer or hand to aerate the egg proteins to create a stable foam with a pipeable consistency.
Royal icing comes in three consistencies: stiff for intricate designs like flowers or borders, piping (or border) for outlining and detailed work, and flood for filling large areas with a smooth finish. You can adjust by adding drops of water for thinner icing or powdered sugar for thicker results.
Commercially processed egg products are required to be pasteurized. This destroys Salmonella by rapidly heating it. For example, the approved method for pasteurizing fresh egg whites using heat alone is at 56.7°C (134.06ºF) for 3.5 minutes or 55.6°C (132.08ºF) for 6.2 minutes. This process destroys harmful bacteria and lowers the chance of foodborne illness when consuming raw eggs.
Ways to Use Royal Icing
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Royal Icing Recipe (2 Ways!)
Ingredients
Method 1) Royal Icing with Egg Whites
- ⅓ cup pasteurized liquid egg whites, carton
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/16 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 4 ¼ cups powdered sugar, dip and sweep measurement (do not pack)
- water, for adjusting consistency
Method 2) Royal Icing with Meringue Powder
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons meringue powder
- 9 tablespoons warm water, 100 to 110°F (38 to 43°C)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Method 1) Royal Icing with Fresh Egg Whites – In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add egg whites, vanilla extract, and cream of tartar. Mix on medium-high speed (setting 8) until frothy, about 30 to 35 seconds.Slowly add the powdered sugar. Pulse on and off 8 times to prevent the sugar from going over the bowl. Mix on low speed (setting 2) until combined, about 35 seconds. Scrape down the sides as necessary. Mix on medium speed (setting 6) until it holds a stiff peak, about 4 to 5 minutes. This method yields a texture ideal for making gingerbread houses. For decorating cookies, divide the royal icing into two bowls to make a border and flood icing.
- Method 2) Royal Icing with Meringue Powder – In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the powdered sugar, meringue powder, 9 tablespoons of warm water, and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed (setting 2) for 7 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-low (setting 4) and mix until a pipeable peanut butter consistency is reached, about 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides as needed.This method yields a texture ideal for decorating cookies. If doing so, divide the royal icing into two bowls to make a border and flood icing. However, for a thicker consistency, to use for gingerbread houses, continue to whisk on medium-high (setting 8) for an additional 30 to 60 seconds.
- Make Border Icing (For Outlining Cookies) – The consistency should be similar to pipeable peanut butter. If needed, add ½ teaspoon of water at a time and mix to thin out.
- Make Flood Icing (For Filling Cookies) – Add ½ teaspoon of water at a time and mix until a school glue consistency is reached. If it gets too runny, add more powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time.
- Creating Colors – Divide the border and flood icing into small bowls, depending on the desired number of colors. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top to prevent them from drying out. Add the gel or liquid colors to each bowl, and mix. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.
- Outline with Border Icing – Add the border icing to a small squeeze bottle or piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe an outline around the edge of the cookies. Allow it to dry until just beginning to set. Once done, if you have leftovers, add them back to the bowl with the corresponding color. Keep the bag or bottle for the flood icing.
- Fill with Flood Icing – Add the flood icing to the piping bag or bottle used to make the borders or use a new bag or bottle. Fill in the interior of the cookie design with flood icing, pushing the icing into the corners and against the edges. If needed, use a small offset spatula or toothpick to spread and blend into the outline.
- Adding Decorations – Add sprinkles, nonpareils, or other decorations while the icing is still wet. If desired, on completely dried iced cookies, use border icing or edible writing pens to write messages on top.
- Drying the Cookies – Place iced cookies on a parchment paper lined sheet pan or on top of wire racks until completely dried, at least 6 to 8 hours. When the cookies are dry, the surface should be smooth and resistant to nicks or smudges.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Yield: About 2 cups for method one, and 3 cups for method two.
- Serving size: 1 tablespoon
- If Not Using Immediately: Cover the icing with a damp paper towel, directly touching the surface to prevent it from drying out. Place plastic wrap over the mixing bowl or piping bag tip.
- Storing Icing: Transfer any unused icing into an airtight container. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow it to come to room temperature before use. Mix on low speed in a stand mixer or by hand with a spoon before using it to smooth out the consistency.
- Storing Iced Cookies: Store in an air-tight container for up to one week.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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