Royal Icing Recipe

This royal icing recipe is an easy icing recipe that’s perfect for use in decorating sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, and more!

Cut out sugar cookies decorated with royal icing on a wire cooling rack.

Royal icing is a versatile and impressive edible decoration that can transform baked goods into stunning works of art. With just a few simple ingredients, meringue powder, powdered sugar, and warm water, you can easily create royal icing for decorating cookies and other treats.

This 4-ingredient royal icing recipe provides a straightforward approach to crafting a perfect batch of royal icing. The meringue powder eliminates the need to separate egg whites, ensuring a mess-free process that takes just a few minutes to make.

Whether you’re doing simple decorations on a batch of gingerbread men or intricate designs on sugar cookies, you’ll love the ease in preparing this quick royal icing recipe.

Ingredients for royal icing in glass dishes.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

Powdered sugar: It’s important to use powdered sugar (confectioners sugar) not granulated sugar.
Meringue powder: Meringue powder is a mixture of pasteurized egg whites, sugar, and other ingredients. It is commonly sold near cake decorating supplies, and it can also be ordered online.
Warm water: Warm water helps everything to mix together nicely.
Clear vanilla: Using clear vanilla will keep the royal icing white. If you use a different flavoring or pure vanilla extract, it may change the color of the icing.
Gel food coloring: Gel food coloring works well because it doesn’t affect the consistency of the icing the way that regular food coloring can.

How to make royal icing

Here you’ll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including instructions, is given below.

Powdered sugar and meringue powder in a silver mixing bowl.

Step 1: Add the powdered sugar and meringue powder to a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.

A wire wish attachment in a bowl of unbeaten royal icing.

Step 2: Slowly stream in the warm water, beating on high speed for 2 minutes.

Step 3: Mix in the vanilla extract.

A wire whisk attachment with royal icing streaming off of it.

Step 4: To test if it’s ready, lift up the whisk. The icing should fall back into the bowl in a ribbon and should re-incorporate into the icing in the bowl within 5-10 seconds.

Step 5: Whisk/beat in gel food coloring as desired. This icing takes about 2 hours to dry completely once applied on cookies (or longer if it’s a thick layer).

A cut out sugar cookie decorated like a snowflake with blue royal icing.

Recipe Tips!

Icing is too thin: If it’s too thin, continue mixing on high speed until it reaches this consistency. The longer you beat royal icing, the thicker it becomes.
Icing is too thick: If it’s too thick, you can always beat in a splash of water if needed.

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze royal icing?

You can! Royal icing freezes well for later use.

Can I chill royal icing to get it to harden faster?

No, you’re better off leaving the icing out to let it harden. The moisture in your fridge can prevent the icing from hardening properly.

Gingerbread men decorated with royal icing on a baking sheet.

Storage

To store leftover royal icing, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Royal icing can also be frozen for later use.

Cookies iced with this royal icing can be stored at room temperature.

If you’ve tried this royal icing recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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5 from 1 vote