Easy Royal Icing Recipe with Meringue Powder
A simple, reliable recipe for royal icing using meringue powder that dries hard and smooth, perfect for decorating sugar cookies.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: Enough to cover approximately 2 dozen medium cookies
- Category: Baking Decoration
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract (or other flavoring)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar and meringue powder.
- Add the warm water and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients.
- Using an electric mixer, start on low speed until the ingredients are just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Increase the speed to medium-high and beat for 5 to 7 minutes until the icing is very smooth, glossy, and holds stiff peaks.
- If the icing is too thick for outlining, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating well after each addition until you reach the desired consistency.
- If the icing is too thin for piping, add more sifted powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Divide the icing into bowls for coloring, if desired. Cover all unused icing with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent drying.
Notes
- For outlining consistency, the icing should hold a line when drizzled off a spoon.
- For flooding consistency, add water until the icing flows smoothly off a spoon and the surface smooths out in about 10 seconds.
- Store colored icing in airtight containers at room temperature for up to one week, or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup prepared icing
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg